Trump skips – President Donald Trump says he will not attend his oldest son Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding to Palm Beach socialite Bettina Anderson, despite wanting to be there. He points to “circumstances pertaining to Government” and what he calls “important” Washington dutie
President Donald Trump told the country on social media that he won’t be traveling for his oldest son’s wedding this weekend, even as he said he very much wanted to be there.
On May 22. he wrote that the “circumstances pertaining to Government” and “my love for the United States of America” prevent him from attending Donald Trump Jr.’s ceremony with Bettina Anderson. “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. “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 had already signaled the decision the day before. Asked about the wedding on May 21 in the Oval Office. Trump said the timing was “not good timing for me” and pointed to the Iran war. “He’d like me to go,” Trump said May 21. “But it’s going to be just a small. little private affair and I’m going to try and make it. I’m in the midst. I said: ‘You know this is not good timing for me. I have a thing called Iran and other things.’”.
Donald Trump Jr., 48, and Anderson, 37, are reportedly getting married over the weekend. Anderson is a Palm Beach, Florida, socialite. The couple announced their engagement in December during a White House holiday party, and they were engaged at Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland.
Trump’s fatherhood and politics collided in the same week. Anderson held a bridal shower at Mar-a-Lago, the president’s Palm Beach estate, last month.
New details about where the wedding will happen have also circulated. Page Six reported that Trump Jr. and Anderson will be married on a private island in the Bahamas over the weekend. It would be Trump Jr.’s second marriage.
Trump Jr. has five children, including Kai Trump, with former model Vanessa Trump. Their marriage ended in 2018. Trump Jr. was previously engaged to Kimberly Guilfoyle, the United States ambassador to Greece, after his first marriage ended. Their relationship ended in 2024, and he began appearing in public with Anderson in December 2024.
Meanwhile, Vanessa Trump’s health announcement landed just days before the wedding plans fully moved into view. Vanessa Trump announced May 20 that she has breast cancer. writing 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.”.
The sequence is stark: Trump said he wants to be present. then emphasized that government business and the Iran situation make this weekend’s date the wrong moment. In the same window. the private plans for his son proceed—down to the reported Bahamas location—while a former spouse deals with a new health reality.
As of now, the president’s message leaves little room for a last-minute change: he said he would “remain in Washington, D.C., at the White House” during “this important period of time,” offering only his congratulations to Don and Bettina.
Donald Trump Donald Trump Jr. Bettina Anderson wedding Washington DC Iran war White House Mar-a-Lago Camp David Bahamas Vanessa Trump breast cancer