Trump says he will miss Donald Trump Jr’s wedding due to government duties

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he will not attend the wedding of his eldest son, Donald Trump Jr, and Bettina Anderson, saying he needs to remain in Washington because of official responsibilities.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he had wanted to be present for the ceremony but would stay at the White House instead.

While I very much wanted to be with my son, Don Junior, 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 added:

I feel it is important for me to remain in Washington, DC, at the White House during this important period of time.

Trump had indicated a day earlier that he hoped to attend, but said the timing was difficult. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, he said Donald Trump Jr wanted him there, while describing the event as a small private gathering.

I have a thing called Iran and other things.

The wedding is scheduled to take place this weekend on a small island in the Bahamas. CNN reported that detail on Thursday, citing two people familiar with the plans. The same report said a spokesperson for Donald Trump Jr did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Official duties cited

The Trump administration is currently involved in diplomatic talks mediated by Pakistan aimed at reaching an agreement to end the war with Iran that the United States and Israel began on February 28. The conflict has unsettled the global economy.

Trump’s remarks linked his decision to remain in Washington to that broader period of government activity. His public comments on Thursday and Friday both pointed to official matters as the reason he would not travel for the family event.

Donald Trump Jr’s previous relationships

This is the third engagement for Donald Trump Jr. He was previously married to Vanessa, identified in the report as a former model and actress. Their marriage lasted 12 years and they have five children together. Vanessa filed for divorce in 2018.

He was later engaged to US television personality Kimberly Guilfoyle. That relationship ended in 2024.

The latest announcement from Trump settles uncertainty over whether he would attend the wedding after saying on Thursday that he would try to make it despite scheduling pressures. His Friday statement made clear that he would remain in the US capital instead.