Russia's Best Friend in India Just Got a $300 Billion Deal From Trump

Oct 22

Even With POTUS A text promising presidential access, $17.6 million from Congo's finance ministry and a Houston arms company met at the Kennedy Center, where the Secretary of State, the Chief of Staff and a lobbyist for Congo all sit on the board. On May 3, 2025, Turhan Mildon, a Turkish investor ...Read more

Even With POTUS A text promising presidential access, $17.6 million from Congo's finance ministry and a Houston arms company met at the Kennedy Center, where the Secretary of State, the Chief of Staff and a lobbyist for Congo all sit on the board. On May 3, 2025, Turhan Mildon, a Turkish investor who is now Alina Habba's husband, received a text he says came from Ric Grenell, then the Kennedy Center's president and Trump's special envoy to Venezuela. "Once the money comes to the company here, I will arrange the donation to Kennedy Centre, and you'll be joining the VIP events and get close with the administration, even with POTUS." Marc Caputo of Axios published it on October 19. On May 29, 2025, $17.6 million landed at TXAT, a Houston company that distributes Aguila ammunition and sells ITAR-controlled technology. Mildon says he moved it at Grenell's direction and that about $5.6 million was meant for the Kennedy Center. A White House official told Axios the money came from the finance ministry of the Democratic Republic of Congo, not from Mildon. No record shows any of it reaching the center, and Mildon is not on the donor list. Grenell, who acknowledges consulting for TXAT in 2024, denies sending the text and denies any financial dealing with Mildon. In April 2025, Continental Strategy registered to lobby for TXAT with Alberto Martinez, Marco Rubio's former chief of staff, as lobbyist of record, and by July it reported lobbying the State Department for TXAT Latam. Katie Wiles, daughter of Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, is a partner at the firm. Rubio, Wiles, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Brian Ballard, whose lobbying firm employed Wiles and Bondi and registered in January 2025 to represent Congo's communications ministry, all sit on the Kennedy Center board. Only a committee chair can subpoena, Republicans hold both relevant gavels and taxpayers are paying $257 million to renovate the building. Read part one of four at https://dekleptocracy.substack.com/p/have-grenell-and-rubio-turned-the More on this story Axios, Secret pay-for-play text rocks Trump White House, Marc Caputo, Oct 19 2026 https://www.axios.com/2026/10/19/kennedy-center-text-trump-grenell-habba Kennedy Center board of trustees https://www.kennedy-center.org/about-us/leadership/trustees/ Continental Strategy registration to lobby for TXAT, April 1 2025 https://lda.gov/filings/public/filing/a86f0ebb-81cd-4d4c-b516-b71e06d99579/print/ Sources Marc Caputo, Axios, Exclusive, Secret pay-for-play text rocks Trump White House, October 19 2026 