NYU's Republican President resigns over comment about Barron Trump: 'He's sort of like an oddity'

Since Donald Trump became President, his youngest son has been in the media spotlight more frequently. Indeed, Barron went viral on Trump’s inauguration day because of his hair.

Barron Trump is currently studying at New York University (NYU). The 18-year-old has opted to live off-campus and is reportedly staying in Trump Tower.

As Barron focuses on his studies, those around him continue to analyse the situation, and the president of New York University commented on the way the young man conducts himself while at university.

Barron Trump called an ‘oddity’ by NYU president

As reported by Newsweek, Kaya Walker was the president of NYU's College Republicans. After speaking with Vanity Fair and making the comment regarding the youngest Trump, she resigned on Sunday, 16 February.

Walker was discussing Barron’s education at NYU with Vanity Fair and said the young man was an ‘oddity’ as all he does is study and then head home. She said:

He's sort of like an oddity on campus. He goes to class, he goes home.

Moreover, Kaya Walker revealed that a professor at the university joked that Barron ‘doesn't really belong here’. Following her comments, Kaya Walker resigned from her role after her remarks were deemed ‘inappropriate’.

According to People, she has said that her words were taken misconstrued. She said in her full statement to Vanity Fair, she talks more about 'unhealthy fascination that people have' with Barron Trump, and that he was an 'oddity' in that respect. Nonetheless, she has apologised for her words.

I do apologize to everyone that I love and respect that was caught in the crosshairs of this willful and malicious misreading of my comment

The College Republicans of America respond to Kaya Walker’s comment

Following Kaya Walker’s comment regarding Barron Trump and her resignation, the College Republicans of America (CRA) responded. In the statement, the CRA took the opportunity to invite Barron to ‘join us in reshaping the Republican Party’.

Despite condoning Walker’s comment and deeming it 'inappropriate', the CRA does also acknowledge that the media ‘unfairly framed’ what was said.

The CRA said the statement:

We have been made aware of a statement by the NYU chapter president that does not align with the values and principles upheld by our organisation.

Adding:

Though Vanity Fair and The Independent unfairly framed what was said, upon review, we still found it to be inappropriate. The NYU chapter president submitted her resignation last night.

Finally, the CRA revealed it was ‘collaborating closely with the NYU chapter to ensure a smooth transition in leadership’.

What is the College Republicans of America?

According to the College Republicans of America’s website, they are ‘dedicated to shaping the future of the Republican Party by empowering and training the next generation of conservative leaders’.

The group is relatively new; it was formed in 2023 by former leaders of the California and Wisconsin College Republicans.

The CRA’s main mission is:

To provide young conservatives with the resources, training, and networking opportunities they need to advocate for Republican principles, support GOP candidates, and effect positive change in their communities.

The CRA’s website explains that its members ‘actively campaign for and support’ Republican candidates as well as ‘ensuring that our voices are heard in the political arena’.

Read more:

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Sources used:

Vanity Fair: ‘The Education—and Anointment—of Barron Trump’

Newsweek: ‘Barron Trump Comments Spark Resignation of NYU Republican President’

The College Republicans of America