President Trump on Friday said that he would not attend Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding over Memorial Day weekend.
“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,” Trump said on Truth Social.
“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!” he added.
Donald Trump reveals why he’s skipping son Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding to Bettina Anderson https://t.co/ptDJNpLhz7 pic.twitter.com/49sVKNPccy
— New York Post (@nypost) May 22, 2026
Page Six shared further:
The news comes one day after the president hinted that the event was “not good timing” for him.
“He’d like me to go, but it’s going to be just a small little private affair, and I’m going to try and make it,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday.
ADVERTISEMENT“This is not good timing for me,” he added, “everything called Iran and other things.”
He continued, saying that the conflict is “one I can’t win on. If I do attend, I get killed. If I don’t attend, I get killed.”
Trump concluded, “Hopefully they’re going to have a great marriage.”
Also on Friday, news broke that the couple had legally married ahead of their Saturday celebration at a Bahamas private island, which Page Six reported on Monday was the location for the event.
Don Jr., 48, popped the question to Anderson, 39, in December at Camp David. Sources told us at the time that they’d hoped to wed at the White House, but switched plans amid the war with Iran.
Watch below:
Reporter: Are you attending your son’s wedding?
Trump: He’d like me to go. I’m going to try. I said, this is not good timing for me. I have a thing called Iran and other things. He’s a person I’ve known for a long time. pic.twitter.com/lGdjvU7oD0
— Acyn (@Acyn) May 21, 2026
Page Six said it obtained a copy of the marriage certificate filed in Palm Beach, Florida, on Thursday.
Donald Trump Jr. and Bettina Anderson officially marry ahead of Bahamas wedding https://t.co/qcGmZIlosD pic.twitter.com/wRpmv2lYWO
— New York Post (@nypost) May 22, 2026
USA TODAY noted:
It would be Trump Jr.’s second marriage. He has five children with former model Vanessa Trump. Their marriage ended in 2018.
Vanessa Trump, who is in a relationship with golfer Tiger Woods, announced May 20 that she has breast cancer, saying in a social media post that she is “staying focused and hopeful while surrounded by the love and support of my family, my kids and those closest to me.”
Trump Jr. was engaged to Kimberly Guilfoyle, the United States ambassador to Greece, after his first marriage ended. Their relationship ended in 2024. He began appearing in public with Anderson in December 2024.
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