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Barron Trump will always be associated with his father, which isn’t all that strange at all. Donald Trump became the king of real estate in New York and later the star of The Apprentice, so Barron’s life was never destined to be “normal.” Sure, the Trumps had elite-level security, and by all accounts Melania Trump has done everything in her power to protect her son from scrutiny.

But when Barron’s father became president, everything changed. Melania has continued to keep Barron away from the spotlight and Secret Service staff have kept him protected at all times, but the fact remains that he’s the son of arguably the most famous man in the world.

From the outside looking in, keeping Barron from the paparazzi press and people who want to negatively impact him are good things. Sadly, he has paid the highest price, and it could be argued that very few aspects of his life have actually been his to choose. Now that he’s turned 18, it’s about time he gets to make his own decisions.

The fact that Barron Trump wasn’t seen a lot during Trump’s first term at the White House made sense. Protecting her child was and still is Melania’s priority; she always has put him first. When the family moved to Florida after the 2020 election loss, Barron was ready to take on high school, and I think I can speak for all of us when I say it must have been an exciting time for him.

For one, you get more freedom, perhaps a chance to meet your first love, and maybe start going to parties with people you’ve befriended over the years – some whom might be a part of your life forever. Which is why it was in someways hurtful to read the recent Daily Mail article after they had interviewed a former student and alleged friend of Barron Trump’s at Oxbridge Academy High School.

Barron Trump

Said friend explained that Barron “never attended football games or dances” and that the youngest son of Donald Trump didn’t meet anyone outside school or go on dates. Security for a former president’s child is obviously of paramount importance, so Secret Service agents followed him everywhere. All that said, Melania Trump seems to control his every move, and her taking steps to continue to keep Barron from the spotlight – however well intentioned – could have negative consequences.

Barron turned 18 in March. But even after his 18th birthday, when he was offered to serve as a Florida delegate to the Republican National Convention, his mother’s office released the statement that he had declined.

Understandably, Melania wants to protect her son, but this level of control is getting out of hand. How will Barron be able to make his own choices about how to live his life in the future if he isn’t even allowed to decline an invite himself? He can vote – doesn’t that mean he should get to speak for himself?

This controlled environment he is living in could grow toxic, and while, of course, it’s important for his father that his youngest son doesn’t do anything that could bring negative coverage to his presidency, it’s of vital importance that Barron gets to live his life the way he wants to.

“It’s time to let him live his life”

It’s heartbreaking to imagine that Barron has had Secret Service agents by his side through high school and now at New York University. I can’t possibly imagine that he would want them lurking in the shadows every time he might want to go to, say, a party, or even a date.

But in the end, perhaps that’s exactly what his mother wants. It’s time to let him live his life the way he wants. Otherwise, what is there to live for?