It’s the kind of moment no family forgets. Donald Trump Jr. is getting married this weekend, and his father — the President of the United States — won’t be there.
President Trump confirmed on Friday that he will not attend the wedding of his eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., to Bettina Anderson, citing pressing responsibilities at the White House.
In a post on Truth Social, the president struck a tone that was equal parts paternal and presidential. “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,” he wrote, adding: “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!”
The couple will marry on a small private island in the Bahamas, with a guest list deliberately kept under 50 people to ensure an intimate, exclusive ceremony. The President, however, will not be among those on the beach.
The decision didn’t come entirely out of the blue. A day earlier, speaking from the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump had said he was “going to try” to make it — but quickly added that the timing wasn’t great. “I have a thing called Iran and other things,” he told reporters. “This is not good timing for me.”
And in a very Trump moment, he acknowledged the no-win nature of the situation with characteristic bluntness. “If I do attend, I get killed. If I don’t attend, I get killed by the fake news,” he said.
While the President stays away, other members of the Trump family are expected to make the trip to the Bahamas for the celebration.
The White House had originally indicated Trump would spend the Memorial Day weekend at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, but by Friday had updated his schedule to show he would remain in Washington instead.
According to Page Six, the couple had originally considered holding the wedding at the White House, but a source noted they were “very aware that a lavish wedding at the White House while people are dying wouldn’t be well-received.”
Trump Jr., 48, runs the Trump Organization alongside his brother Eric. He was previously married to Vanessa Trump, with whom he has five children. His fiancée Bettina Anderson, 39, is a Palm Beach socialite. His previous long-term partner, Kimberly Guilfoyle, is currently serving as the U.S. Ambassador to Greece.
For Don Jr. and Bettina, the wedding goes ahead — just without the most famous guest on the family tree.