Donald Trump Jr. and Bettina Anderson are officially husband and wife — and they marked the occasion with a sun-soaked celebration in the Bahamas this weekend, days after quietly making things legal back home in Florida.
The couple exchanged vows Saturday, May 23, 2026, during an intimate ceremony on a private island, surrounded by roughly 40 of their nearest and dearest. The guest list featured Don Jr.’s five children along with several members of the Trump family, including Ivanka Trump, Eric Trump and Tiffany Trump. One notable name, however, was missing from the seating chart: the groom’s father.
A Two-Part Wedding Plan
Before the destination festivities kicked off, Don Jr. and Anderson tied the knot in Florida on Thursday, May 21, in West Palm Beach. Marriage records from Palm Beach County, obtained by TMZ, confirmed the couple had legally wed ahead of the destination wedding weekend.
With the paperwork squared away, the newlyweds and their guests jetted off to the Caribbean for the main event. On Saturday, Anderson appeared to tease the celebration on social media, sharing a sweet photo showing off the couple’s wedding bands — a subtle reveal for a wedding designed to stay very much under wraps.
According to people familiar with the plans, the guest list was kept small by design — under 50 people in total. Only immediate family and the couple’s closest friends were invited, with Trump Jr. and Anderson hoping to keep details from leaking to the media so the event would remain exclusive and secluded. Keeping the specifics tightly held also helped address security concerns and let guests actually enjoy themselves.
Why the President Stayed Behind
President Trump announced Friday, May 22, that he would not be attending the Bahamas celebration. He had originally been scheduled to spend the weekend in Bedminster, New Jersey, but is now expected to remain at the White House.
“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,” the president wrote on Truth Social, adding that he felt it was important to remain in Washington, D.C., “during this important time.”
Speaking from the Oval Office a day earlier, the president had been more candid about the tricky timing, citing pressing presidential matters. “This is not good timing for me,” he said. The president was long expected to skip the festivities anyway — in part because of the couple’s desire to keep things incredibly private.
From Camp David to the Caribbean
The road to “I do” began in 2024, when Don Jr. and Anderson started dating following the end of his engagement to Kimberly Guilfoyle, the former Fox News host who now serves as U.S. ambassador to Greece.
Don Jr. popped the question at Camp David in December 2025 while the couple was celebrating Anderson’s birthday. The pair then formally announced their engagement at a White House holiday party that same month.
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.
A Second Chapter for Don Jr.
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 together — all of whom were on hand to witness their father’s big day in the Bahamas.
By all accounts, the couple is settling into this next chapter with plenty of warmth. Eric Trump told Page Six that the newlyweds “truly light up around each other” and described their relationship as “amazing” to witness.
The president, for his part, offered his blessings from afar, saying earlier in the week that he had known Anderson for a very long time and hoped they would have a great marriage. 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.
