Donald Trump’s older children are reportedly not close to his youngest son, Barron Trump, and new claims suggest Melania Trump may be partly to blame.
The first lady is said to be fiercely protective of Barron, keeping him away from the spotlight while also maintaining some distance from her husband’s older children. Reports claim Melania has emphasized Barron’s Slovenian roots over his American side and is not particularly fond of the wider Trump family dynamic.
She also reportedly took issue with Eric Trump after he publicly shared a story about what Barron allegedly told Joe Biden during their father’s inauguration.
Melania Trump Accused Of Complicating Barron’s Sibling Bond
Amid the polished and coordinated image of the Trump family, reports suggest there may be underlying tension among some family members, particularly the president’s children.
Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka, Eric, and Tiffany are said to be notably distant from their younger brother, Barron, who has reportedly been kept from mingling freely with them by his mother, Melania.
Sources blame the first lady for “complicating” the siblings’ relationship, claiming she has not only kept the 20-year-old away from the others but also largely kept him out of the spotlight, per Radar Online.
However, the distance may not be entirely surprising, as Barron has a significant age gap with his older siblings. Tiffany, the youngest of Trump’s older children, is 12 years older than Barron, while Don Jr. is more than 20 years his senior.
Melania Reportedly Left Barron’s Siblings Off Guest List
Barron turned 20 back in March and reportedly had a party curated by his mother to mark the milestone. However, the celebration raised eyebrows after claims emerged that Melania left his older siblings off the guest list.
“They’re not close — at all,” a source told Rob Shuter’s #ShutterScoop. “This wasn’t an oversight. They were left off the list.”
The invitees were said to have been personally curated by Melania, with sources claiming the omission of Barron’s older siblings was intentional.
“Melania is in charge, and she wanted this to be about Barron — not about Donald Trump, and not about his other children,” the insider said at the time. “This was a small, controlled, private celebration, and certain people were simply not included.”
Melania Trump Said To Be Furious After Eric Mentioned Barron
Melania has long been hands-on with Barron. The First Lady reportedly wanted him to remain closer to her side of the family, particularly her late mother, Amalija Knavs, while emphasizing his Slovenian roots.
The former model is also said to be fiercely protective of Barron’s privacy and reportedly does not want his name discussed publicly. According to sources, she was upset with Eric Trump after he publicly recounted what Barron allegedly told former Biden during Trump’s inauguration.
Sources told the journalist that Melania was angry that the private conversation somehow made its way into the public space.
“Melania does not want Barron discussed. Ever,” a source reportedly claimed. “She told Eric to shut his mouth. She protects that boy like a lioness.”
Donald Trump’s Parenting Past Resurfaces Amid Barron Claims
Trump’s relationship dynamics with his children have previously raised eyebrows, particularly regarding his involvement as a father.
Although his children have often praised his parenting skills, reports suggest Trump struggled to connect with Don Jr., Ivanka, and Eric when they were younger.
“He did not know how to speak the children’s language,” Trump’s ex-wife Ivana said of him during a radio interview with AM970’s “The Answer.”
Even with Barron, Trump’s hands-on parenting reportedly had limits. Melania previously revealed that the president never changed his youngest son’s diaper, per the Express.
Trump Reportedly Uses His Kids To Build A Dynasty
Trump is said to be using his children to build a political dynasty as questions over his successor continue to spark conversation.
Speaking to Radar Online, PR expert David Johnson said, “He uses his family as campaign surrogates, party figures, and brand ambassadors, including Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump in the White House and Lara Trump as RNC co-chair and even teased about his son [Barron Trump] making a run for the White House.”
Speaking on why Trump reportedly prefers to rely on family, the expert noted that it comes down to trust and loyalty.
“Why family over traditional operatives? Trust,” Johnson said. “He sees them as loyal to the office, the party, or other institutions. His family is loyal to him first and foremost.”