Donald Trump Jr. and Bettina Anderson are preparing for a private wedding gathering in the Caribbean, but according to reports from the Daily Mail and TMZ, the couple has already legally married in Florida.
The president’s eldest son and the Palm Beach socialite are said to have completed a discreet ceremony before their upcoming island celebration, keeping the official step largely out of public view.
Documents obtained by the Daily Mail and TMZ indicate that the marriage ceremony took place Thursday in Palm Beach County. Brad McPherson, a real estate attorney with longstanding ties to the Trump orbit, officiated the proceedings, while a county deputy clerk approved the marriage paperwork.
The legal ceremony reportedly occurred at the West Palm Beach residence of Anderson’s sister, Kristina McPherson.
A smaller path after bigger wedding expectations
The newly married couple is now expected to continue with a more intimate celebration involving close relatives and select friends during Memorial Day weekend.
The gathering is described as deliberately limited in size, marking a notable departure from earlier expectations surrounding the pair’s wedding plans.
According to reporting cited in the source material, Donald Trump Jr., 47, and Anderson, 39, had previously delayed their wedding timeline. Concerns reportedly centered around holding a high-profile celebration while conflict involving Iran remained ongoing.
A source previously quoted by the Daily Mail said the couple had been waiting for a better moment because of global circumstances.
Rather than continuing to postpone the event indefinitely, the pair ultimately moved ahead with a smaller Florida marriage followed by a private island celebration.
The couple’s approach to the wedding has also reportedly reflected a strong preference for privacy and careful planning. One source told the Daily Mail that the pair wanted to maintain a tightly controlled atmosphere similar to their engagement at Camp David.
President Trump confirms he will not attend
One high-profile absence from the wedding festivities will be President Donald Trump.
During remarks at the White House, the president confirmed he would not attend his son’s celebration over the holiday weekend.
“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 said.
He added that remaining in Washington during what he described as an important period took priority, while offering congratulations to the couple.
According to the second report, the president also spoke with reporters in the Oval Office when asked about the wedding, joking that criticism would follow whether he attended or stayed away.
His comments prompted reaction online, with some social media users questioning the explanation for his absence.
From quiet beginnings to a new chapter
Donald Trump Jr. and Anderson’s relationship has unfolded largely under public scrutiny, despite periods of deliberate privacy.
The couple announced their engagement late last year after roughly a year together.
Their engagement followed months of growing public attention around their relationship. Reporting referenced in the source material notes that the pair were first connected publicly in 2024, not long after Don Jr.’s split from former Fox News host and current U.S. ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle.
Daily Mail coverage chronicled several milestones in the relationship, including sightings in Palm Beach and later celebrations involving members of the extended Trump family.
In April, Anderson’s bridal shower at Mar-a-Lago drew several prominent Trump family figures, including Ivanka Trump, Lara Trump, Tiffany Trump and Don Jr.’s daughter Kai.
Ivanka later shared images from the gathering on social media, describing it as a celebration of “love, family, and new beginnings.”
Now, with the legal ceremony reportedly complete and a private island gathering still ahead, Donald Trump Jr. and Bettina Anderson appear to have quietly moved into the next phase of their relationship — largely on their own terms.
