President Donald Trump quipped that his eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., has become “a different human being” since marrying earlier this year, joking that the 48-year-old has at last “calmed down.”
Don Jr. married socialite and model Bettina Anderson, 39, in a Palm Beach ceremony in late May, with the couple later traveling to the Bahamas for an extravagant wedding celebration.
Trump did not attend the wedding of his oldest son, pointing to national security duties amid the escalating conflict with Iran.
During a Saturday visit to Ireland, the 80-year-old president told guests at the US ambassador’s Deerfield Residence in Phoenix Park, Dublin, that Don Jr. was also visiting the country.
“Don’s here with a whole group of family. And he just got married, he’s happily married, which is nice,” Trump said while addressing embassy staff and diplomats.
“He’s calmed down so much. That’s a good sign. He’s like a different human being,” Trump added, drawing laughter from those in attendance.
The president also spoke about First Lady Melania Trump’s absence from the Ireland trip.
“My wife is here — my wife is here in spirit,” Trump said, explaining that he had encouraged her to come but she was not keen on taking the seven-hour flight.
Donald Trump said Donald Trump Jr. has been “like a different human being” since his marriage earlier this year. The president made the remark while visiting Ireland, pictured above.
Don Jr. wed 39-year-old socialite and model Bettina Anderson in Palm Beach in late May before the newlyweds continued the festivities with a lavish Bahamas celebration.
Trump then joked that Melania should have simply donned a ‘Make America Great Again’ hat and come along.
He previously said he missed Don Jr’s wedding because he had been distracted by the war in Iran.
‘This is not good timing for me,’ he said at the time. ‘I have a thing called Iran and other things.
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‘That’s one I can’t win on,’ he added. ‘If I do attend, I get killed. If I don’t attend, I get killed by the fake news. Hopefully they’re going to have a great marriage.’
Don Jr and his new bride instead celebrated their wedding with his siblings, Eric, 42, and Ivanka, 44, who also came with them to the Bahamas afterwards.
The couple’s marriage certificate, obtained by the Daily Mail, shows that they officially became husband and wife in a secret ceremony held at the West Palm Beach home of Anderson’s sister, Kristina McPherson.
Anderson said she would be taking the Trump surname.
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Don Jr and his new bride instead celebrated their wedding with his siblings, Eric, 42, and Ivanka, 44, who also came with them to the Bahamas afterwards
Don Jr was also among the speakers at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas, Texas, on Wednesday and Thursday.
He is typically ranked third in 2028 polls for the Republican presidential nomination.
President Trump arrived at Dublin Airport on Saturday morning, before holding official meetings at Phoenix Park with Irish President Catherine Connolly at Áras an Uachtaráin.
He also met Taoiseach Micheál Martin at Farmleigh House, before making his address at the US Ambassador’s Deerfield Residence.
Trump will spend the remainder of the trip at his resort, Trump International Golf Links & Hotel in Doonbeg, and attending the closing weekend of the Amgen Irish Open golf tournament.
He returns to the US on Sunday evening.