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Donald and Melania Trump welcomed their son Barron Trump on March 20, 2006. As the youngest child of the former president, Barron’s life has been a blend of public scrutiny and relative seclusion. Raised in the opulent Trump Tower penthouse in New York City, Barron attended prestigious private schools on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. His childhood saw a significant shift when his father, Donald Trump, assumed the presidency in January 2017.
Initially, Barron and Melania stayed in New York so he could finish the school year, before moving to the White House in the summer. There, he enrolled at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in Maryland, marking a break from the tradition of presidential children attending Sidwell Friends School. When Donald Trump’s presidential term ended in 2021, Barron continued his education at the Oxbridge Academy in Palm Beach, Florida, graduating with the class of 2024.
Melania Trump has always been fiercely protective of Barron. Despite the intense public attention on the Trump family, she ensured that Barron’s privacy was preserved. A source told PEOPLE in March 2023 that “Barron has always been a first priority in [Melania’s] life.” Melania’s protective nature extended to limiting her social interactions, focusing on her role as a mother. She and her parents, who live at Mar-a-Lago, have been instrumental in Barron’s upbringing.
Barron, now 18, is known for his impressive height of 6 feet 7 inches, which his father attributes to his healthy appetite, influenced by his grandmother’s cooking. Donald Trump has often expressed pride in his son’s physical stature and intellect, once joking that Barron should pursue basketball despite his preference for soccer.
Throughout Donald Trump’s presidency, Barron faced the unique challenge of growing up in the public eye. He endured online bullying, prompting public defenses from former first daughters Chelsea Clinton and Jenna Bush Hager, who emphasized the importance of allowing him a private childhood.
Barron’s academic journey has been marked by transitions. From Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School in New York to St. Andrew’s in Maryland, and finally to Oxbridge Academy in Florida, Barron has maintained a low profile. As he considers his college options, Melania is expected to follow him wherever he chooses to study.
Despite his father’s legal battles, including a criminal hush money trial that saw Donald requesting court adjournments for Barron’s high school graduation, Barron has managed to maintain a relatively normal life. In July 2024, he attended his first campaign rally with his father in Doral, Florida, signifying a new chapter as he steps into adulthood.