Donald Trump on Friday said he has decided to skip out on his son's wedding, saying his "love for the United States of America" is keeping him in Washington.
Donald Trump Jr.and Bettina Anderson are expected to hold a small, private wedding ceremony for close family. The ceremony will reportedly be held in the Bahamas,according to CNN.
"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 pertaining to Government, and my love for the United States of America, do not allow me to do so,"Trump wrote on Truth Social.
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"I feel it is important for me to remain in Washington, D.C., at the White House during this important period of time. Congratulations to Don and Bettina!" he continued.
After he made the post announcing he would not attend, Turmp jetted off for Upstate New York to stump forRep. Mike Lawleras he runs for reelection in a high stakes Congressional racefor Republicans. NY-17, which covers the lower Hudson Valley, is pivotal for the GOP if the party is to retainits slim majority in the House.
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Jr.'s wedding "not good timing" for Trump
Trump previously said he would try to make his eldest son's wedding but added that "it is not good timing for me."
“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,” Trump told reporters. "I’m in the midst — I said, you know, this is not good timing for me. I have a thing called Iran and other things. That’s one I can’t win on.”
The president said he'd be attacked by the media regardless of what decision he made.
“That’s one I can’t win on. If I do attend, I get killed. If I don’t attend, I get killed,” he said.
Trump Jr.'s siblings are expected to attend the ceremony.
The wedding will mark Trump Jr.’s second marriage. He was previously married toVanessa Trumpfor 12 years before their divorce in 2018. Vanessa Trumpis now dating Tiger Woods.
He was also previously engaged to Kimberly Guilfoyle, who is now the U.S. ambassador to Greece and the ex-wife ofCalifornia Gov. Gavin Newsom, from 2020 to 2024.