U.S. President Donald Trump has a lot on his plate, and attending his eldest son's wedding this weekend is low on the priority list given the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. In a candid Oval Office event on Thursday, Trump admitted that while he would 'try and make it' to Donald Trump Jr.'s nuptials, no one should be surprised if he doesn't show up due to 'a thing called Iran and other things.'
Trump's Dilemma: Wedding or National Security?
The 48-year-old groom, Don Jr., is set to marry his fiancée Bettina Anderson in a small, private ceremony in the Bahamas. However, the timing couldn't be worse for the president, who is grappling with escalating tensions in Iran. Trump explained, 'He'd like me to go, but it's going to be just a small, little private affair, and I'm going to try and make it. This is not good timing for me.'
Trump further elaborated on the pressure he faces, stating, 'If I do attend, I get killed. If I don't attend, I get killed by the fake news.' He added a hopeful note for the couple: 'Hopefully they're going to have a great marriage.'
Reasons Behind the President's Likely Absence
Sources close to the family told CNN that another reason for Trump's absence is to keep the ceremony as private as possible. The president's weekend schedule reportedly does not include a trip to the Bahamas; instead, he is expected to enjoy 'executive time' at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey.
This will be Don Jr.'s second marriage. He was previously married to Vanessa Trump for 13 years before their divorce in 2018. Vanessa, who now dates Tiger Woods, recently announced a breast cancer diagnosis. The couple shares five children: daughters Kai and Chloe, and sons Donald III, Tristan, and Spencer.
Trump Jr. was previously engaged to Kimberly Guilfoyle, the U.S. ambassador to Greece, from 2020 to 2024. He and Anderson, a 39-year-old Palm Beach socialite, began dating in 2024 and announced their engagement in December 2025.
