Trump's former lawyer's Turkish wife in the spotlight! A striking investigation into the 'national groom'

Alina Habba Mildon, former lawyer of U.S. President Donald Trump, raised accusations at the White House that sparked a debate about Turhan Mildon, the wife of a Turkish businessman. Habba Mildon accused Richard Grenell, a name in Trump’s inner circle, of using the money from a charitable donation. She alleged that the 17.6‑million‑dollar donation was made by his wife Turhan Mildon.

However, the investigation conducted at the White House determined that the money was transferred not from Mildon’s personal fortune but from a state account belonging to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the businessman was developing commercial ties. The money was assessed to have been sent to a Texas‑based company affiliated with Grenell under a software agreement linked to the Congo.

It was reported that Trump, after the allegations, instructed his aides to investigate the accusations against Grenell. Grenell denied the charges directed at him. The developments brought both U.S. political relations and Turkish businessman Turhan Mildon’s commercial history into focus.

Turhan Mildon Investigation by the New York Times

The New York Times’ investigation into Turhan Mildon’s past revealed striking differences between the businessman’s narrative to the public and official records.

Questions were raised about Mildon’s age, marital history, wealth, and relationships with world leaders after he claimed large investments in Africa and Venezuela and described himself as a billionaire.

Mildon had previously stated in an interview with The New York Times that he was 29 years old, and his wife Alina Habba had confirmed that information. However, the official documents submitted to the paper showed his birth date as December 2, 2000. Accordingly, it was indicated that Mildon's real age was 25.

In 2023, the same birth date was reported on the U.S. visa he obtained from Kinşasa, on the image of his Turkish passport, and in the official company records of the United Kingdom. Friends who graduated from Istanbul SEV American College in 2020 also confirmed that they graduated at the same time as Mildon and were 25 years old.

Marriage History Also Became a Point of Contention

Turhan Mildon became a son‑in‑law to a prominent Turkish businessman’s family in 2021. However, that marriage ended in 2024.

While it was stated that his marriage to Alina Habba was his second, it was also alleged that during his commercial activities in Venezuela, Mildon entered into a religious marriage with María Ceballos, the daughter of high‑ranking commander Remigio Ceballos.

In response to the claim relayed by some of Mildon's former close associates, his spokesperson argued that the event was not a legally binding marriage but a cultural betrothal ceremony.

Crisis in Venezuela's Million-Dollar Investments

Mildon said in interviews with various media outlets that it has large investments in Congo and Venezuela. In a statement to Forbes Turkey, he said the company's 2025 revenue reached 2.6 billion dollars.

The businessman, who said he has investments worth hundreds of millions of dollars in construction, mining, cement, and food export, was reported to have a real fortune that is difficult to verify independently because of his private companies.

On the other hand, it was alleged that serious problems were being experienced with the commercial activities in Venezuela. The five‑year concession contract for operating ten state cement factories, which make up a significant portion of Mildon's income, was terminated by the Venezuelan government.

It was reported that the administration cited that only six percent of the capital committed in the first two years of the contract had been invested and demanded the facilities be vacated.

It was also alleged that workers at cement and shrimp‑processing plants in the country could not be paid, and that debts to more than 150 suppliers and public institutions had reached millions of dollars. Mildon's spokesperson, however, said the facilities had undergone inspections and that control over the businesses remained in their hands.

Claims of Close Ties with World Leaders

It was stated that Turhan Mildon claimed to have close ties with global power centers to secure business opportunities and political influence.

The businessman claimed to have connections with Donald Trump, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Democratic Republic of the Congo President Félix Tshisekedi, former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, and Delcy Rodríguez.

However, sources close to the governments of the mentioned countries argued that the relationships Mildon describes are not as strong as claimed and that the level of closeness is exaggerated.

It was stated that the only publicly available evidence that Mildon was in the same setting as Donald Trump is a photograph taken at a golf club in New Jersey. The photo shows Mildon and his spouse standing beside a table in the background. A source close to Trump said that the U.S. President does not know Mildon.

Mildon also claimed that he had exchanged English messages with Nicolás Maduro via WhatsApp last year. However, it is known that Maduro did not use WhatsApp at that time due to security concerns and does not speak English. Mildon's spokesperson also rejected this claim.

After Maduro was seized by US forces in February, it was reported that Mildon met with his successor Delcy Rodríguez. However, it was stated that this contact did not continue.

500-Million-Dollar Projects in Congo on the Agenda

Turhan Mildon, who holds a diplomatic passport from Congo, claims he serves as an adviser to President Félix Tshisekedi. Although photos of the two together exist, the extent of their relationship remains unclear.

Since 2021, Mildon has secured tenders in Congo worth more than $500 million in areas such as financial centers, sports halls, social housing projects, and military camp construction.

However, the failure to complete numerous projects, including sensitive defense projects, and falling behind the planned schedule has drawn attention.

This year, a contract was signed to establish a $50 million unmanned aerial vehicle base in Kisangani as part of the fight against M23 rebels backed by Rwanda. However, despite the agreement, significant progress on the project was not achieved.

While the Congo government made no official statement on the matter, the spokesperson for Turhan Mildon denied the allegations that the businessman had provided misleading information about his past and characterized the accusations as a smear campaign.

The developments that began with the 17,6‑million‑dollar donation controversy at the White House also put the Turkish businessman's international commercial activities, political connections, and claims about his wealth under scrutiny.