Republicans Furious Over Donald Trump's Son Barron Being Labeled 'Fair Game' After Turning 18

Former NBC senior executive Mike Sington has garnered the ire of Republicans for his comment on Barron Trump.

The youngest son of former President Donald Trump and former First Lady Melania Trump marked his 18th birthday on Wednesday, with Sington taking to X to declare that he is now "fair game."

The former NBC executive took to X (formerly Twitter) to share a photo of Trump and his youngest son, Barron, as the young lad turned 18 on Wednesday. In the now-deleted post, Sington wrote, "Barron Trump turns 18 today. He's fair game now."

The post has sparked a wave of controversy on the social media platform as some internet users, including ranking Republicans and MAGA supporters, slammed him for the comment.

According to Newsweek, Sington explained via DM on X that he said Barron was "fair game" now, but what he meant was that, as an adult, he's "fair game" for criticism from the press.

"Someone pointed out to me that 'fair game' could mean fair game to be harmed. I don't wish physical harm on anyone, so I took it down. I listen to the comments and criticism I receive," he added.

The post didn't go down well with some netizens and notable Republicans, who slammed him and questioned what he meant by "fair game."

A user wrote, "Well, it is pretty creepy because it could be thought of in a different way. Poor wording."

Another user called Sington a "sick individual," adding that "the media hates Trump so much that they are willing to go after his innocent son who has done nothing wrong."

"Leave Barron the f--- alone," one fan wrote. "The guy loves his dad and hasn't ever said anything publicly. He's still a kid."

"That's a threat on Baron's life, he needs to be questioned," a concerned individual penned.

Some MAGA supporters and Republicans also weighed in on the controversial post.

"This creepy NBC guy is completely broken. I wonder if he has kids? Nephews? Nieces? How old are they?" wrote Michael R. Caputo, former assistant secretary of public affairs for the Department of Health and Human Services during the Trump administration.

"This is super creepy," Garrett Ventry, a former senior communications adviser to the Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans, noted.

Melania has been absent from the spotlight and Trump's campaign trail as the billionaire politician duels to become the number one citizen again.

Her latest public sighting with Trump came yesterday, when the couple cast their ballots in the Florida Republican Party primaries, after which she teased a return to the campaign trail.

"Stay tuned," she replied to a journalist who asked if she'd feature more in the campaigns.

The Slovenian-born former model's comments were seen as cryptic, as they did not necessarily address the reason behind her absence from Trump's events or whether she would actually be returning.

Explaining the enigmatic two-word response, Stephanie Wolkoff, a former Melania aide, wrote on X, "When a journalist asked, 'Mrs. Trump, are you going to return to the campaign trail with your husband?' Melania said, 'Stay Tuned' Let me interpret this for you. DON'T HOLD YOUR BREATHE."

According to a recent People Magazine report, a source disclosed that Melania is more focused on Barron and likes to spend time with him than on politics.

"Melania dislikes a petting zoo," the source shared. "She goes when she has to but if it's not essential she prefers to stay out of the public eye. When an event is packed full of campaigning types and crowds of people even at Mar-a-Lago, she tries to opt out."

Another social source told the news outlet that her "main job is taking care of Barron," adding that the former FLOTUS will probably "follow him wherever he goes to school."

"Barron is shy and reserved, and she has been a good mother to him all of these years," the source added.

Trump's third presidential election bid is reportedly not a family affair, as it was the first and second time as wife, Melania, and daughter, Ivanka, have noticeably been distant from the campaign trail.

The pair have been absent from the spotlight as Trump continues to vie for the Oval Office, but the source told People that the billionaire politician is okay with that, so long as they show up when needed.

"Donald loves to be out with the people, and despite his burning legal and financial issues, going out on the campaign trail makes him happy," the source shared. "He is a loner horse and can function fine without his family, although he is happy when they can accompany him."

Another source claimed that Trump "does well on his own" at political events, as "so many people want to talk to him and be around him that he doesn't dwell on who is not there."