Barron Trump was not a year old when he made his first public appearance. It was 2007 when the blond bobber was rising into the air like another Simba, in the arms of his father. «He’s strong, he’s smart, he’s tough, he’s mean, he’s violent. All the ingredients to become an entrepreneur», Trump will tell reporters, referring to his 9-month-old son.
Barron Trump was for years the «outsider», compared to his older siblings. Shy, timid, cautious.
AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes
Baron grew up, not as «future businessman» but as a child deprived of part of his childhood, «sacrifice» in his father’s plans.
A TikTok Leaderboard for Barron Trump?
Years have passed, Donald Trump is serving his second term as President of the United States, and Barron Trump, a student at New York University, is introduced by his father as the «youthful connecting link» between the White House and the social media generation.
The once-shy Barron is tipped to play a key role in TikTok’s new era as a board member.
Last month, Trump signed an executive order ensuring that TikTok «it will be majority owned and controlled by American citizens and will no longer be subject to the control of a foreign power».
AP Photo/Matt Rourke
The US deal–China was reached a few days before the ban on the application in the US market took effect.
Barron Trump was suggested by Jake Advent, Trump’s former social media manager, also known as “TikTok Jack”.
Advent, architect of the online meme campaign that helped propel Trump to victory, told the Daily Mail:
«I hope President Trump will consider appointing Barron’s son and other young Americans to TikTok’s board to keep the app attractive to youth».
Speaking on Fox News, President Trump revealed that Barron helped him understand digital trends and work with internet personalities like Joe Rogan. «Barron knew the names, he knew who was influencing the world of TikTok and that had a huge impact».
«I have a very tall son called Baron. Has anyone heard of him?» Donald Trump jokingly asked at an inauguration event in January.
The president’s youngest son, who is about 2 meters tall and rarely appears in public, stood up and greeted the crowd. The popularity of Donald Trump’s youngest child is increasing.
«Barron (Trump), a name I’ve always liked»
Born in 2006, Barron was just nine years old when Trump announced his candidacy for President of the United States at Trump Tower in 2015.
Of all the Trump children, Barron — with her blessings — has kept a lower profile, moving to Washington several months after his father relocated in 2017.
EPA/CHRIS KLEPONIS / POOL
Barron grew up in the White House, but mostly lived out of the limelight.
Donald Trump was surprised to learn that Melania was pregnant. Recalling the moment she announced to Donald that she was pregnant, Melania admitted that her husband was a little surprised by the news.
«He came home and I told him he was going to be a dad. And his reaction was… initially he had to digest it. It was a real surprise. And then he was very happy», shared with PEOPLE.
Trump added: «I expected we’d have kids, so I wasn’t totally surprised. But I was surprised at how quickly it happened. It happened very quickly».
Melania gave birth to Barron on March 20, 2006. Donald chose not to be present in the delivery room, explaining that he believed he would be «easier» for Melania if she wasn’t there. Melania later said that her eight-hour labor was, in fact, «very very easy».
Donald Trump was the one who chose Barron’s name, as he had always liked it, but had not had the opportunity to give it to his other sons. Melania agreed, but at the last minute Donald changed his mind.
«It’s a name I’ve always liked but never had the courage to use. I pitched the idea to Melania and then was about to pull it out at the last minute, but she said: «You can’t withdraw it.
I’ve been calling him Baron since he was in my belly and you can’t take that back», Donald said on The Oprah Winfrey Show.
The first presidential son to enter the White House since 1963
Barron Trump has lived in Florida, New York and Washington and attended some of the most expensive schools in the world.
His father’s outgoing lifestyle did not suit him. Willingly or not, he was forced to adapt to the current situation.
When Donald Trump was first elected president, he shared that Barron was reluctant to leave his life in New York and move to the White House.
EPA/J. Scott Applewhite / POOL
He explained that the then 9-year-old loved New York and his school, and that the move was a «complete life change».
Donald said: «He has a very good school in New York, where he has many friends. But I tell him that if this happens, dad will help people and he’ll be able to help kids like him, and that makes him happy. He’s a little boy of 9, he’s strong and smart and he gets it. He sees it».
