Barron Trump, the youngest son of Donald Trump, has recently emerged from a relatively private life, now that he has turned 18 and become a freshman at New York University (NYU). Over the years, Barron remained largely out of the public eye, only occasionally appearing alongside his parents during Trump's presidency.
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His mother, Melania Trump is understood to be very protective of him and has tried to ensure a normal upbringing. Regardless, Barron had been the subject of public speculation for years, though much of it was based on rumors.
However, with him turning 18 and attending NYU, Barron has been propelled into the spotlight like never before—he's been trending on social media thanks to his peers, and his father has also been talking about him more than ever.
Barron Trump has become TikTok famous with paparazzi-style clips going viral
According to Wired, students at NYU have been capturing and posting cryptic, blurry videos of Barron attending classes, often resembling paparazzi footage. These videos have earned him the nickname ‘Sasquatch-esque’ due to the elusive, short nature of these clips.
Many of the videos, some edited and set to music, have gone viral on TikTok. These clips show Barron trailed by his Secret Service agents as he makes his way to class. Users sharing these videos try to remain inconspicuous while filming. The Independent reports many of these videos have accumulated millions of views.
@barontrumpnyustetn #baron#trump#barontrump#nyu#stern#nyustern#nyc#college#freshman#freshmen#donaldtrump#student#secretservice
♬ Original Sound - Unknown
For instance, a particularly popular clip posted on September 5 has over 42k likes on TikTok. The video shows Barron in a white polo shirt with a backpack, walking on a Manhattan street on his first day of class. Another video of Barron in all-black clothing has 87.5k likes with 1969 comments, 4832 saves and over 5k shares.
It should be noted that many of these videos are seemingly posted by fans of Barron Trump, with the comments flooded with messages of support and adoration.
@barronshlly new barron in NYU #barrontrump#nameanabellatrump
♬ original sound - :)
A former Secret Service agent has pointed out that such videos online could potentially develop into a threat as they broadcast locations where Barron is usually spotted.
@nameannabellatrump #NEW Barron được rất nhiều vệ sĩ hộ tống đến trường NYU , Barron không sống ở ký túc xá như hầu hết tân sinh viên khác, thay vào đó đi học hàng ngày từ tòa nhà Trump Tower. (gg) #barrontrump#nameannabellatrump
♬ оригинальный звук - QUARITCH
Is Barron Trump a ‘secret weapon’ for his father?
Aside from the security threat, Barron’s growing popularity on social media is understood to be beneficial for his father. There have been hints that Barron might be on a path to a political career. Moreover, he has been dubbed as Trump's 'secret weapon' by Daily Mail.
Trump’s former White House chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, previously revealed that Barron had been offering advice on how to attract younger voters.
Barron, along with his 17-year-old conservative influencer best friend, Bo Loudon, are playing a vital role in Trump's efforts to reach Gen Z voters. The duo are leveraging their tech-savvy knowledge to advise Trump on how to connect with younger voters through social media influencers, YouTubers, and streamers with massive followings.
One of their most notable efforts was arranging a 90-minute interview with Kick streamer Adin Ross, which was viewed live by 500,000 people and later promoted as having reached 100 million listeners on Trump's Truth Social platform. A source told MailOnline:
Trump rates the boys and sees their input as an asset. He has no issues turning to them for advice on a subject that many of his middle-aged campaign aides wouldn't have much of a clue about.
Beyond this, they have encouraged Trump to forge relationships with popular figures such as YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul and businessman Patrick Bet-David, the host of the PBD podcast. Barron and Bo have been described as Trump’s ‘de-facto social media outreach team.’
Barron and Bo have also played a key role in setting up Trump's meeting with Elon Musk for a major interview. Sources reveal that they will continue to advise Trump on staying connected to young voters through new technologies and platforms.
Read more:
Donald Trump reportedly gets 'annoyed' when Melania and Barron speak in Slovenian
Donald Trump reacts to son Barron's debut in politics: 'To me that's very cute'
Sources used:
Wired: Barron Trump Is Finally Taking the Stage
The Independent: The Trump-quatch! Giddy NYU students are sharing blurry videos of Barron sightings on social media
Daily Mail: How Barron Trump and his conservative influencer best friend Bo Loudon, 17, are helping the former president secure the Gen Z vote
