President Donald Trump boasted that his wife, first lady Melania Trump, is a loving mother who keeps a watchful eye on their son Barron Trump, The Independent reported. Barron is heading into his sophomore year at New York University after his freshman year unfolded during the presidential campaign and the victory of his famous father.
This remark came as part of a discussion about negotiations Trump was working on to end the war between Ukraine and Russia. Following his Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, a reporter asked Trump about a letter Melania Trump wrote to Russian President Vladimir Putin about the toll the war has taken on children.
That's when the president shared about his wife's "great love of children" that motivates her. "She’s got a great love of children, she has a wonderful son that she loves probably more than anybody, including me, I hate to say it," Donald Trump said of his wife, Melania Trump. "But she loves her son, she loves children, and she hates to see something like this happening."
Rumors swirl around Barron as Melania Trump is notoriously protective of her family, especially her only son. A source close to the matter told People last year that she chose to keep Barron out of on-campus housing so she could keep an eye on him as he settled into his freshman year.
"She will do everything she can to make sure Barron does well in school and is socially and mentally adjusted to his life as a college student," the unnamed source claimed. The person said that it wasn't "in the stars" for Barron to live in a dorm "at this point."
The first lady became particularly concerned after Trump was re-elected last November and was worried about what impact that would have on Barron's life and safety. "Melania worries about the hate in the country and how it falls on her son, who is innocent of any of this," a source said.
"She is and has been a good sounding board for him. They talk about life as it is and how they are in the spotlight," the source added about Melania Trump. Barron also has his older siblings to look up to, including his half-brothers Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump, who have been instrumental in their father's business and political aspirations.
Meanwhile, Melania Trump has kept her inner circle tight and relied heavily on her parents, Viktor and Amalija Knavs, to provide love and guidance to Barron. Although it has been a blessing, the death of Melania Trump's mother in January 2024 was difficult for her, considering their close relationship. "Melania’s most meaningful moments of life have been with her family, and Barron is the lucky benefactor of that love and caring," the source noted.
Barron was kept out of the public eye and given a chance just to be a kid when his father first became president in 2016. With four more years to grow up, Barron emerged as a small but important part of his father's campaign this time around, even as Melania Trump did her best to shield Barron.
During his father's presidential campaign, the younger Trump became more involved and played a crucial role in helping his father cross the finish line. According to Fox News, Donald Trump said his son was the one who told him to appeal to the Gen Z voters by going on the right podcasts, including Joe Rogan which may have marked a turning point.
"[He's influenced me] a little bit," he told Maria Bartiromo on Fox News last fall. "He tells me about all the ‘hot’ guys, people I've never heard of [for podcasts]… but Don [Jr.] knows a lot about it and Eric knows a lot about it. Tiffany knows a lot. Ivanka knows a lot," Donald Trump continued about his daughters.
In June, Barron made his first appearance at one of his father's rallies and received a standing ovation from the crowd, according to The New York Post. He would go on to cast his first-ever vote as an 18-year-old in November, and it appears Barron could be on his way to emerging as another arrow in Donald Trump's political quiver.
Melania Trump has done a great job raising her son out of the spotlight and still watches over him as he spreads his wings as a college student. She clearly has a great love for her Barron and continues to hold her family close in the midst of the chaos of the White House, and that's admirable.
