Trump says he may not make Don Jr’s wedding because of Iran War – despite multiple golfing trips since conflict began

President Donald Trump isn’t sure he’ll be able to squeeze time in his calendar to attend his eldest son’s wedding this weekend, with the war in Iran and “other things” going on, he told reporters Thursday.

“He’d like me to go,” Trump said in the Oval Office when asked if he planned to attend the wedding between Donald Trump Jr. and Bettina Anderson, reportedly occurring in the Bahamas.

“I said, ‘You know, this is not good timing for me. I have a thing called Iran and other things,’” the president explained.

Nearly 12 weeks into the Iran war, Trump is facing record-low approval ratings amid the public’s growing discontent over the high cost of gasoline, groceries and other everyday expenses – all impacted by the president’s war in the Middle East.

Seemingly, for that reason, the president is unsure if he’ll be able to attend the “small little private affair” – though Trump has spent at least five weekends since the start of the Iran war, at his golf club in Mar-a-Lago and at least three at his golf club in Doral, Florida.

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On at least seven of those occasions, the president played golf, according to TrumpGolfTrack.

Yet Trump insisted it would be attending his son’s wedding that would earn him negative attention in the media.

“That’s one I can’t win on,” Trump said. “If I do attend, I get killed. If I don’t attend, I get killed by the fake news, of course.”

“I’m going to try and make it,” the president added.

Other presidents have attended, and sometimes hosted, weddings for their family members. Most recently, Former President Joe Biden hosted his granddaughter, Naomi Biden’s wedding, at the White House in November 2022. Former President George W. Bush hosted a wedding reception for his daughter, Jenna Bush-Hager, at the White House in June 2008.

Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding to Anderson will mark his second marriage and third engagement.

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The president’s son was previously married to Vanessa Trump, the couple has five children together, and was also engaged to Kimberly Guilfoyle, who is now serving as Ambassador to Greece.

Donald Trump Jr. began dating Anderson sometime in 2024 and the couple got engaged in December 2025. The president himself announced that his eldest son, 47, was engaged to Anderson, 39, at a White House holiday party, CNN reported.

The president referred to Anderson as “a person I’ve known for a long time,” while talking about the marriage Thursday.

“Hopefully they’re going to have a great marriage,” Trump said.

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