Public scrutiny at home increases in tandem with political tensions abroad. Additionally, the scrutiny has taken an unexpectedly personal turn for the Trump family, targeting Barron Trump, the former president’s youngest son.
Barron, who is currently 19 years old and a student at the Stern School of Business at New York University, has mostly avoided the spotlight during his adolescence. Barron’s name is making headlines, though not because of his academic background or family appearances, following Donald Trump’s recent decision to launch a military strike on three nuclear sites in Iran.
Rather, Barron should join the U.S. military, according to a growing chorus of voices on the internet, who contend that leaders’ sons should be the first to suffer the repercussions of starting a conflict.
The Military Background of the Trump Family and the Reaction of the Public
Donald Trump has repeatedly shown his appreciation for the American military during his time in the public eye, emphasizing the sacrifices made by service members. His family’s and his own record, however, contrasts sharply.
Trump avoided military service despite being eligible for the Vietnam draft because he was diagnosed with bone spurs, a decision that has long been criticized. Despite their strong support for the military, his sons, Donald Jr. and Eric, did not serve either.
No Trump man has actually served in the military for at least three generations, according to numerous outlets.
Trump’s decision to approve military strikes in Iran, which some lawmakers have deemed unconstitutional, has once again brought attention to the discrepancy between his support for military action and his family’s lack of military service.
However, the topic of discussion has now turned to Donald and Melania Trump’s only child, Barron Trump.
Social Media Reactions: “Your Children Should Serve If You Start the War”
The notion that children of political figures ought to bear some of the costs of war is not a novel one. This sentiment has been around for many generations. However, in the social media-driven world of today, those opinions can spread quickly.
Barron Trump was urged to join the U.S. Army in a number of posts on websites such as X (formerly Twitter) after the June 22 strike in Iran. Some users even suggested that he be “the first to deploy” if ground troops were ever sent into combat.
“I assume Barron will be enlisting if Trump decides the U.S. should get involved in a ground war in Iran,” one user commented.
Another said, “Don’t freak out, MAGA; there won’t be any Trump men near the fighting.”
Taking it a step further, some critics pointed to Barron’s age and way of life to argue that if he can live a quiet life in Manhattan, he should also be prepared to deal with the fallout from his father’s foreign policy choices.
Some users disagreed, pointing out that Barron is a private citizen who is still enrolled in school and has no political influence over his father’s choices, even though many users agreed that politicians’ kids shouldn’t be protected from the wars their parents support.
Up Until Now, a Calm Life in New York
Barron Trump has mostly avoided the spotlight since he was a child. Melania Trump, who is well-known for wanting to keep her son out of the spotlight, has repeatedly refused to divulge information about his personal life or academic achievements.
At the moment, Barron is enrolled in NYU’s esteemed and competitive Stern School of Business. He has not yet shown any public interest in politics or military service, in contrast to his older half-siblings.