Barron Trump, the youngest son of former President Donald Trump, made his debut on the campaign trail, appearing at his father’s rally in Doral, Florida, on Tuesday night. The crowd erupted in applause as Barron took the stage, a moment that Donald Trump gleefully acknowledged. “That’s the first time he’s done it. That’s the first time, right?” Trump exclaimed, adding, “You’re pretty popular, he might be more popular than Don and Eric, we gotta talk about this. Hey Don, we gotta talk about this.”
Trump, known for his reality TV-style theatrics, injected a similar dose of drama into the Miami rally. He repeatedly teased, but ultimately didn’t announce, Florida Senator Marco Rubio as his running mate, strategically drawing maximum attention to his vice presidential selection.
Barron’s appearance, while brief, offered a glimpse into his potential political future. The former president clarified that his 18-year-old son is set to attend college in the coming semester, having “made his choice” on a school. While Trump didn’t reveal the chosen institution, he has previously praised Barron as “a smart one” who enjoys giving his father political advice.
Trump has publicly acknowledged Barron’s political leanings. When asked by Philadelphia’s Talk Radio 1210 WPHT if he had advised Barron on the “nastiness” of politics, Trump responded, “He’s seen it, he doesn’t have to hear it.” He continued, “He’s a smart one. He doesn’t have to hear much, but he’s a great guy. He’s a little on the tall side. I will tell you, he’s a tall one. But he’s a good-looking guy, and he’s really been a great student and he does like politics.”
At one point, Barron was slated to take a more active role in Republican Party politics, serving as a delegate for his father. In May, Republican Party of Florida chairman Evan Power announced that Barron would be one of 41 at-large delegates from Florida attending the national gathering where the GOP was set to nominate Donald Trump as its presidential candidate. However, this plan was quickly derailed when Melania Trump intervened.
Melania Trump’s office issued a statement in May, saying, “While Barron is honored to have been chosen as a delegate by the Florida Republican Party, he regretfully declines to participate due to prior commitments.” This decision, while attributed to Barron’s pre-existing commitments, suggests that the former First Lady, at least for now, may be steering Barron away from a more active role in politics.
Barron’s campaign appearance, coupled with his expressed interest in politics and past plans to serve as a delegate, raise questions about his future involvement in the political arena. While his immediate focus is on college, the young Trump has certainly captured attention with his first foray into the world of presidential campaigning.
