Trump skips son's Bahamas wedding, cites Iran talks

President Donald Trump said Friday he will not attend his eldest son Donald Trump Jr.'s wedding in the Bahamas this weekend, citing diplomatic obligations tied to ongoing Iran peace negotiations.

The announcement underscores the reach of the Iran war — which began Feb. 28 — into every corner of the Trump presidency, as Pakistan-brokered ceasefire talks keep the president tied to Washington even on a family milestone.

Trump disclosed his decision in a post on his Truth Social platform Friday. "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," he wrote, according to CNN.

"I feel it is important for me to remain in Washington, D.C., at the White House during this important period of time," Trump added in the same post, CNN reported.

Trump Jr. is set to marry Bettina Anderson, a Palm Beach socialite, at a small private ceremony on an island in the Bahamas. The wedding represents Trump Jr.'s third engagement.

Trump Jr. was previously married to Vanessa, a model and actress, for 12 years before she filed for divorce in 2018. The former couple have five children together. Trump Jr. was subsequently engaged to television personality Kimberly Guilfoyle until the two separated in 2024.

Asked by reporters Thursday to explain why he would not be present, Trump was brief: "I have a thing called Iran and other things," he said. The United States entered into armed conflict with Iran on Feb. 28, and Pakistan has since been mediating talks between Washington and Tehran aimed at ending the war.

Despite his absence, Trump closed his Truth Social post on a warm note, referring to Anderson as "the newest member of the Trump Family" — a designation that made clear the president's blessing, even if affairs of state kept him from the aisle.