29 September 2023 , 12:30
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Barron Trump's eye-wateringly privileged life has always been a "first priority" in mum's Melania life as she looks to renegotiate his billion-dollar trust fund.
The 17-year-old became Melania's first and Donald Trump's fifth child after he was born in March 2006, just six months after their glamorous wedding ceremony. The former president was "surprised" when Melania told her she was pregnant with Barron. She told People at the time: “He came home [one day last August], and I told him he’d be a daddy. And his reaction was at first he needed to take it in. It was a real surprise. And then he was very happy." Donald admitted he always knew he would have children with Melania but didn't expect it to be so quickly, he added: “I expected we were going to have children, so I wasn’t totally surprised. But I was surprised by the speed of it. It happened very quickly.”
Barron grew up in a life of luxury at the family's exclusive penthouse in New York and attended some of the best private and expensive schools while living in New York City and Florida. He was a pupil at Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School on Manhattan’s Upper West Side and during his final year at Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School, he took his entire fifth-grade class on a trip to Washington. A group of 80 students joined Barron, along with his teachers and Secret Service agents, on an excursion to the White House.
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Barron was born in 2006, just a year after their wedding (AFP/Getty Images)Mum Melania stayed behind so he could finish his term in Manhattan and later that summer, he enrolled at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in Potomac where fees range up to $40,000 a year, and was the first presidential child to attend the school, which was 20 miles from the White House. Mrs. Trump said at the time: “We are very excited for our son to attend St. Andrew’s Episcopal School. It is known for its diverse community and commitment to academic excellence. The mission of St. Andrew’s is ‘to know and inspire each child in an inclusive community dedicated to exceptional teaching, learning, and service,’ all of which appealed to our family. We look forward to the coming school years at St. Andrew’s.”
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Melania Trump kept son Barron away from the limelight during her husband's time at the White House (AFP via Getty Images)While Donald Trump 's grown-up children, Ivanka, Donald Trump Jr., Eric, and Tiffany were heavily involved in the White House, the decision for Melania to stay away was to keep Barron's privacy under wraps and away from the public eye. A source told People in March 2023: " Barron has always been a first priority in [Melania's] life.Of course, she is worried and concerned about the legal issues, but she has not done anything more to protect Barron now than she ever did." The insider added: "She has always put him first. She is a good mother."
President Trump was sworn in as Barron watched on (Getty Images)
Being the president's youngest son wasn't always easiest for mum Melania, and as he faced attacks on social media, former first daughter Chelsea Clinton came to his defence and pleaded with people to give him a chance to grow up without being in the spotlight. “It’s high time the media and everyone leave Barron Trump alone and let him have the private childhood he deserves,” Clinton wrote in response to a critical article about Barron.
The 17-year-old, who can speak both English and Melania's native Slovenian, is encouraged to speak English in America but has been prompted by his mum to speak multiple languages. “My opinion is that the more languages you speak, better it is, but when you come to America, you speak English,” she told People.
Barron Trump listened as Donald Trump delivered his acceptance speech for the Republican presidential nomination (Getty Images)
Melania's parents, who live at the Trump family property in Mar-a-Lago, have also played a key role in helping raise Barron, according to a source close to the family. "Melania's friends are her family members," the source shared. And with reports of Melania wanting to renegotiate his trust fund, family members believe this is to ensure Barron is protected in the future amid several eye-watering legal bills the former president is facing. The source added: "Many Mar-a-Lago Club members and others know and see Melania. But they aren't friends. They don't get together and gab or socialise. She has always surrounded herself with family. She is a doting mother to Barron and very protective of him. This is nothing new."