Trump jokes Iran tensions may keep him from attending Don Jr's wedding

Donald Trump made it clear that he hoped to be there for the wedding ceremony and wished the couple well
President Donald Trump joked that tensions with Iran could keep him from attending his son Donald Trump Jr's wedding to Bettina Anderson (Getty Images)
President Donald Trump joked that tensions with Iran could keep him from attending his son Donald Trump Jr's wedding to Bettina Anderson (Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump struck a lighter, more humorous tone on Thursday, May 21, when asked whether he would attend his son Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding, joking that global crises and political pressures were making the timing nearly impossible.

Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump was asked directly if he planned to travel to the Bahamas for the ceremony.

He said his son “would like me to go” and described the wedding as a small, private gathering but quickly shifted into a joking explanation of why his schedule might not allow it.



Trump says he might miss his son's wedding

Trump spoke to reporters about his son's wedding and discussed his apprehensions.

“I’m going to try and make it,” Trump said, before adding that he was “in the midst” of heavy responsibilities.

“This is not good timing for me. I have a thing called Iran and other things,” he said with a humorous tone, framing the situation as an unavoidable conflict between duty and family.

U.S. President Donald Trump raises his fist as he attends the United States Coast Guard Academy commencement ceremony on Cadet Memorial Field on May 20, 2026 in New London, Connecticut. This is the 145th U.S. Coast Guard commencement. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump raises his fist as he attends the United States Coast Guard Academy commencement ceremony on Cadet Memorial Field on May 20, 2026, in New London, Connecticut (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

He continued in a tongue-in-cheek manner, suggesting that whatever decision he makes would attract criticism anyway.

“If I do attend, I get killed. If I don’t attend, I get killed by the fake news,” he said, drawing laughter in the room.

Despite the joking delivery, Trump made clear he hoped to be there for the ceremony and wished the couple well, noting his long relationship with his eldest son.

TETERBORO, NEW JERSEY - JULY 13: (L-R) Bettina Anderson, Donald Trump Jr. and U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff walk on the tarmac on before First lady Melania Trump and U.S. President Donald Trump on July 13, 2025 in Teterboro, New Jersey. They will join FIFA President Gianni Infantino and other guests while watching the final match of the FIFA Club World Cup at MetLife Stadium. This is the first time in the history of the FIFA CWC that the United States has hosted the competition, one year before the U.S., Mexico, and Canada are scheduled to host the World Cup in 2026. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Bettina Anderson, Donald Trump Jr and Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff walk on the tarmac on July 13, 2025, in Teterboro, New Jersey (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Private wedding planned in the Bahamas

Donald Trump Jr and Bettina Anderson are set to marry over Memorial Day weekend in a small, private ceremony on a secluded island in the Bahamas, attended by close family and friends.

Reports suggest the couple briefly considered a White House wedding but opted for a more private setting, with one report noting sensitivity around public optics during a period of international tension.

The wedding has already attracted attention due to the high-profile nature of the Trump family and the timing amid ongoing global developments.

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