Donald Trump thinks marriage has had a noticeable effect on his eldest son.
While speaking to diplomats, staff and guests at the U.S. ambassador’s residence in Dublin, the president singled out Donald Trump Jr.’s newlywed life with Bettina Anderson and joked about the change he believes he has seen since their May wedding.
“He’s calmed down so much,” Trump said of his 48-year-old son, according to the New York Post. Don Jr. and Anderson were first publicly linked in 2024, announced their engagement at a White House holiday event in December 2025 and married in May.
Trump missed their Bahamas celebration because he remained in Washington amid government responsibilities and the war with Iran.
Trump Says Don Jr. Has ‘Calmed Down So Much’
Trump brought up the marriage while acknowledging relatives who had joined him in Ireland. “Don’s here with a whole group, whole group of family,” he told the audience. “And he just got married, he’s happily married, which is nice.”
He then turned the acknowledgment into a joke about his son’s personality. After saying Don Jr. had “calmed down so much,” Trump called the apparent change “a good sign” and said he seemed like “a different human being.”
The remarks came during Trump’s visit to Ireland, where he met Irish leaders before traveling to his Doonbeg resort for the Irish Open. Don Jr. and Eric Trump were among the family members who joined him during the trip, and both were present at the tournament. Reuters reported that Trump watched Shane Lowry’s victory with his sons and several grandchildren.
Trump Missed Their Bahamas Wedding Celebration
Don Jr. and Anderson were already legally married before the destination celebration Trump missed. Palm Beach County records show that they married in West Palm Beach on May 21, with attorney Brad McPherson officiating. NBC News confirmed the marriage through county records.
Two days later, the couple celebrated on a private island in the Bahamas with relatives and close friends. Guests included Don Jr.’s siblings Ivanka, Eric and Tiffany Trump.
The president stayed in Washington. In a Truth Social post before the celebration, he said “circumstances pertaining to Government” required him to remain at the White House and congratulated the couple.
Trump also told reporters that the situation involving Iran made the timing difficult. “He’d like me to go,” he said of Don Jr., according to CBS News. “But it’s going to be just a small little private affair.”
He joked that either decision would bring criticism. “That’s one I can’t win on,” Trump said. “If I do attend, I get killed. If I don’t attend, I get killed. By the fake news, of course, I’m talking about.”
Don Jr. Called Bettina His ‘Best Friend’ After the Wedding
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Don Jr. later gave followers a much closer look at the Bahamas weekend with an Instagram highlight reel showing beach scenes, preparations, the ceremony and family members celebrating together.
“The night I married my best friend, my love, and my forever,” he wrote in the caption. HOLA! reported that he also credited Anderson with bringing “peace, joy, and light” into his life.
“Standing beside you, surrounded by our siblings, your mom, Donnie, and Kai, I have never felt more grateful or more certain of anything,” he wrote.
The marriage is Don Jr.’s second. He was married to Vanessa Trump from 2005 until their divorce in 2018, and the former couple share five children.
The Couple Announced Their Engagement at the White House
Their engagement became public during a White House holiday reception on Dec. 15, 2025. President Trump announced the news to the room and invited the couple forward. Don Jr. thanked Anderson for giving him “that one word, yes,” then joked that the answer was “a big win for the end of the year.”
Anderson called it “the most unforgettable weekend” of her life and said she felt like “the luckiest girl in the world” because she was going to marry the person she loved.
Reuters reported that the engagement was Don Jr.’s third. He had previously been married to Vanessa Trump and was later engaged to Kimberly Guilfoyle before their relationship ended.