Behind a White House Feud That Is Bitter Even by Trump-Era Standards

Two allies of President Trump -- Alina Habba Mildon and Richard Grenell -- are locked in a raging dispute that has its roots in the battle for a share of the spoils in Venezuela.

Alina Habba Mildon, who had been one of President Trump's personal lawyers, stormed into the Oval Office last week intent on taking down another prominent ally of the president. Her target was Richard Grenell, who had earlier served as Mr. Trump's special envoy to Venezuela and as head of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Mrs. Mildon had just married a Turkish investor, Turhan Mildon, who has extensive business holdings in Venezuela. He had been in regular contact with Mr. Grenell the previous year both about Venezuela and about supporting the Kennedy Center.

But now Mrs. Mildon was telling Mr. Trump that Mr. Grenell had misallocated millions of dollars that her husband had sent Mr. Grenell in 2025 intended for the Kennedy Center. A lawyer for Mr. Mildon followed up this week by sending the White House documentation intended to back up the accusation, including a text message in which Mr. Grenell was purported to have said he wanted to make Mr. Mildon the "American face down in V," referring to Venezuela.

Mr. Grenell denied the accusations, calling them absurd.

What actually happened is now at the center of a White House storm that has left Will Scharf, the White House counsel, with the job of discerning who is telling the truth.

The accusations are part of a long-running battle among Mr. Trump's allies and supporters for a share of the spoils in Venezuela, whose resource riches are now effectively under American control.

This article is based on interviews with more than a dozen people with knowledge of the events, most of whom spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the accusations and the private Oval Office meeting.

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