White House delays inquiry into Habba’s disputed Kennedy Center donation claim
The White House is investigating Alina Habba’s accusation that former Kennedy Center president Ric Grenell failed to pass on money her husband intended to donate to the arts centre. President Donald Trump asked White House counsel Will Scharf to look into the dispute, but officials are now questioning the authenticity of the text message Habba cites and have delayed a verdict until after the midterm elections.
Habba’s husband, Turhan Mildon, says he wired $17.6 million to a Houston defence firm in May 2025 on Grenell’s instructions, believing $5.6 million would go to the Kennedy Center. Grenell denies involvement in the transfer, and the centre’s records show no donation of that scale; Mildon later paid an outstanding $270,000 pledge on 13 October. Officials say they have not determined whether the text is genuine, while the two sides disagree about what evidence has been provided.
In short
- White House officials are questioning whether a key text message is genuine.
- Habba’s husband says $5.6 million was intended for the Kennedy Center.
- Trump’s team has postponed its decision until after the midterms.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Habba’s allegation merits a careful inquiry because, if her husband’s account is accurate, a substantial sum intended in part for a public arts institution may not have reached it. Establishing whether the cited message is genuine and tracing the transfer would help protect donors and the centre’s accountability, while officials may reasonably wait for evidence before reaching a conclusion.
The case against
Grenell denies involvement, the Kennedy Center has no record of receiving a donation of that scale, and officials have questioned the authenticity of the message, so the allegation remains unsubstantiated in the account provided. Delaying a verdict until after the midterms may be defended as avoiding a premature political judgement, though the timing can also raise concerns about whether the inquiry is being handled independently and promptly.
Explained simply
The Kennedy Center in Washington is a major performing arts venue and a national memorial. Its president oversees the institution, while donations help support its programmes and operations.
Alina Habba is a lawyer and former White House adviser; her husband, Turhan Mildon, says he intended to donate money to the centre. Ric Grenell, who previously led the Kennedy Center, denies involvement in the transfer Habba has described.
The dispute concerns whether money intended for the centre was sent elsewhere and what the available messages and financial records show. It has drawn attention because it involves a prominent cultural institution, a former leader and people connected to the White House.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “White House civil war hits fever pitch as Trump probe into Alina Habba’s feud with Ric Grenell and her billionaire husband’s missing millions takes dark twist”.