https://www.axios.com/2026/10/19/kennedy-center-text-trump-grenell-habba Kennedy Center, Board of Trustees https://www.kennedy-center.org/about-us/leadership/trustees/ Kennedy Center, donor listings https://www.kennedy-center.org/Support/donor-listings/donors/ Senate Lobbying Disclosure, Continental Strategy LLC registration for TXAT LLC, TXAT Latam, effective April 1 2025 https://lda.gov/filings/public/filing/a86f0ebb-81cd-4d4c-b516-b71e06d99579/print/ Senate Lobbying Disclosure, Continental Strategy LLC second quarter 2025 report for TXAT LLC, TXAT Latam, signed July 21 2025 https://lda.gov/filings/public/filing/2e3ca3c8-978a-4703-90ad-ac8879c2599e/print/ Justice Department FARA, Ballard Partners Exhibit A and B for the Ministry of Communication and Medias of the Democratic Republic of Congo, January 2025 https://efile.fara.gov/docs/7070-Exhibit-AB-20250127-7.pdf Ballard Partners, Ballard Partners opens Caracas office, July 29 2026 https://ballardpartners.com/ballard-partners-caracas-office-scott-wagner/ David Dayen, The American Prospect, Trump at the Lobbyist Trough, November 25 2024 https://prospect.org/2024/11/25/2024-11-25-trump-at-the-lobbyist-trough/ Anna Skinner, Newsweek, Who is Katie Wiles, daughter of Trump's chief of staff linked to Putin ally, October 15 2026 https://www.newsweek.com/who-is-katie-wiles-daughter-of-trumps-chief-of-staff-linked-to-putin-ally-12575080 Justin Makangara, Julian E. Barnes, Glenn Thrush, Benjamin Weiser, Sheelagh McNeill and Safak Timur, New York Times, A Trump Loyalist, a Turkish Investor and a Battle for Wealth and Influence, October 12 2026 https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/12/us/politics/a-trump-loyalist-a-turkish-investor-and-a-battle-for-wealth-and-influence.html Leigh Kimmins, Daily Beast, Jaw-dropping revelations of MAGA blood feud between Ric Grenell, Alina Habba and Turhan Mildon exposed, October 16 2026 https://www.thedailybeast.com/jaw-dropping-revelations-of-maga-blood-feud-between-ric-grenell-alina-habba-and-turhan-mildon-exposed TXAT LLC, Government services page https://tx-at.com/government Associated Press via PBS NewsHour, Trump announces Ric Grenell is stepping down as Kennedy Center's president, March 13 2026 https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/trump-announces-ric-grenell-is-stepping-down-as-kennedy-centers-president Bryan Gottlieb, Engineering News-Record, Kennedy Center Board Approves $257M Rehab, Two-Year Shutdown, March 17 2026 https://www.enr.com/articles/62694-kennedy-center-board-approves-257m-rehab-two-year-shutdown 20 U.S. Code 76h, Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/20/76h Congress.gov, witness biography of John Barsa, Acting Administrator, USAID, July 23 2020 https://www.congress.gov/116/meeting/house/110940/witnesses/HHRG-116-FA00-Bio-BarsaJ-20200723.pdf Dekleptocracy, Have Grenell and Rubio Turned the Kennedy Center into a Pay-to-Play Hub?, October 21 2026 https://dekleptocracy.substack.com/p/have-grenell-and-rubio-turned-the

