There was one glaring 6-foot omission from the Trump family moment that closed the Republican Party convention in Milwaukee on Thursday.
Barron Trump, 18, who recently campaigned with his father, was the only family member not present at the photo op. His mother Melania and sister Ivanka also made their first campaign appearances.
In May, it was widely reported that Barron would be one of the Florida delegates Trump would nominate for the Republican presidential nomination. On Friday morning, the phrase “Where’s Barron?” became a trending topic on X.
Melania’s office quickly dismissed those reports. “While Barron is honored to have been selected… he regrettably declines to participate due to prior commitments,” a statement from her office said.
On Thursday, the Trump campaign reiterated that Barron would not attend.
During his wide-ranging speech, Trump paid special tribute to his youngest child.
“I also want to thank my entire family for being here. Don, Kimberly, Ivanka and Jared. Eric and Lara. Tiffany and Michael. Barron… We love our Barron.”
The Trump family turned out en masse to celebrate Donald Trump’s nomination as the Republican candidate for president in 2024
The notable absentee was Barron Trump, 18, pictured here at a rally for his father in Florida last week
Three of Barron’s brothers, Don Jr., Eric and Tiffany, served as delegates for the Sunshine State, with the brothers delivering individual speeches on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.
Meanwhile, Barron’s niece, Kai, 17, was one of the convention’s big stars, speaking onstage, introducing her father, Don Jr., and speaking fondly of her grandfather.
Barron’s mother, known for being extremely protective of her son, appeared at the convention, as the Trump campaign announced, just before her husband’s speech.
CNN’s Kaitlan Collins reports that Trump campaign staffers tried “really hard” to convince Melania to speak at Congress, as she did in 2016 and 2020, but the former first lady wasn’t interested.
Of all his siblings, except Tiffany, Barron has always remained the most private.
In January 2024, he mourned the loss of his grandmother, Melania’s mother Amalija, who passed away at the age of 78. Barron was said to have a close bond with his mother’s family.
In March he turned 18, which led to new media attention for him.
Melania Trump confirmed in May that her son would not be representing his father at the convention, despite reports
Trump appeared shocked when Melania took the stage at the end of his speech
The family affair was marked by the absence of Barron Trump
One of Trump’s grandsons plays with balloons at the end of the Republican National Convention
During his father’s trial, in which he was found guilty of falsifying business records to pay a porn star he allegedly had sex with when Barron was only a few months old, Trump was allowed to leave the trial to attend his high school graduation ceremony.
On July 9, Barron made his debut at a Trump rally in Miami, where his father praised him.
“That’s the first time he’s done it. That’s the first time, right? You’re pretty popular — he’s probably more popular than Don and Eric. We need to talk about this,” the former Apprentice host told the audience.
He also spoke highly of his son in an interview with Logan Paul in June.
“He’s a big boy, 6 feet tall,” Trump claimed of his youngest son during the wide-ranging online interview.
“And I couldn’t get him to play basketball. He plays football,” Trump said. “He’s also a good athlete. Good student, good athlete.”
“A handsome boy, but he’s tall, that’s for sure,” Trump continued about his son.
The former president joked that he didn’t want to be photographed next to his son because he is so tall.
“Maybe we should make him a fighter,” Trump said, before being interrupted by Paul, a professional wrestler: “No, no.”
Barron was not in Butler when deranged gunman Thomas Crooks, 20, attacked his father.
Trump insider Richard Grenell told Bloomberg this week that the attempted assassination of Trump, combined with Barron’s college attendance, has made for a tough year for Melania.
“I think she’s shocked. Barron’s going to school this summer, so it’s a tough time for parents to go from having your child around all the time to leaving the nest.”
It is still unclear which school Barron will attend, as rumors have it that Melania will follow him wherever he goes instead of living with her husband, even if Trump wins in November.