Donald and Melania Trump's only child, son Barron Trump, has really started coming into his own since entering adulthood proper. In a June 2024 interview with Fox News, Donald proudly shared that the first son had several great options for his higher education after finishing high school. As a result, it's surprising that Barron chose to enroll in a more liberal college, NYU's Stern School of Business. But, during a September 2024 appearance on Fox News, Melania noted that she had encouraged Barron to make
his own decisions growing up. So, when Barron told her that he wanted to attend NYU, she didn't push back. When Donald appeared on the "Pod Force One with Miranda Devine," in June 2025, he pointed out that Barron's choice also had ties to his maternal grandmother.
"He wanted to be there because his grandmother was gonna stay and wait for him in an apartment near the school and she passed away," the president said at the time. However, that wasn't the only tragic part about his unique college situation. In the first lady's own January 2025 Fox News interview, she acknowledged that Barron likely wouldn't have a stereotypical college experience because he would have to remain far more "vigilant" about who he befriended. Speaking on "Fox & Friends" in December 2024, the first lady detailed the advice she had given Barron to help him navigate his abnormal college experience: "Make your dreams come true. This is your road. This is your life, and make sure that you listen to yourself and your likes and dislikes." Barron is likely holding those words especially close as he deals with the rather sad aspects of his adulthood.
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Barron Trump Was Considered 'Fair Game' For Public Criticism Once He Turned 18
On Barron Trump's 18th birthday, Mike Sington, a former NBC executive, took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to proclaim that Donald Trump's youngest son was considered "fair game" from that moment on. Many commenters were weirded out by the remark, believing it had threatening or maybe even sexual undertones. However, Sington later informed Newsweek that his words had been misconstrued, clarifying, "I posted he was 'fair game' now, meaning, as an adult, he's 'fair game' for criticism from the press." The former executive deleted the controversial post because he did not want to harm Barron in any way.
Notably, other social media commentators have similarly asserted that Barron was "fair game" for criticism after reports suggested that he would be the Florida delegate for the 2024 RNC. One critic wrote that Donald and Melania Trump's only son had decided to dip his toes into his father's political career as an adult, which meant that it was okay to critique his actions. On the outside, though, Barron doesn't seem to have a particular inclination for politics.
In fact, in May 2025, an insider told News Nation that Barron was "pretty apolitical" and had no desire to follow in his father's footsteps. Additionally, on the rare occasions that Barron has attended a political event, he has kept a low profile until his father has mentioned him. In fact, in June 2025, Barron refused to entertain Donald's ego for the military parade and his absence verified our suspicions about their distant relationship, and possibly even political views.
Barron Trump May Not Be Able To Fit In With His Peers
In a 2025 Vanity Fair interview, Kaya Walker, the then-president of NYU College Republicans, described Barron Trump as "an oddity of campus" since he typically only went back and forth between his home and the college without straying too far in either direction. Shortly afterward, she resigned from her position, writing a statement on X to clear up the swirling rumors by noting that the "oddity" she was referring to was the general public's interest in an otherwise regular student.
However, a Daily Mail insider confirmed that Barron was indeed finding it difficult to have a normal college experience because his schedule was worlds away from that of an average student. The first son's strict schedule started with him being escorted to college by the NYC police and Secret Service agents, who wouldn't even let him be by himself in the bathroom. The confidant also claimed that Barron wasn't indulging in excessive partying or drinking like the rest of his peers.
Several NYU goers similarly told TMZ that Barron "hardly exists" there, but Donald Trump's youngest son was making an effort to make friends through his love of gaming. He had apparently been asking his peers for their Discord IDs so that he could play with them at home. When the news made its way to X, some people ridiculed Barron while others argued that he was just a normal student. But the sad truth of Barron's communication with his college pals is that he likely has limited means to stay in touch because he's not even allowed to share his personal phone number due to security concerns.