Oct 19

The Son's Refinery Bet, the Chief of Staff's Daughter Katie Wiles's firm took the CEO of a refinery startup Donald Trump Jr. invested in to Republika Srpska to explore a pipeline deal, at the request of the Bosnian Serb government it represents, the New York Times reports. In August, Continental S...Read more

The Son's Refinery Bet, the Chief of Staff's Daughter Katie Wiles's firm took the CEO of a refinery startup Donald Trump Jr. invested in to Republika Srpska to explore a pipeline deal, at the request of the Bosnian Serb government it represents, the New York Times reports. In August, Continental Strategy arranged a trip to Republika Srpska for John V. Calce, CEO of America First Refining, to explore a gas pipeline from Croatia into the Western Balkans, at the request of Republika Srpska's government, Kenneth P. Vogel of the New York Times reported on October 15. Katie Wiles, a Continental partner and daughter of White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, joined him. Republika Srpska has paid Continental $35,000 a month since February. America First Refining and its predecessor paid Continental $750,000 in lobbying fees, Senate disclosures show. ProPublica reported in June that Donald Trump Jr. secretly acquired a stake in the company. His spokesperson told ProPublica he is a passive minority investor. Reliance Industries, controlled by Mukesh Ambani and a major buyer of discounted Russian oil, invested at least $100 million in the company, ProPublica reported, and Newsweek found Reliance shipped oil refining catalysts to Russia, with no indication of a sanctions breach. At least six current or former Trump operatives were in Republika Srpska around its October 4 election, the Times reports. Firms co-founded by Caroline Wren and Barry Bennett received at least $800,000 for work that included lifting Milorad Dodik's sanctions, which Treasury lifted in October 2025. Continental says it meticulously complies with every ethical and legal requirement. Bosnia's foreign minister has asked the Justice Department to check whether the foreign agent filings are accurate. Read the October 16 edition of American Princelings at dekleptocracy.substack.com Featured link https://dekleptocracy.substack.com/p/american-princelings-611 Secondary links New York Times, More Trump Allies Aided Pro-Russian Balkan Government, Oct 15 2026 https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/15/us/politics/trump-russia-srpska-elections-wiles.html ProPublica, America First Refining and Donald Trump Jr., June 9 2026 https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-ambani-reliance-industries-america-first-refining-texas Bibliography Kenneth P. Vogel, New York Times, More Trump Allies Aided Pro-Russian Balkan Government, October 15 2026 https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/15/us/politics/trump-russia-srpska-elections-wiles.html Kenneth P. Vogel, New York Times, Trump advisers and Republika Srpska, October 6 2026 https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/06/us/politics/trump-advisers-republika-srpska.html Joshua Kaplan, Justin Elliott and Alex Mierjeski, ProPublica, An Indian Billionaire Was Targeted by Trump. Then He Poured Money Into a Startup Secretly Backed by Donald Trump Jr., June 9 2026 https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-ambani-reliance-industries-america-first-refining-texas Kate Plummer, Newsweek, Revealed, The Indian Firm Quietly Shipping Key Chemicals to Russia, May 22 2026 https://www.newsweek.com/reliance-industries-chemicals-russia-putin-11983136 Raw Story, Susie Wiles's daughter and Republika Srpska, October 15 2026 https://www.rawstory.com/susie-wiles-srpska/ Emmet Lyons, Joanne Stocker and Archie Clarke, CBS News, Photo shows top Trump aide's daughter with pro-Russia politician in Bosnia, October 8 2026 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/russia-trump-susie-wiles-milorad-dodik-bosnia-serbia/ Klix.ba, Konaković zasuo Washington pismima, October 12 2026 https://www.klix.ba/vijesti/bih/konakovic-zasuo-washington-pismima-15-adresa-jedna-meta-milorad-dodik/261012241 Klix.ba, New York Times razotkrio mrežu, October 16 2026 https://klix.ba/vijesti/bih/new-york-times-razotkrio-mrezu-ko-je-sve-iz-trumpovog-kruga-lobirao-za-rs/261016018 Esmir Milavić, N1, New York Times on Trump advisers in Republika Srpska, October 16 2026 https://n1info.ba/vijesti/new-york-times-trump-bijesan-zbog-angazmana-svojih-savjetnika-u-rs-u-otkrivene-i-nove-poslovne-veze RFE/RL, Bosnia-Herzegovina election, October 5 2026 https://www.rferl.org/a/bosnia-herzegovina-election-dodik-becirovic-filipovic-bosniak/33870171.html US Senate Lobbying Disclosure, Continental Strategy filings for Element Fuels Holdings and America First Refining https://lda.senate.gov/ Continental Strategy, About us https://www.continentalstrategy.com/about-us Dekleptocracy, American Princelings, October 16 2026 https://dekleptocracy.substack.com/p/american-princelings-611

Oct 19

Bo Got It Done The White House official who led the push for the stablecoin law kept a stake in a firm that carried out a $415,000-a-month Tether deal. The first payment landed while he was in office, the Wall Street Journal reports. Bo Hines, executive director of the President's Council of Advis...Read more