Barron and Melania remained in New York so he could finish the school year. That summer of 2017, he enrolled in St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in Maryland and officially moved into the White House with the rest of the family.
While Donald’s older children — Ivanka, Donald Trump Jr., Eric and Tiffany — took a more active role during their father’s first term, Baron’s private life took precedence.
REUTERS/Carlo Allegri
For his father’s second term, Melania told Fox News that although Barron was living in Trump Tower and attending New York University, he would also have a room in the White House for whenever he wanted to visit.
Barron Trump holds a special record, becoming the first presidential son to live in the White House since 1963 and John F. Kennedy Jr.
«I feel like the kids are ours until they’re 18, 19. We teach them, guide them and then give them wings to fly», Melania said. «I always respect Barron’s yes and no and what he likes to do and where he would like to be».
Leave Baron alone
In 2016, Rosie O’Donnell posted on X, then called Twitter: «Barron Trump Autistic? If so, what an amazing opportunity to bring attention to the autism epidemic».
The text was accompanied by a video with snapshots of Barron Trump. In 2016 Baron was 10 years old. He was a child.
«It’s time for the media and everyone to leave Barron Trump alone and allow him to have the private childhood he deserves», wrote Chelsea Clinton – also a sufferer – wanting to defend Barron.
Jenna Bush Hager also spoke about how the attacks on Barron made her very angry because «the truth is, apparently, that Barron Trump didn’t ask his father to run for president. It wasn’t his decision».
Melania Trump in her memoir spoke openly about Barron’s attack by Rosie O’Donnell.
REUTERS/Win McNamee/Pool
Melania Trump wrote that, although «there is nothing shameful about autism», barron trump is not autistic and the post led to him being bullied «both online and in real life».
«It was clear to me that she did not care about autism awareness», he wrote «I felt she was attacking my son because she didn’t like my husband».
And he added: «To pose such a “question” to millions of people, knowing exactly how it would be perceived, was beyond reckless· it was heartless».
O’Donnell later apologized, but Melania Trump wrote that «no apology can undo the damage done to her son».
The Barron Effect
Both Donald and Melania give him credit for his contribution to his father’s re-election campaign. Trump calls him «king of the internet» and Melania declares «proud» about the way her son helped her.
«He was very expressive» when advising his father to appear with media figures who are popular with young people, Melania Trump said on the morning show «Fox & Friends».
«He knew exactly who his father should contact and talk to». Barron Trump said, «it brought so many new people — he knows his generation».
Trump met with influential and popular podcasters Joe Rogan, Theo Von and Logan Paul during the campaign in an effort to win the so-called “bro-vote”.
Trump’s interview with comedian Theo Von has been viewed 15 million times, while his appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast has garnered 50 million views. According to Jason Miller, a senior adviser to Donald Trump, Barron was the architect of his father’s podcast strategy.
«Barron has been very involved in choosing, or should I say recommending, a podcast series that we should do», Miller said. «Gotta tell you, hats off to the young man. His every suggestion turned out to be ratings gold and broke the internet. He did a great job».
According to the Center for Political Education Information and Research, Barron’s contribution to the bro-vote strategy paid off: 56% of male voters aged 18-28 supported Trump in 2024, compared to 41% in 2020.
Kenny Holston/The New York Times via AP, Pool
MAGA supporters seem to have found in Barron the future of the conservative movement. They already consider Barron Trump a candidate for the presidency of the USA, as products with the slogan are already available online «Barron Trump President 2044».
A pioneer of the crypto generation
In 2018, Melania renegotiated her prenuptial agreement to secure her son better inheritance terms and a greater stake in the family business, according to “The Art of Her Deal,” a 2020 biography.
It appears that he had to wait until 2024, when he started college while his father was running for the presidency of the United States for the second time, for Barron to join World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency company, alongside his father and older brothers.
His participation turned out to be extremely profitable for everyone – and especially for him.
Forbes estimates that this company has added more than $1.5 billion to the Trump family’s fortune, about 10% of which, or $150 million, belongs to Barron Trump.
With information from Forbes, People, Sky News, New York Times, The Palm Beach Post.
