Barron Trump was accompanied by Secret Service agents at New York University's campus as he began his first day of college.
The security detail serves as a reminder of Barron's notoriety and the constant threats facing his politically involved family.
Barron's father was almost killed by a gunman at a campaign rally in July, and the Secret Service has faced backlash over the massive security failures that led to the shooting.
It is expected that Barron will commute to school from Trump Tower, which is located nearby in Midtown Manhattan.
The 18-year-old is attending the highly selective Stern Business School in Greenwich Village, which has a 1-in-20 acceptance rate.
The only son of Donald and Melania Trump is certain to have a unique educational experience, as his first day of school made clear.
Barron entered campus surrounded by bodyguards - as he met with the school's dean, who once signed a faculty letter declaring Barron's father a "threat" to the nation. 21 Stern faculty members endorsed the letter including interim dean J.P. Eggers.
After the assassination attempt on Barron's father, many blamed dehumanizing rhetoric characterizing President Trump as a would-be dictator. In the weeks since the shooting, Democrats have gradually returned to their incendiary political rhetoric.
President Trump has often lamented the impact of his political career on his family and their safety. A woman was arrested last year for stalking Barron and threatening to kill him while he was a student at the Oxbridge Academy.
Barron bears a striking resemblance to his father, who has spoken proudly of his son's talents and accomplishments.
There has been intense public speculation over Barron's plans for the future, and whether he will follow his father into politics.
President Trump, who went to University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, recently shared that Barron would be attending Stern.
"He was accepted to a lot of colleges," Trump told the Daily Mail. "He's a very smart guy, and he'll be going to Stern, the business school, which is a great school at N.Y.U."
President Trump has credited his son with connecting him to popular podcasters and live streamers like Adin Ross, as Trump courts young voters ahead of the presidential election.
"He knows so much about it," Trump said.
"Adin Ross, you know, I mean, I do some people that I wasn't so familiar with, different generation. He knows every one of them. And we've had tremendous success."