Barron Trump's Love Life At NYU Is Plagued With Difficulties
In May 2025, Barron Trump's love life finally started heating up amid whispers he had found a college girlfriend. An insider provided the crucial update to News Nation, dishing, "Barron has a really nice girlfriend and hangs out with her a lot. He does have friends he just (unlike his father Donald Trump) screws the limelight." Notably, during an October 2024 appearance on the "PBD" podcast, the president actually posited that Barron had likely been single all his life. If both accounts are true, the NYU student experienced a major milestone in his life by getting into his first relationship.
However, a few months prior to the News Nation revelation, a psychologist exclusively told us that Barron's love life wouldn't get any easier after his 19th birthday. Dr. Sanam Hafeez, a NYC-based neuropsychologist and the director of Comprehend the Mind, contended that the constant Secret Service presence may put pressure on the first son, preventing Barron from letting his true self shine through. Dr. Hafeez offered some additional insight into another major struggle that he may experience in developing connections.
The expert professed, "Barron may constantly wonder if people are truly interested in him for who he is, or if they're seeking attention or benefits from being associated with him." Dr. Hafeez continued, "This constant uncertainty could make it hard to trust others and form authentic connections." The neuropsychologist further elaborated that Barron's status as a public figure could also strain any potential romantic relationships since commentators would not hesitate to criticize his partner and to pry into their personal life.
Secret Service Agents May Have Made Socializing Harder For Barron Trump
Unsurprisingly, Barron Trump's college experience has been beyond awkward thanks to the Secret Service. According to the Daily Mail, federal agents essentially followed the first son's every move and took extra measures to ensure his safety on campus, with one of his classmates recalling, "There were several guards outside the door before class and we had to show them our ID." Some students even complained about the long lines that formed outside the campus while the Secret Service agents vetted IDs. The awkwardness that comes from being under constant surveillance is the sad thing that Barron has in common with his niece, Kai Trump.
Speaking exclusively to The List, Dr. Sanam Hafeez affirmed that the presence of federal agents could interfere with Kai and Barron's social development since they may choose their words more carefully while texting their friends and feel awkward when they were hanging out in-person with them. The neuropsychologist added, "The Secret Service protection can lead to faster maturity while limiting essential growth aspects like freedom and emotional exploration."
Barron and Kai's circumstances could also lead to "increased self-consciousness" since their moves were being monitored, because, "Teenagers who experience continual surveillance tend to develop anxiety and irritability because the absence of privacy prevents them from relaxing or expressing themselves freely." According to the expert, they may feel added pressure to blend in with their peers and experience low self-esteem. With time, they could either see the surveillance as normal or develop "lasting emotional damage" due to being unable to find people who can relate to their isolating experience.
Barron Trump Was Deeply Distressed By The Attempt On His Father's Life
In an August 2024 interview with Fox News, Donald Trump disclosed that his youngest child was in the middle of a tennis lesson when he was alerted to the fact that someone had tried to shoot his father. Donald also revealed who Barron Trump ran to when he learned of his dad's assassination attempt: Melania Trump. After the president stressed that the first son's heart was filled with love for him, he confirmed that he immediately found his mom to get an update. In the first lady's 2024 memoir "Melania," she detailed the events that transpired after Barron found her: "We replayed the footage and watched it together. We were both in shock. As we tuned into the news coverage, I felt a deep sense of distress."
Melania also shared the one thing that made Donald's first assassination attempt even worse for Barron, writing, "Can I explain how traumatic it is for a child to witness the attempted murder of his father? The relentless replay of the rally footage on the news only intensified our anxiety." There's a chance that the college student may have even had flashbacks to another scary incident from his past. According to a TMZ insider, Barron was highly disturbed by Kathy Griffin's controversial anti-Donald pic from 2017.
The comedian posted an infamous picture of herself posing with a fake bloody head that resembled the president, which then-11-year-old Barron had unfortunately happened to stumble upon while he was watching TV. The source confirmed that he got scared and confused after spotting the image and immediately started calling for his mother.
Read the original article on The List.