Bo Got It Done The White House official who led the push for the stablecoin law kept a stake in a firm that carried out a $415,000-a-month Tether deal. The first payment landed while he was in office, the Wall Street Journal reports. Bo Hines, executive director of the President's Council of Advisers on Digital Assets, led the White House push for the GENIUS Act, signed July 18, 2025. He kept a one-third stake in Nxum, the consulting firm he cofounded. Tether agreed to pay $415,000 a month for at least two years for a "strategic brand and public affairs plan," Sam Kessler of the Wall Street Journal reported on October 14. The first $2.49 million went out on May 11, 2025, while Hines was in government. The Journal puts Nxum's total at $6.3 million. The Journal reports Hines stayed in a Signal chat with his partners and pushed to extend the law's compliance window for foreign issuers from 18 to 36 months, a change that mainly benefited Tether. Partner Gary Dennis said "Bo got it done." Hines left the White House in August 2025 and joined Tether as an adviser ten days later. Nxum says he recused himself and received no Tether money while in government. Cantor Fitzgerald, now controlled by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's children, holds 5% of Tether. Read the October 16 edition of American Princelings at dekleptocracy.substack.com Featured link https://dekleptocracy.substack.com/p/american-princelings-611 Secondary links Wall Street Journal, He Crafted a Crypto Law for Trump as His Company Got Millions From a Crypto Giant, Oct 14 2026 https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/crypto-law-trump-tether-bo-hines-45bcd95d Fortune, Trump's former top crypto advisor faces scrutiny, Oct 15 2026 https://fortune.com/2026/10/15/trump-former-top-crypto-adviser-scrutiny-allegations-firm-millions-tether-stablecoin-law/ Bibliography Sam Kessler, Wall Street Journal, He Crafted a Crypto Law for Trump as His Company Got Millions From a Crypto Giant, October 14 2026 https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/crypto-law-trump-tether-bo-hines-45bcd95d Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, Trump's former top crypto advisor faces scrutiny over allegations his firm accepted millions from Tether while he shaped key stablecoin law, October 15 2026 https://fortune.com/2026/10/15/trump-former-top-crypto-adviser-scrutiny-allegations-firm-millions-tether-stablecoin-law/ Sarah Wynn, The Block, Trump signs stablecoin GENIUS Act, cementing first major crypto framework in US law, July 18 2025 https://www.theblock.co/post/363425/trump-signs-stablecoin-genius-act-cementing-first-major-crypto-framework-in-us-law Zack Abrams, The Block, White House crypto council head Bo Hines to step down, August 9 2025 https://www.theblock.co/post/366234/white-house-crypto-council-head-bo-hines-to-step-down-return-to-private-sector-report Daniel Kuhn, The Block, Bo Hines named CEO of Tether's new US arm as company unveils USAT stablecoin, September 12 2025 https://www.theblock.co/post/370472/bo-hines-named-ceo-of-tethers-new-us-arm-as-company-unveils-usat-stablecoin Jason Shubnell, The Block, Lutnick, Cantor Fitzgerald negotiated a 5% ownership stake in Tether, November 24 2024 https://www.theblock.co/post/327961/lutnick-cantor-fitzgerald-negotiated-a-5-ownership-stake-in-tether Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ron Wyden, letter to Secretary Lutnick on the Tether loan to the Cantor trust, April 29 2026 https://www.banking.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/20260429warrenwydenlettertolutnickretethercantorfitzgeraldloan.pdf Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Blumenthal Demands Answers from Cantor Fitzgerald About Relationship with Tether, October 8 2026 https://www.blumenthal.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/blumenthal-demands-answers-from-cantor-fitzgerald-about-relationship-with-tether-after-psi-report-finds-cryptocurrency-firm-props-up-irans-shadow-banking-system Americans for Financial Reform, Factsheet on the GENIUS Act's flaws and failures, July 9 2025 https://ourfinancialsecurity.org/2025/07/factsheet-afr-factsheet-on-the-genius-acts-flaws-and-failures/ Dekleptocracy, American Princelings, October 16 2026 https://dekleptocracy.substack.com/p/american-princelings-611

Oct 18

The Envoy's Donor In 2025 Ric Grenell was Trump's Venezuela envoy and president of the Kennedy Center at once. Turhan Mildon, whose Venezuelan concessions rode on US policy, pledged money to the center. In 2025 Ric Grenell served as President Trump's special envoy to Venezuela, pushing to normaliz...Read more

