$18M transfer at center of Trump backers’ feud

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, October 18, 2026

A nearly $18 million transfer from a Congolese government-linked account to a Texas defense firm has led to accusations by Alina Habba Mildon against Richard Grenell of misappropriating funds meant for the Kennedy Center. The dispute has prompted an internal White House investigation as officials work to verify the source and intended use of the money amid deteriorating relations between the two Trump allies.

A financial transfer involving nearly $18 million has sparked a public dispute between two prominent supporters of former President Donald Trump, prompting an internal White House investigation, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The disagreement centers on a payment made from an account tied to the Congolese government to a Texas-based defense company, TX-AT, in 2025. Alina Habba Mildon, a former personal lawyer for Trump, accused Richard Grenell, a former U.S. ambassador to Germany and acting director of national intelligence, of improperly diverting millions from the transaction. Mildon alleges that a portion of the funds was intended as a donation to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, which Grenell led at the time, but that the contribution was never delivered.

The conflict emerged publicly after The New York Times began probing business dealings connected to Turhan Mildon, a Turkish investor and Alina Mildon’s husband since last month. Turhan Mildon’s financial activities and donations to the Kennedy Center became a focal point of inquiries, prompting Alina Mildon to confront former President Trump directly in the Oval Office last Friday with her allegations against Grenell.

Initially, Alina Mildon informed White House officials that the $17.6 million transfer originated from her husband. However, documents submitted to the White House by Turhan Mildon’s legal counsel redacted the sender’s identity. Subsequent White House reviews identified the source as a bank account linked to the Congolese government. Turhan Mildon has acknowledged through a spokesperson that he serves as an adviser to the president of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Grenell, who acknowledged consulting for TX-AT in 2024, denied any involvement with the firm at the time of the transfer. He has publicly refuted all accusations of financial misconduct and declined further comment when approached. Neither Alina Mildon nor Turhan Mildon responded to requests for comment, and the White House also declined to provide a statement.

Once close allies, Grenell and Alina Mildon have seen their relationship deteriorate amidst the dispute over the handling of funds tied to the defense company and the intended Kennedy Center donation. The investigation remains ongoing as officials seek to clarify the transactions and resolve the conflicting claims.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.