WASHINGTON — A bitter feud has erupted among President Trump’s close allies as Alina Habba, his former personal attorney who served as the top federal prosecutor in New Jersey, accuses ex-intelligence director and diplomat Ric Grenell of failing to deposit millions of dollars donated by her Turkish billionaire husband to the Kennedy Center.
Habba, 42, married Turhan Mildon, 29, last month and told Trump on Friday in the Oval Office that Grenell failed to deposit $5.6 million from Mildon meant for the center, which Grenell led until March as executive director.
The president, who has sought to renovate the performing arts venue and rebrand it to include his name, referred the allegations to White House Counsel Will Scharf for further investigation.
Habba’s claims were first reported by Axios, whose account of the Oval Office meeting was confirmed to The Post by a White House official, who did not share their assessment of the veracity of the claim, and a second person close to the administration, who believes Habba’s charge.
An administration official told The Post that Grenell allegedly convinced Mildon in early 2025 to make a $17.6 million wire transfer as part of a business deal the two were partnering on, of which $5.6 million was supposed to go to the center. The official was unaware of which company allegedly received the funds.
Three additional sources who are otherwise critical of Grenell, however, told The Post they doubt Habba’s claims.
A White House official said they were “very skeptical it’s true.” Another administration official said he views Grenell as “crooked” but that the Kennedy Center’s current leaders lack evidence to substantiate Habba’s tale. A person close to the White House called Grenell “self-destructive” but not “that dumb.”
“She must believe it because it’s really serious,” said one White House official. “[Scharf’s office] will get to the bottom of it.”
An administration official said that lawyers for Habba’s husband have provided documentation to the White House counsel’s office.
Grenell, who serves as Trump’s special envoy for special missions, denied any wrongdoing.
“Absurd. I’ve never asked for one cent to be sent somewhere else pretending it was for the Kennedy Center and I’ve never received any payment from him at all,” Grenell said.
“Make him give proof to what he is saying, not make these absurd allegations.”
Axios quoted an administration official as saying that Kennedy Center staff last year sought to find a $6 million contribution from Mildon but were unable to, though a named former center employee who handled donations said they only had record of a $270,000 pledge that was later paid.
Although they were once friendly, the precise spark behind the collapse of Grenell and Habba’s relationship is unclear.
Grenell previously served as a Trump emissary to then-Venezuelan dictator Nicholas Maduro, whom US forces captured on Jan. 3 following failed diplomatic efforts. Mildon has business interests in Venezuela operating state-owned cement plants.
After Maduro was removed, interim president Delcy Rodriguez in June canceled Mildon’s contract to run those plants. The New York Times reported on Monday that Rodriguez changed course and paused her termination of Mildon’s contract after learning of his relationship with Habba.
