Don Jr appears to snub new GF Bettina Anderson who'd even handpicked her outfit for swearing-in ceremony

As the cameras panned over the Trump family seated in the Capitol Rotunda, one thing was glaringly obvious: Bettina Anderson was nowhere to be seen
The swearing-in of Donald Trump as president on January 20 came with a dose of drama around Donald Trump Jr and his new flame Bettina Anderson (Getty Images)
The swearing-in of Donald Trump as president on January 20 came with a dose of drama around Donald Trump Jr and his new flame Bettina Anderson (Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC: The swearing-in of Donald Trump as president wasn’t just politics and pageantry—it also came with a cool dose of drama around Trump's eldest son and his new flame. 

All eyes were on Donald Trump Jr and his new girlfriend — Palm Beach socialite Bettina Anderson — who had been grabbing headlines for months. But as the cameras panned over the Trump family seated in the Capitol Rotunda, one thing was glaringly obvious: Anderson was nowhere to be seen.

Bettina Anderson's glamorous no-show at Donald Trump's swearing-in

Bettina Anderson’s absence raised eyebrows, especially since she had seemingly been preparing for the big day.

At 8 am on Monday, January 20, cosmetics founder Katherine Lugo posted a photo of Anderson decked out in a houndstooth Dolce & Gabbana ensemble with the caption “Inauguration Glam.”

(Instagram/@katherinesjoyful)
Bettina Anderson had picked out her outfit for Donald Trump's swearing-in (Instagram/@katherinesjoyful)

Despite her outfit choice and apparent readiness, Anderson didn’t make it to the Trump family seats during the ceremony. Her absence extended to the inaugural lunch, where Don Jr was seated with notable figures like Apple CEO Tim Cook, Attorney General nominee Pam Bondi, and Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito.

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: Apple CEO Tim Cook (C) sits next to Donald Trump Jr at the inaugural luncheon on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. Donald Trump takes office for his second term as the 47th president of the United States. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Apple CEO Tim Cook sits next to Donald Trump Jr at the inaugural luncheon on January 20, 2025, in Washington, DC (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

It seemed that Anderson was entirely out of the picture for the day’s key events, the Daily Beast noted.

Anderson did accompany Don Jr to the Inaugural Eve Ball, celebrating Donald Trump's second presidential term. The event was also attended by his ex Kimberly Guilfoyle.

Trump family has reservations about Bettina Anderson

According to insiders, Bettina Anderson’s absence may have been more than a scheduling hiccup. Reports suggest the Trump family has serious reservations about her presence in their orbit. “Individuals close to the president have expressed growing concerns about the potential liability posed by his son’s new relationship,” a close family friend told Mediaite.

Apparently, Anderson’s reputation has been a hot topic. One friend of Don Jr’s said they even warned him about her alleged history of hard partying and a pattern of dating wealthy men in Florida’s high-society circles. Anderson’s representatives denied these claims, but the concerns seem to run deep.

“I told him that she’s not someone he should be around, and let him know about her past,” the friend shared.

PALM BEACH, FL - MARCH 11 : Bettina Anderson attends the David Yurman and W host an In-Store Shopping Event benefiting The Paradise Fund at the Palm Beach Gardens Mall on March 11, 2014 in Palm Beach, Florida. (Photo by Larry Marano/Getty Images for David Yerman)
Bettina Anderson attends the David Yurman and W host an In-Store Shopping Event benefiting The Paradise Fund at the Palm Beach Gardens Mall on March 11, 2014, in Palm Beach, Florida (Larry Marano/Getty Images for David Yerman)

Donald Trump himself is reportedly less than thrilled about his son’s new relationship. Multiple sources told Mediaite that the former president views Anderson as a liability rather than an asset. “Donald Trump does not approve of his son’s association with Bettina,” a close family friend claimed.

The unease is so intense that some Trump confidantes allegedly recommended barring Anderson from the inauguration altogether. According to one source, there was a fear that bringing a “casual partner” to such a historic event could cement the relationship—and its controversies—into the history books.

“The idea that he might have the audacity to bring a casual partner on stage at the inauguration has been described as a potential misstep that could etch this relationship, and its questionable nature, into the history books,” one family friend remarked ahead of the event.

Bettina Anderson and Donald Trump Jr's controversial debut

Bettina Anderson and Donald Trump Jr first went public with their relationship over the holidays, appearing arm-in-arm at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort for Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations. The New Year’s bash, attended by MAGA luminaries like JD Vance and Elon Musk, only fueled the buzz surrounding the couple.



 

Their public debut came on the heels of Don Jr’s split from longtime fiancee Kimberly Guilfoyle. The breakup was finalized in December, coinciding with Guilfoyle’s appointment as ambassador to Greece—a move many found conveniently timed.

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 13:  Donald Trump Jr. and Kimberly Guilfoyle attend the Zang Toi front row d
Donald Trump Jr and Kimberly Guilfoyle attend the Zang Toi front row during New York Fashion Week: The Shows at Gallery II at Spring Studios on February 13, 2019, in New York City (Theo Wargo/Getty Images for NYFW: The Shows) 

Despite the split, Don Jr and Guilfoyle still share a home in Jupiter, Florida, which is a short drive from Mar-a-Lago.

GET BREAKING U.S. NEWS & POLITICAL UPDATES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

Donald Trump subsequently announced that Stephen Miller would replace Susie Wiles as chief of staff, with the transition scheduled for Monday
2026-11-07T07:38:55.000Z
Abdul El-Sayed faced criticism over his response to the Temple Israel synagogue attack, widening divisions with Michigan's Jewish community
2026-11-07T06:16:46.000Z
Katie reportedly made around half a dozen calls to Trump insiders, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and allies of Vice President JD Vance
2026-11-07T05:28:32.000Z
The move came after Republicans suffered major midterm losses and roughly a week before a hearing to assess the accuracy of California's voter list
2026-11-07T04:46:46.000Z
The Rewards for Justice program sought details about Iran’s nuclear facilities, equipment and scientific personnel, while offering informants possible relocation
2026-11-07T04:41:58.000Z
AG Todd Blanche announced Jason A Reding Quinones’ resignation amid a series of high-profile DOJ departures after Republicans’ midterm election losses
2026-11-07T03:57:08.000Z
Trump hinted at Cabinet firings in a '60 Minutes' interview recorded just hours before Susie Wiles was replaced by Stephen Miller
2026-11-07T03:37:56.000Z
Susie Wiles' departure followed reports that Trump was unhappy with his advisers over weak midterm strategy and was considering changes
2026-11-06T21:11:35.000Z
James Comer criticized the lack of a clear Iran strategy and said Republican voters were more dissatisfied with the situation than Democrats
2026-11-06T20:58:36.000Z
John Sununu, who lost his Senate bid for New Hampshire, accused President Trump of failing to fulfill his promise to tackle corruption, claiming that “his family is on every transaction"
2026-11-06T19:00:05.000Z