Alina Habba Mildon, a former personal lawyer to President Trump, stormed into the Oval Office last week to accuse Richard Grenell, Mr. Trump's former special envoy to Venezuela and former head of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, of misusing money. Mrs. Mildon had recently married Turhan Mildon, a Turkish investor with extensive business holdings in Venezuela, who had been in regular contact with Mr. Grenell about Venezuela and about supporting the Kennedy Center.
According to people with knowledge of the meeting, Mrs. Mildon told Mr. Trump that in May 2025 her husband transferred $17.6 million to an account at Mr. Grenell's direction. She said about $5.6 million of that was meant for the Kennedy Center but never reached it. Her account of the transaction reportedly shifted over time. Her husband's lawyer later sent the White House documents, including a text message in which Mr. Grenell was purported to have said he wanted to make Mr. Mildon the "American face down in V," referring to Venezuela. White House counsel Will Scharf was asked to determine who is telling the truth.
Mr. Grenell denied the accusations, calling them absurd. He said no financial transaction took place between him and Mr. Mildon or related entities, and that he had never asked for money to be sent elsewhere under the pretense of supporting the Kennedy Center. The central transfer was made to TX-AT, a Texas defense and security equipment company. Mr. Grenell said he consulted for the firm in 2024 but had no connection to it at the time of the transfer. TX-AT did not respond to requests for comment.
The New York Times has not verified the claims. The Kennedy Center said it is conducting an internal review of relevant pledges and funds and will share its findings with its board. The dispute reflects a broader contest among Trump allies for influence and profit in Venezuela, whose resources are now effectively under American control.
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