The Envoy's Donor In 2025 Ric Grenell was Trump's Venezuela envoy and president of the Kennedy Center at once. Turhan Mildon, whose Venezuelan concessions rode on US policy, pledged money to the center. In 2025 Ric Grenell served as President Trump's special envoy to Venezuela, pushing to normalize relations with Maduro, Axios reports, while also running the Kennedy Center. Turhan Mildon's business depended on Washington's Venezuela policy. In March 2025 Alex Saab, then Venezuela's industry minister, gave Mildon a contract to operate the state cement plants, and the government gave him a shrimp business seized from founder José Enrique Rincón after accusing him of financing the opposition, the New York Times reported on October 12. The Times reports Grenell introduced Mildon to some of the MAGA crowd. Lisa Dale, who handled the center's finances, told Axios her records show a Mildon pledge. Mildon met Alina Habba, Trump's former personal lawyer, at a Kennedy Center event. In June Delcy Rodríguez paused the termination of his cement contract after learning of the relationship, and in September the two married with Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel among the guests. The White House counsel is examining claims about Mildon's Kennedy Center gift. Grenell calls the claims absurd. Habba says she never intervened on her husband's behalf. Mildon's spokesperson says he won the cement business in a five-bidder process. Read the October 16 edition of American Princelings at dekleptocracy.substack.com Featured link https://dekleptocracy.substack.com/p/american-princelings-611 Secondary links New York Times, A Trump Loyalist, a Turkish Investor and a Battle for Wealth and Influence, Oct 12 2026 https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/12/us/politics/a-trump-loyalist-a-turkish-investor-and-a-battle-for-wealth-and-influence.html Axios, White House probes claims of missing Kennedy Center money, Oct 14 2026 https://www.axios.com/2026/10/14/trump-kennedy-center-donation-maga-feud Bibliography Anatoly Kurmanaev and Tyler Pager, New York Times, A Trump Loyalist, a Turkish Investor and a Battle for Wealth and Influence, October 12 2026 https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/12/us/politics/a-trump-loyalist-a-turkish-investor-and-a-battle-for-wealth-and-influence.html Marc Caputo, Axios, White House probes claims of missing Kennedy Center money in MAGA blood feud, October 14 2026 https://www.axios.com/2026/10/14/trump-kennedy-center-donation-maga-feud Sergio Gómez Maseri, El Tiempo, De Alex Saab al círculo de Donald Trump, October 14 2026 https://www.eltiempo.com/mundo/eeuu-y-canada/de-alex-saab-al-circulo-de-donald-trump-la-poderosa-red-del-empresario-turco-turhan-mildon-cuyos-negocios-en-venezuela-estan-en-disputa-3593178 El Nacional, La Casa Blanca investiga si Richard Grenell desvió donación de casi 6 millones de dólares al Kennedy Center, October 15 2026 https://elnacional.com/2026/10/la-casa-blanca-investiga-si-richard-grenell-desvio-donacion-de-casi-6-millones-de-dolares-al-kennedy-center CBS News and AP, Alex Saab deported from Venezuela to the US, May 2026 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/alex-saab-deported-venezuela-nicolas-maduro-us/ Steven Sloan, AP via KSAT, Trump ally Ric Grenell stepping down as Kennedy Center president, March 13 2026 https://www.ksat.com/entertainment/2026/03/13/trump-ally-ric-grenell-stepping-down-as-kennedy-center-president/ AP via Spectrum News, Todd Blanche sworn in as attorney general, August 10 2026 https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/triad/politics/2026/08/10/todd-blanche-sworn-in-as-attorney-general N1, The New York Times reveals details of General Staff building deal, quoting Jared Kushner on Grenell, March 18 2024 https://n1info.rs/english/news/the-new-york-times-reveals-details-of-general-staff-building-deal/ Dekleptocracy, American Princelings, October 16 2026 https://dekleptocracy.substack.com/p/american-princelings-611

Oct 18

Cut Off Without Warning Five days after the president's diesel deal with Putin, Ukraine's Pentagon-funded Starshield service was speed-capped without warning. Nobody has named who gave the order. On October 9 the president announced a deal with Vladimir Putin to buy Russian diesel, and Treasury is...Read more

