Donald Trump Jr. married Bettina Anderson on Saturday in front of roughly 40 guests on a private island in the Bahamas, Page Six reported exclusively. The intimate ceremony brought together the groom's siblings, his five children, Anderson's family, and a handful of the bride's closest friends, but not the president of the United States.
The elder Trump announced Friday on Truth Social that he would miss his son's wedding, citing the demands of the office. The couple had legally tied the knot in Palm Beach, Florida, one day before that announcement, making Saturday's island ceremony the celebration rather than the legal event itself.
The wedding caps a whirlwind courtship. Trump Jr., 48, and Anderson, 39, began dating in December 2024. He proposed at Camp David on December 13 while the couple celebrated Anderson's birthday. Page Six broke the engagement news that same month, and later that evening video surfaced of President Trump announcing the betrothal at the White House.
President Trump's decision to remain in Washington rather than attend his eldest son's wedding drew immediate attention. His Truth Social post framed the choice in characteristically direct terms:
"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. I feel it is important for me to remain in Washington, D.C., at the White House during this important period of time."
The post did not specify which governmental matter kept him at the White House. But a president who stays at his desk instead of flying to a family celebration in the Bahamas sends a signal that plenty of Americans will respect: the job comes first.
The administration has been moving on multiple fronts in recent weeks, from weighing a historic batch of pardons tied to America's 250th birthday to domestic infrastructure and law-enforcement priorities.
The Bahamas gathering was deliberately small. About 40 people watched the couple say "I do" on the private island, whose name was not disclosed. Trump Jr.'s siblings, Ivanka Trump, Eric Trump, and Tiffany Trump, all attended with their spouses. Anderson's family was present, along with a few of her closest friends.
Eric Trump offered a brief tribute to the newlyweds. He told Page Six:
"Don and Bettina are wonderful together. I'm so proud to have witnessed so much of their journey as a couple. They truly light up around each other and it's been amazing watching their story unfold. Couldn't be happier for them on their special day."
The wedding was planned by Lewis Miller Design, a firm known for high-profile events, including a flower-arranging class at Meghan Markle's baby shower and events for Carolina Herrera. The cake came from Palm Beach bakery Sweet Stacy's. Upscale stationer Bernard Maisner created the menu in calligraphy.
The couple had initially considered a White House wedding, Page Six reported. They may still hold a larger celebration with friends and extended family later this year, possibly at the White House itself.
The relationship moved fast by any measure. Trump Jr.'s engagement to former Fox journalist Kimberly Guilfoyle ended as his relationship with Anderson began in December 2024. On the same day Page Six reported the split, then-President-elect Trump named Guilfoyle, 55, as U.S. ambassador to Greece.
Trump Jr. acknowledged the transition publicly at the time. "Kimberly and I will never stop caring for each other and will always keep a special bond," he said.
Anderson, the daughter of Palm Beach philanthropist Inger Angerson and the late banker Harry Loy Anderson Jr., had never previously been married. She was formerly engaged to chewing gum heir Beau Wrigley. The president's ongoing efforts to restore Washington, D.C. may yet provide the backdrop for a grander Trump family celebration later this year.
Trump Jr. was previously married to Vanessa Trump from 2005 to 2018. The couple share five children, all of whom attended Saturday's ceremony. His eldest daughter, 19-year-old Kai Trump, had also stopped by Anderson's bridal shower in April, according to a Page Six source.
That April shower, held at Mar-a-Lago, carried an "enchanted garden" theme. Palm Beach socialites Yaz Hernandez, Amy Phelan, and Audrey Gruss hosted the event. The guest list read like a who's-who of the Trump orbit and Palm Beach society: Ivanka Trump, Tiffany Trump, Lara Trump, and Marla Maples all attended.
The luncheon also drew Daphne Oz, Dina Powell McCormick, Dee Ocleppo Hilfiger, Andrea Wynn, and Amy Baier, the wife of Fox News anchor Bret Baier. The shower was one more sign that Anderson had been fully embraced by the extended Trump family well before the wedding date arrived.
The Trump political operation, meanwhile, has continued to make news on multiple fronts. The president recently threatened to pull his endorsement of a Republican congresswoman over an intraparty dispute, a reminder that family milestones do not slow down the pace of Trump-era politics.
The couple's plan for a bigger celebration later this year leaves the door open for the kind of event the initial White House wedding concept suggested. Whether that materializes, and whether the president attends, remains to be seen. No date or venue has been confirmed.
The administration has shown no sign of easing its pace. From breaking ground on stalled infrastructure projects to confronting foreign-policy challenges, the White House schedule has been packed, a reality the president cited, however briefly, in explaining his absence from the Bahamas.
Several open questions remain. Page Six did not identify the specific island. The precise governmental matter that kept the president in Washington was left vague. And the possibility of a White House celebration later this year is still just that, a possibility.
A father who skips his son's wedding to stay at his desk may draw criticism from some quarters. But Americans who believe the presidency demands total commitment will see a man who meant it when he took the oath, even when the cost is personal.
