US President Donald Trump has confirmed he will not attend his eldest son Donald Trump Jr's wedding to Bettina Anderson, citing responsibilities in Washington, D.C. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump offered his congratulations but stated that 'circumstances pertaining to Government, and my love for the United States of America' prevent him from attending.
The wedding is reportedly set to take place in the Bahamas over the Memorial Day weekend. Trump initially indicated he might skip the event, telling reporters in the Oval Office that the timing was 'not good' due to issues including the situation in Iran. He remarked, 'If I do attend, I get killed. If I don't attend, I get killed – by the fake news, of course.'
Despite his busy schedule, Trump has recently attended a UFC event in Miami and a PGA tour championship at his golf club in Doral, Florida, and has played several rounds of golf. His decision to miss the wedding comes as opinion polls show his approval rating at an all-time low.
Donald Trump Jr, 48, is the president's eldest child and has been a prominent campaign surrogate. His previous marriage to Vanessa Haydon ended in divorce, and he was engaged to Kimberly Guilfoyle before ending that relationship in 2024. His fiancée, Bettina Anderson, is a 39-year-old socialite and model from a prominent banking family in Palm Beach.
Trump notably attended his daughter Ivanka's wedding to Jared Kushner in 2009, describing it as 'spectacular.' The president's absence from his son's wedding marks a contrast to that occasion, though he has previously acknowledged the potential for criticism regardless of his choice.
