President Trump reveals biggest change in his son Don Jr since marrying wife Bettina in luxurious Bahamas wedding

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By LAURA PARNABY, US SENIOR NEWS REPORTER

Published: 21:47 BST, 12 September 2026 | Updated: 22:04 BST, 12 September 2026

Donald Trump has said his son Don Jr has become 'a different human being' since he got married earlier this year, joking that the 48-year-old has finally 'calmed down.'

Don Jr tied the knot with 39-year-old socialite and model Bettina Anderson at a Palm Beach ceremony late May before heading to the Bahamas for a luxury reception.

The president did not attend his eldest son's wedding, citing national security responsibilities as the war with Iran escalated. 

Speaking at the US ambassador's Deerfield Residence in Phoenix Park, Dublin, during his trip to Ireland on Saturday, Trump, 80, said Don Jr was also in the country. 

'Don's here with a whole group of family. And he just got married, he's happily married, which is nice,' the president told staff and diplomats. 

'He's calmed down so much. That's a good sign. He's like a different human being,' Trump added to laughter from the assembled guests.

Trump also addressed the absence of First Lady Melania Trump.  

'My wife is here - my wife is here in spirit,' Trump said, before admitting that he had tried to persuade her to join the trip but she did not want to make the seven-hour journey.

Donald Trump has said his son Don Jr has become 'a different human being' since he got married earlier this year. He made the comment during his trip to Ireland, shown above

Don Jr tied the knot with 39-year-old socialite and model Bettina Anderson at a Palm Beach ceremony late May before heading to the Bahamas for a luxury party

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. 

'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.  

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.