U.S. President Donald Trump has confirmed he will not attend the wedding of his eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., citing national security obligations and what he described as an ‘important period of time’ for the country. The nuptials, scheduled for the Memorial Day weekend, will take place in the Bahamas and are expected to be a small, private affair.

Trump cites Iran tensions, other obligations

Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump said, ‘Circumstances pertaining to Government, and my love for the United States of America, do not allow me to do so.’ He added that he felt it was important to ‘remain in Washington, D.C., at the White House during this important period of time.’ Earlier in the week, Trump had told reporters in the Oval Office that he ‘would try and make it,’ but admitted it was ‘not good timing for me’ due to ‘a thing called Iran and other things.’

Trump’s decision comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East. He has previously dismissed warnings from U.S. military leaders about the risks of a potential strike on Iran, calling their concerns ‘fake news.’ At a principals meeting, U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff reportedly voiced caution over the U.S. ammunition shortage and the risks of an Iran attack.

Private wedding and family dynamics

The wedding of Donald Trump Jr. and Bettina Anderson is being described as an ‘intimate affair’ with fewer than 50 guests, including only immediate family and close friends. TMZ reported that the couple had legally married on Thursday in West Palm Beach, Florida. Anderson, 39, is a model and philanthropist, while Trump Jr., 48, runs the Trump Organization with his brother Eric.

Donald Trump Jr. has a complex relationship with his father. After his parents’ divorce when he was 12, he reportedly did not speak to Trump for a year. More recently, he has become a key campaign surrogate for the president and has been discussed as a potential political heir.

Media and public perception

Trump acknowledged the media scrutiny around his absence, saying, ‘If I do attend, I get killed. If I don’t attend, I get killed by the fake news.’ The couple had hoped to keep the details of the wedding private, with CNN sources noting that the event was deliberately kept low-key to avoid media attention.

Vanessa Trump, the ex-wife of Donald Trump Jr., who is dating golfer Tiger Woods, revealed in an Instagram post that she has been diagnosed with breast cancer. The couple previously had five children together.

The president’s public schedule does not show any indication of his attending the event, and no official comment has been released by the White House or Trump Jr.’s representatives.