President Trump said in a statement on Friday that he will not be in attendance at the wedding of his oldest son, Donald Trump Jr., noting that he “very much wanted” to attend but must remain in Washington, DC, this weekend.

The guest list totals for the intimate gathering has fewer than 50 people, according to CNN, which reports that Trump’s absence may be intentional and long-planned due to the couple’s desire for an extremely private ceremony.

Don Jr. and Palm Beach socialite Bettina Anderson will reportedly tie the knot on a small island in the Bahamas.

Trump on Thursday expressed doubt that he would be able to make it to the wedding, telling reporters, “This is not good timing for me,” also noting that it’s “going to be just a small little private affair.”

“I have a thing called Iran and other things,” he said, joking that he’ll “get killed by the fake news” either way.

“But he’s got a very, a person, who I’ve known for a long time, and hopefully they’re going to have a great marriage,” Trump added.

Reporter:Are you attening your son’s wedding this weekend by the way?

Uh, he’d like me to go, but it’s going to be just a small little private affair, and I’m going to try and make it. I’m in the midst– I said, you know, this is not good timing for me. I have a thing called Iran and other things.

That’s one I can’t win on. 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. No, but he’s got a very, a person, who I’ve known for a long time, and hopefully they’re going to have a great marriage.

On Friday, the President confirmed in a Truth Social post that he will not be in attendance, citing “circumstances pertaining to Government, and my love for the United States of America.”

Source: The Gateway Pundit