Hannity and Earhardt Host Mar-a-Lago Rehearsal Dinner with Trump Ahead of Saturday Wedding

Key points

• Hannity and Earhardt are scheduled to marry on Saturday, following a Friday evening rehearsal dinner at the president's Florida estate.
• President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attended the dinner, along with Eric and Lara Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
• Hannity stated the couple paid fair market value for the venue, citing a 30-year personal relationship with the president as the reason for the choice.
• The president was not expected to attend the actual wedding ceremony on Saturday, which is taking place at a separate location.
• The couple announced their engagement in December 2024 after Hannity proposed over Christmas.

Background

The couple's relationship was first reported in 2020, and they were dubbed the 'first couple of Fox News' by the network. Their engagement was publicly confirmed in late 2024. Recent archive coverage notes ongoing legal and political scrutiny of Mar-a-Lago activities, including a BBC defamation lawsuit and declassified documents regarding FBI surveillance, though these are distinct from the current wedding event.

How outlets are covering it

CNN and Fox News both confirm the attendance of Trump and key administration officials, but Fox News provides a more extensive guest list, including non-political figures like ESPN's Stephen A. Smith and country singer Lee Greenwood. CNN emphasizes the financial arrangement, noting Hannity's statement about paying fair market value and reaching out to the Trump Organization for comment. Mediaite highlights the president's earlier comments to reporters about attending a 'big beautiful thing' and notes his prior rally in Fort Myers. All sources agree on the core facts of the event and the couple's statements, but Fox News frames the event more as a celebration of faith and friendship, while CNN focuses on the political and financial implications.

Why it matters

The event underscores the close personal and professional ties between top Fox News personalities and the Trump administration, raising questions about the boundaries between political power and media influence. The choice of Mar-a-Lago as a venue for a private celebration, attended by cabinet members, highlights the integration of political and media circles in the current administration.

What to watch

The couple is expected to exchange vows on Saturday at a separate location. The Trump Organization has not yet responded to CNN's inquiry regarding the financial arrangement for the venue.