President Donald Trump publicly confirmed he would skip his son’s wedding in the Bahamas, citing government responsibilities as the reason for his absence from Donald Trump Jr.’s nuptials to Bettina Anderson.

“While I very much wanted to be with my son, Don Jr., and the newest member of the Trump Family, his soon to be wife, Bettina, circumstances about Government, and my love for the United States of America, do not allow me to do so,” the president wrote on Truth Social, adding that he felt it was important to remain in Washington, D.C., “during this important time.”

The president had been scheduled to spend the weekend playing golf in Bedminster, New Jersey, but instead remained at the White House. A day earlier, speaking from the Oval Office, he had been more candid about the conflict. “This is not good timing for me,” he said. The president was long expected to skip the festivities.

The intimate island ceremony proceeded without him, gathering roughly 40 guests on a private Bahamas island for a sun-soaked celebration. The guest list included Don Jr.’s five children and several Trump family members — Ivanka Trump, Eric Trump and Tiffany Trump among them — though the groom’s father’s name was notably missing from the seating chart.

Legal Vows Came First in Florida

The couple had already tied the knot legally in West Palm Beach, Florida, before the destination festivities began. Marriage records from Palm Beach County, obtained by TMZ, confirmed the couple had made things official ahead of the weekend ceremony.

Anderson teased the celebration on social media, sharing a photo that showed off the couple’s wedding bands — a subtle reveal for a wedding the pair hoped to keep very much under wraps. The guest list was deliberately kept small, under 50 people total, with only immediate family and the couple’s closest friends invited in an effort to prevent details from leaking to the media.

An Exclusive Caribbean Setting

The celebration unfolded on a private Bahamas island that has served as a filming location for James Bond and Pirates of the Caribbean movies. The exclusive location is accessible only by a short seaplane or helicopter ride from Nassau, or via a private flight.

Multi-day festivities included time on the crystal-clear Atlantic for watersports. Ivanka Trump and her niece Kai Trump took to stand-up paddleboarding, while Lara Trump and Tiffany Trump appeared to spend time boating, based on photos posted to Instagram.

Lara Trump also offered a glimpse into one of the island events held during the festivities. The space featured a palette of dark pink, orange, and soft yellow, accented with tropical flowers and fuchsia bougainvillea, along with rattan seating, string lights, seagrass shades, and colorful paper lanterns set along the sand. Lara Trump wore an orange-red Andreeva knit dress trimmed with feather details, while her husband, Eric Trump, kept things relaxed in white jeans, a light blue linen shirt, and white sneakers.

From Engagement to ‘I Do’

Trump Jr. proposed to Anderson at Camp David in December 2025 while celebrating Anderson’s birthday. The pair then formally announced their engagement at a White House holiday party that same month.

The couple had begun dating in 2024, following the end of Don Jr.’s engagement to Kimberly Guilfoyle, the former Fox News host who now serves as U.S. ambassador to Greece.

Anderson had originally expressed interest in holding the wedding at the White House, but Trump Jr. felt it was inappropriate given geopolitical circumstances, and she ultimately agreed. A follow-up celebration at the White House is planned for later in the year.

At her bridal shower ahead of the Bahamas ceremony, Anderson addressed guests in remarks captured on video by friend and designer Stacey Bendet. “I feel honored to join your family and to fight by your side, Don, through whatever life brings us,” she said. “To become your wife is the greatest honor, and I will stand by your side through anything.” Friends of Trump Jr. told CNN they had never seen the groom so happy.

The Bride and Groom’s Backgrounds

Anderson, a Palm Beach socialite, hails from a prominent local family. Her father, Harry Loy Anderson Jr., is a banker and philanthropist, and she serves as a committee member at the Project Paradise Film Fund, an organization focused on protecting Florida’s environment.

This is the second marriage for Trump Jr., 48, who operates the Trump Organization alongside his brother Eric and has been a fixture alongside his father at political events.

He was previously married to Vanessa Trump from 2005 to 2018, and the two share five children — all of whom were on hand to witness their father’s wedding in the Bahamas.

Eric Trump told Page Six that the newlyweds “truly light up around each other” and described their relationship as “amazing” to witness.

He also acknowledged the no-win nature of the scheduling dilemma, noting that whether he attended or not, he would face criticism either way.

Dad may have missed the toast, but the Bahamas ceremony went off as planned — small, private and exactly the way the bride and groom wanted it.