President Trump has said he will miss his eldest son Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding in the Bahamas tomorrow (May 23), citing what he described as ‘circumstances pertaining to government’.
Donald Trump Jr. is due to marry Palm Beach socialite Bettina Anderson in a private ceremony on a small island in the Bahamas.
The celebration is expected to be tightly restricted, with reports suggesting only immediate family and close friends are attending, keeping the guest list to around 50 people.
However, one notable absence will be the groom’s father, President Trump.
In a Truth Social post shared one day before the ceremony, the president said his responsibilities meant he could not travel for the event.
The 79-year-old wrote: “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 also said it was ‘important’ for him to remain at the White House during what he called ‘this important period of time’, while still offering his congratulations to the couple.
Trump Jr. and Anderson have kept most details of the ceremony out of the spotlight, apparently aiming to preserve a quiet, intimate occasion.
Earlier in the day, before the Truth Social announcement, President Trump told reporters he was uncertain whether he could attend, though he initially suggested he would attempt to make it.
“He’d like me to go, but it’s going to be just a small little private affair,” he said, speaking to reporters earlier today (May 22).
“This is not good timing for me,” he added, “Everything called Iran and other things.”
He went on to add: “That’s one I can’t win on. If I do attend, I get killed. If I don’t attend, I get killed.”
The upcoming ceremony will be Trump Jr.’s second marriage. He was previously married to Vanessa Trump for 12 years, before they divorced in 2018.
On Wednesday (May 20), Vanessa announced she had been diagnosed with breast cancer, sharing that she is ‘staying focused and hopeful’ and leaning on family, her children, and those close to her.
During their marriage, Trump Jr. and Vanessa had five children together: daughters Kai and Chloe, and sons Donald III, Tristan and Spencer.