Trump ‘happy' with how Bettina Anderson looks as he approves of Don Jr's fiancée : Source

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump is said to be satisfied with his eldest son Donald Trump Jr’s engagement to socialite Bettina Anderson, a development the president revealed publicly at the White House earlier this week.

The announcement, made on December 15, marked a new chapter for Don Jr following his high-profile split from former fiancee Kimberly Guilfoyle.

Behind the scenes, sources say the engagement has been welcomed by the Trump patriarch, who had mixed feelings about his son’s past relationships but ultimately warmed to Anderson.

Trump approves Don Jr’s engagement to Bettina Anderson

According to a political source who spoke to PEOPLE, President Donald Trump is pleased with Donald Trump Jr’s choice of partner and believes Bettina Anderson fits the family dynamic.

“The president is happy with the way Bettina looks, and wants his son to be satisfied in his next mate,” the source said.

The insider contrasted Anderson with Don Jr ’s previous relationships, noting that while the family initially embraced Kimberly Guilfoyle, their feelings changed over time.

“The Trumps were happy with [Don Jr’s first wife] Vanessa, and also with Kim at first until she became a grandstander and attempted to put too much media and MAGA attention on herself,” the source added.

Don Jr, 47, was married to Vanessa Trump for 12 years before their divorce in 2018. Despite the split, Vanessa has remained present at some family gatherings, as they share five children together: Kai, Donald III, Tristan, Spencer, and Chloe.

How Bettina Anderson won Trump approval

Another source told PEOPLE that President Donald Trump did not immediately embrace Bettina Anderson when she first entered Donald Trump Jr’s life. Her initial enthusiasm, the source said, raised eyebrows within the famously image-conscious family. 

“At first Bettina’s eagerness to join forces with the Trumps was off-putting to the president,” the source explained. “But she has toned down, realizing that she has to look beautiful, stand still, and be subordinate to anything the Trumps do.”

Over time, that adjustment appears to have worked. “She has managed to mellow out enough to be accepted,” the source added.

Anderson, 39, is a Palm Beach socialite and philanthropist who comes from a well-connected family. She is the daughter of philanthropists Harry Loy Anderson Jr and Inger Anderson and is actively involved with the Hope for Depression Research Foundation, Project Paradise, and the Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County.

Don Jr and Bettina Anderson’s swift engagement

While the engagement itself may not have come as a shock to those close to the couple, the timing surprised some insiders at Mar-a-Lago.

“I thought a proposal was going to be later, but not too early for Bettina,” a Mar-a-Lago source told PEOPLE. “This is what she wanted all along, and she is happy.”

Donald Trump Jr and Bettina Anderson were first publicly spotted together at brunch in August 2024, though he was still believed at the time to be engaged to Kimberly Guilfoyle.

Their relationship became harder to ignore in early December when they were photographed holding hands during a nighttime stroll in Palm Beach while celebrating Anderson’s birthday.

Kimberly Guilfoyle steps aside as Don Jr moves on

Just one day after photos of Donald Trump Jr and Bettina Anderson went public, President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that Kimberly Guilfoyle would be nominated as US ambassador to Greece, effectively relocating her overseas. The Senate later confirmed her nomination in September.

At the time, a source told PEOPLE that the Trump family was eager to create distance. “Kim is not a nice person and always wants the limelight,” the source said. “Don and Kim are over but they are going to offer her some kind of an administrative position so she will be happy.”

Another political source later added that Anderson and Don Jr were keen to move forward without Guilfoyle lingering nearby.

“Bettina wants Kim out of the area,” the source said, adding that the family delayed any public split to avoid political fallout during the election.