Published September 22, 2026
A lawmaker from Donald Trump’s party has issued an unusual demand for a Congressional investigation into the foreign dealings of the U.S. president’s eldest son.
Sen. John Curtis, a Republican from Utah, said Tuesday that “questions have been raised” about Donald Trump Jr.’s relationships with foreign businessmen and his receipt of “significant gifts,” claiming he may have personally benefited from his association with the president.
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In a letter to the Republican and Democratic leaders of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, Curtis cited a ProPublica report that revealed Trump Jr.’s Bahamian wedding party in May was funded by Russian oligarchs.
“These reports raise legitimate questions about foreign access to the family of a sitting president and whether such relationships create a real or perceived expectation of favorable treatment,” Curtis wrote. “They can also create expectations of reciprocation that are not in the interests of the American people or our allies, and can even create national security vulnerabilities.”
The letter comes as a small but slowly growing number of Republicans are speaking out against President Trump, who has largely avoided criticism from members of his own party. But some Republicans are being forced to reconsider their support as record low approval ratings stemming from the Iran war and concerns about the cost of living in the U.S. raise the prospect of a crushing defeat in the midterm congressional elections.
If Democrats retake one or both chambers of Congress in November, there will likely be investigations into Mr. Trump, including his dealings with his family. But such an investigation is unlikely under Republicans, wary of the president’s anger.
A spokesperson for the Republican-controlled Senate Judiciary Committee told The Associated Press it had received Curtis’ letter, but did not say whether it would investigate.
trump vs biden
Mr Curtis, who is not up for re-election until 2030, also asked a House committee to subpoena Trump Jr., the son of former US President Joe Biden, a Democrat.
“The country does not have to accept one standard for the family of a Republican president and another for the family of a Democratic president,” Curtis wrote, noting that Biden’s son Hunter is under intense scrutiny and investigation from Republicans.
Hunter Biden responded to Curtis’ letter in a social media post, asking the Senate committee to “get this done” after his father vehemently denied any foreign business dealings while he was president.
“I will sit next to Don Jr. and testify anytime, anywhere,” Biden wrote on X, calling on the president’s youngest son Eric and son-in-law Jared Kushner, who serves as the U.S. special envoy, to also testify. “We don’t need a subpoena. Let’s all do it tomorrow.”
After ProPublica’s report, Trump Jr. and his wife Bettina released a joint statement on social media, calling Russian oligarch Umar Kremlev a “dear friend” who “so generously hosted us two wonderful nights after our wedding.”
The president, who did not attend the wedding, said his son had repaid Mr. Kremlev.
“It’s totally allowed, and a lot of people have parties and things like that, and that’s totally allowed,” President Trump said. “But from what I understand, he paid it back. He didn’t want that.”
Sen. Dick Durbin, ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Biden’s son “has already filed an affidavit with Congress,” but Trump Jr. “has not filed an affidavit.”
“If the committee ignores this issue, it risks becoming complicit in a cover-up,” Durbin said. “I join in supporting Sen. Curtis’ request to the Senate Judiciary Committee.”
Mr. Curtis’ office did not immediately respond to questions from Al Jazeera about what prompted the senator’s letter or whether any Republicans had expressed support for an investigation into the president’s family.
