Jimmy Kimmel mocks President Trump for skipping his son's wedding.
Jimmy Kimmel Targets Trump With Epstein Jab After After Skipping Don Jr.’s Wedding
May 27 2026, Published 12:17 p.m. ET
Jimmy Kimmel took a jab at President Donald Trump for missing Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding to Bettina Anderson. He used Trump’s excuse for not attending to make a joke about Jeffrey Epstein.
Trump Jr., 48, and Anderson, 39, got married over Memorial Day weekend on a private island in the Bahamas. The ceremony had about 40 guests, but Trump did not go, according to reports. Other Trump family members, including Ivanka, Eric, and Tiffany Trump, attended the event.
President Trump was asked about attending his son's wedding.
Kimmel brought up Trump's absence during his opening monologue on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Tuesday, May 26.
“DJTJ and his new bride, Bettina, were married on Saturday on a private island in the Bahamas,” Kimmel said. “It was a small ceremony with about 40 guests, none of whom were his father.”
Trump announced before the wedding that he would not attend. He said official duties kept him in Washington. In a Truth Social post, he mentioned he “very much wanted” to be with his son and Anderson but that “circumstances pertaining to Government” and his “love for the United States of America” kept him from leaving the White House.
Kimmel read part of the statement on the show before turning it into a joke.
“See, he can be warm when he wants to,” Kimmel remarked. “He loves Don Jr. He just loves the United States more.”
The late-night host then made a joke about the wedding location and Trump’s previous connection to Epstein, the late financier and convicted sex offender.
Bettina Anderson's father had connections to Jeffrey Epstein.
“He had circumstances pertaining to government, and also flying to a private island makes him miss his friend Jeffrey,” Kimmel said.
Kimmel compared Trump’s reason for staying in Washington with his public schedule and leisure activities.
“This is a guy who golfs two, three times a week,” Kimmel noted. “He’s going to UFC fights with Vanilla Ice. He was too busy for his son’s wedding.”
The comedian continued by poking fun at Trump’s personal history, referencing the president’s three marriages while joking about his advice to the newlyweds.
“But he did say Don and Bettina are going to have a great marriage, and this is a man who knows a great marriage; he’s had three of them himself,” Kimmel said.
Trump Jr. was previously married to Vanessa Trump, with whom he has five children. They divorced in 2018. He later got engaged to Kimberly Guilfoyle, a former Fox News host and Trump campaign adviser, but their breakup became public in late 2024.
Anderson, a Palm Beach socialite, model, and founder of the wildlife conservation nonprofit Project Paradise, had been seen with Trump Jr. at several events after rumors about their relationship began in 2024. The couple made their public debut during Trump’s inauguration events in 2025.
Business Insider reported that Trump Jr. and Anderson obtained a Florida marriage license and legally wed on May 21, before having their Bahamas ceremony on May 24.
A larger celebration at the White House for the couple is expected later, with Trump and First Lady Melania Trump likely to attend. Kimmel poked fun at that arrangement as well.
“Well, you’d hope so, they live there,” Kimmel said. “Can you imagine if they didn’t show up to that one, too? ‘We wanted to make it, but we were unable to go downstairs.’”