Trump jokes Iran tensions may keep him from attending Don Jr's wedding
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.
Reporter: “Are you attending your son's wedding this weekend?”
— RedWave Press (@RedWavePress) May 21, 2026
President Trump: “Uhhhh. He'd like me to go. But it’s going to be just a small, little private affair, and I’m going to try and make it. I said, ‘This is not good timing for me. I have a thing called Iran and other… pic.twitter.com/XUTpc3AWao
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.
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.
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.