Cut Off Without Warning Five days after the president's diesel deal with Putin, Ukraine's Pentagon-funded Starshield service was speed-capped without warning. Nobody has named who gave the order. On October 9 the president announced a deal with Vladimir Putin to buy Russian diesel, and Treasury issued General License 135 waiving sanctions the same day. Zelensky called it "a weak decision by strong partners." Overnight into October 14, Ukraine's Starshield service was speed-capped without warning, cutting service to terminals moving faster than 160 km/h. Ukraine uses the system to fly interceptor drones against Russian Shaheds. The Pentagon is Starshield's biggest customer, Reuters reports. Hundreds of US government employees work in Kyiv, protected by the same drone defenses. Presidential adviser Serhii Beskrestnov told the Kyiv Independent the cap "cannot be a coincidence." Elon Musk wrote that limits "are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS." Reuters, citing US and Western officials, reported the order came from inside the White House, while a senior US official said no such request was made by the president. Trump said it was not him. A limit on a Pentagon-funded service would have needed sign-off from the Pentagon policy office run by Elbridge Colby, which backed last year's pause in weapons deliveries to Ukraine. A Defense Ministry source told the Kyiv Independent on October 15 that service on the move was restored. Read the October 16 edition of American Princelings at dekleptocracy.substack.com Featured link https://dekleptocracy.substack.com/p/american-princelings-611 Secondary links Kyiv Independent, This cannot be a coincidence, Oct 14 2026 https://kyivindependent.com/this-cannot-be-a-coincidence-ukraines-starlink-access-restricted-without-warning-zelensky-adviser-says/ Reuters, Order to limit Starshield in Ukraine came from inside White House, sources say, Oct 15 2026 https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/order-limit-starshield-ukraine-came-inside-white-house-sources-say-2026-10-15/ Bibliography Chris York, Jonas Heins and Abbey Fenbert, Kyiv Independent, This cannot be a coincidence, Ukraine's Starlink access restricted without warning, Zelensky adviser says, October 14 2026 https://kyivindependent.com/this-cannot-be-a-coincidence-ukraines-starlink-access-restricted-without-warning-zelensky-adviser-says/ Jonas Heins, Kyiv Independent, Starlink service in Ukraine restored, Defense Ministry source says, October 15 2026 https://kyivindependent.com/breaking-starlink-service-in-ukraine-restored-defense-ministry-source-says/ Erin Banco and Gram Slattery, Reuters, Order to limit Starshield in Ukraine came from inside White House, sources say, October 15 2026 https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/order-limit-starshield-ukraine-came-inside-white-house-sources-say-2026-10-15/ Stephen Collinson, CNN, analysis, October 16 2026 https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/16/politics/ukraine-trump-russia-starlink CNN, Russia strikes Ukraine energy as Zelensky says no early warning, October 14 2026 https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/14/europe/russia-ukraine-energy-strike-early-warning-intl-hnk Sertac Aktan, Euronews, Russian missile hits Kyiv power plant with no early warning from allies, Zelensky says, October 14 2026 https://www.euronews.com/2026/10/14/russian-missile-hits-kyiv-power-plant-with-no-early-warning-from-allies-zelensky-says Barak Ravid, Axios, Trump and Putin diesel agreement, October 9 2026 https://www.axios.com/2026/10/09/trump-putin-diesel-agreement-ukraine-war Michelle L. Price and Collin Binkley, AP via Fortune, Trump Putin Russian diesel deal, October 9 2026 https://fortune.com/2026/10/09/trump-putin-russian-diesel-deal-zelenskyy-sanctions/ Kyiv Post, Zelensky calls diesel deal a weak decision by strong partners, October 10 2026 https://www.kyivpost.com/post/86648 Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, OFAC issues General License 135 authorizing transactions involving Russian-origin diesel fuel, October 2026 https://www.hsfkramer.com/notes/sanctions/2026-posts/ofac-issues-general-license-135-authorizing-transactions-involving-russian-origin-diesel-fuel Noah Robertson, Defense News via Military Times, Ukraine arms freeze part of wider military aid review, Pentagon says, July 2 2025 https://www.militarytimes.com/pentagon/2025/07/02/ukraine-arms-freeze-part-of-wider-military-aid-review-pentagon-says/ Elon Musk, post on X, October 14 2026 https://x.com/elonmusk/status/2110445577184133456 Bloomberg, SpaceX gets US contract to expand Ukraine's access to Starshield, December 6 2024 https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-12-06/spacex-gets-us-contract-to-expand-ukraine-s-access-to-starshield Dekleptocracy, American Princelings, October 16 2026 https://dekleptocracy.substack.com/p/american-princelings-611