President Donald Trump will not attend his eldest son's wedding, which is reportedly taking place in the Bahamas this weekend. After telling reporters on Thursday that he would 'try to make' the intimate ceremony between Donald Trump Jr. and Bettina Anderson, but that it was 'not good timing' due to the Iran war, sources confirmed to CNN that the president planned to skip the event.
Trump's 'No-Win' Scenario
'That's one I can't win on,' Trump said in the Oval Office when asked about attending 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.' The president's weekend schedule also confirmed he plans to remain in the United States and enjoy 'executive time' in Bedminster, New Jersey, most likely at his golf club.
A Private Affair
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 described his son's wedding as 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 added.
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.'
Political and Personal Context
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 Relationship
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, with whom he has five children, 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 on Thursday. 'Hopefully they're going to have a great marriage,' Trump said.
