US special missions envoy and White House advisor Richard Grenell is at the center of a controversy around misappropriating funds worth $5.6 million during his tenure as the interim president of the Kennedy Center.
The allegations reportedly came from none other than Trump's former lawyer and close aide, Alina Habba. Habba alleged on October 15 that Richard Grenell failed to deposit $5.6 million donated to the Kennedy Center by her billionaire husband, Turhan Mildon.
Then, on Monday, October 19, Axios made an explosive revelation that a text between Richard Grennel and the Turkish billionaire is being investigated by the White House. In the text, Grennell allegedly offered the billionaire access to the POTUS in exchange for money.
According to a previous Axios report from October 15, Richard Grenell allegedly took a multi-million-dollar donation from Mildon via a US company as part of a business transaction. A part of the fund was supposed to go to the Kennedy Center, the rest was for a business transaction. However, Habba and her husband reportedly alleges that $5.6 million of the reported $17.6 million was not transferred to the Kennedy Center.
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{{/usCountry}}Trump reportedly launched a probe into the allegations shortly after the allegations emerged. Grenell, meanwhile, has called the allegations "absurd" and "lies."
Grennell's Text Investigated, Report Claims
Monday's report claims that Grennell allegedly sought money in a text sent to the Turkish billionaire on May 3, 2025. In exchange, he offered access to "POTUS," "VIP events" and other officials of the Trump administration, the report claims.
"Once the money comes to the company here, I will arrange the donation to Kennedy Centre [sic], and you'll be joining the VIP events and get close with the administration, even with POTUS," Grennell reportedly texted Mildon, per Axios. The report adds that the text is a key part of the White House probe into the diplomat.
The report on Monday revealed that the money was allegedly transferred to a company called Texas Armament & Technology. $6 million was meant for the Kennedy Center and the rest reportedly for a deal in the Republic of Congo.
What To Know About The White House Investigation
The Axios report revealed that the White House counsel has ordered an investigation into whether Richard Grenell misused the President's trust. The October 15 report had noted that evidence was sought accordingly, but “none has come so far.” Mildon has now provided the message, at least one financial document and other correspondence, Monday's Axios report added.
The previous report had noted that the Kennedy Center dossiers do not record a donation by Mildon anywhere close to $5.6 million. According to the official figures provided by Kennedy Center, Mildon recorded donation amounts of just $270,000.
It cited an unidentified staff member to report that the center's administration had searched for a contribution of around $6 million late last year but was unable to locate it. What prompted them to look was not revealed.
Venezuela Connection Under Scanner
Richard Grenell, alongside his Kennedy Center role at the time, was serving as a Special Missions envoy to Venezuela. The time overlapped with the US capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and the US extending control in the country.
According to the October 15 Axios report, Turhan Mildon was interested in extending business interests in Venezuela but found it hard due to the US State Department's approach towards his country, Türkiye. The Axios report alleged that Grenell sought money to thaw Mildon's relations with US State Department Secretary Marco Rubio.