President Trump announced on Friday, May 22, 2026, that he will not attend the wedding of his son Donald Trump Jr. to Bettina Anderson this weekend and will remain in Washington, D.C., at the White House.
“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 president said, confirming he would skip the Bahamas event. The donald trump jr wedding ceremony has been described as a small private affair.
The decision followed comments on Thursday in which Mr. Trump said he might not go because of the situation with Iran and other matters. Photos from the Bahamas wedding began circulating over Memorial Day weekend, and an Instagram post by Ivanka Trump drew more than 170,000 likes, underscoring the social-media attention around the family gathering.
White House calendars for Saturday and Sunday list only executive time at the residence, reinforcing the president’s statement that he intended to stay in Washington during what he called an important period for government business. Administration officials did not announce any travel plans that would take him out of the capital this weekend.
The president acknowledged the personal tug of the event while explaining his choice, saying he very much wanted to be with his son and the “newest member of the Trump Family,” but that “circumstances pertaining to Government, and my love for the United States of America, do not allow me to do so.” He added that the timing is difficult, quipping that he had “a thing called Iran and other things,” and lamenting the media scrutiny he expects whether he attends or not.
Donald Trump Jr. is entering a second marriage; he and his first wife, Vanessa Trump, divorced in 2018, and he has five children from that marriage. The couple’s reported Bahamas ceremony drew family and social attention over the holiday weekend but was characterized by the president and aides as a private gathering rather than a large public event.
For readers wondering whether the president might still appear, his Friday statement and the White House schedule make a last-minute attendance unlikely. With Mr. Trump publicly committing to remain in Washington and citing national responsibilities, he is not expected to travel to the Bahamas for the wedding this weekend.
