President Donald Trump will not attend his eldest son’s wedding, reportedly taking place in the Bahamas this weekend.
After telling reporters Thursday he was going to “try to make” the intimate ceremony between Donald Trump Jr. and Bettina Anderson, but that it was “not good timing” because of the Iran war, Trump confirmed he won’t attend.
“While I very much wanted to be with my son, Don Jr., and the newest member of the Trump Family, his soon to be wife, Bettina, circumstances pertaining to Government, and my love for the United States of America, do not allow me to do so. I feel it is important for me to remain in Washington, D.C., at the White House during this important period of time. Congratulations to Don and Bettina! President DONALD J. TRUMP,” the president wrote Friday on Truth Social.
Trump’s schedule initially said he would head to his New Jersey club this weekend, but now he says he will stay at the White House.
Donald Trump Jr. and Anderson’s wedding is said to be intimate, with fewer than 50 guests attending, sources told CNN. The president had also said his son’s wedding was a “small little private affair.”
Part of the reason Trump was not going to attend was to keep the couple’s ceremony as private as possible, sources also told CNN.
Yet, the president had given a vague answer when asked about it Thursday – indicating he had to be around for Iran war developments.
“He’d like me to go,” Trump said. “I said, ‘You know, this is not good timing for me. I have a thing called Iran and other things.’”
“That’s one I can’t win on,” Trump said in the Oval Office when asked if he planned to attend his eldest son’s wedding. “If I do attend, I get killed. If I don’t attend, I get killed by the fake news, of course.”
Nearly 12 weeks into the Iran war, Trump is facing record-low approval ratings amid the public’s growing discontent over the high cost of gasoline, groceries and other everyday expenses – all impacted by the president’s war in the Middle East.
Despite that, Trump has spent at least five weekends since the start of the Iran war at his golf club in Mar-a-Lago and at least three at his golf club in Doral, Florida. On at least seven of those occasions, the president played golf, according to TrumpGolfTrack
Now, he plans to spend some time in New Jersey.
Other presidents have attended, and sometimes hosted, weddings for their family members. Most recently, Former President Joe Biden hosted his granddaughter, Naomi Biden’s wedding, at the White House in November 2022. Former President George W. Bush hosted a wedding reception for his daughter, Jenna Bush-Hager, at the White House in June 2008.
Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding to Anderson will mark his second marriage and third engagement.
The president’s son was previously married to Vanessa Trump, the couple has five children together, and was also engaged to Kimberly Guilfoyle, who is now serving as Ambassador to Greece.
Donald Trump Jr. began dating Anderson sometime in 2024 and the couple got engaged in December 2025. The president himself announced that his eldest son, 47, was engaged to Anderson, 39, at a White House holiday party, CNN reported.
The president referred to Anderson as “a person I’ve known for a long time,” while talking about the marriage Thursday.
“Hopefully they’re going to have a great marriage,” Trump said.
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