Why Donald & Melania Trump's Son Was Really Named Barron

Little is known about Barron Trump, the youngest son of Donald Trump, mainly because the teenager typically cedes the limelight to older siblings such as Ivanka and Eric Trump, both of whom work closely with their dad. As Town & Country points out, Barron is rarely spotted out in public and is usually only papped by photographers when he's accompanying his folks on family vacations or, during the Trump presidency, while taking trips on Air Force One.

A viral photo of Barron had everyone saying the same thing since the growing boy is already towering over both his famous parents. The youngest Trump kid is particularly close with his mother, with Barron even learning to speak Slovenian from Melania. His proud mama bragged to People in 2009 that her highly advanced toddler actually spoke three languages, including French, so he was already shaping up to be impressive.

And rightly so, considering Barron's father chose a specific moniker for him that would mark his boy out as someone special from the outset. 

Barron is quite an unusual name, and, as it turns out, there's an interesting story behind it. As The Washington Post reported, Donald Trump was well-known for using the alias "John Barron," stretching back to the '80s, while posing as his own spokesman. Typically, the real estate magnate trotted out "John" when he had a difficult message to convey or didn't necessarily want his own name attached to something. 

Donald was apparently so convincing in the role that "John" was repeatedly quoted by reporters as though he were a real person for almost a decade. Unfortunately, in 1990, Donald was forced to acknowledge under oath that he was, in fact, John Barron. He seemingly picked up the trick from his father, who frequently used the pseudonym "Mr. Green." 

Then, in 2004, following the success of "The Apprentice," a scripted drama based on Donald's life was briefly in production. Screenwriter Gay Walch received a single note on her screenplay from the man himself: Change the protagonist's surname to Barron (via Romper). 

Just a couple years later, Donald's son, Barron Trump, was born, and he finally got to use his favorite name for real. Funnily enough, in 2019, a script about Barron thwarting his father's presidential ambitions landed a coveted spot on the Hollywood Black List, per Variety.

Notably, Barron Trump was the first boy to live in the White House since John F. Kennedy Jr. in 1963, per Town & Country. However, he didn't move in right away. He and mom Melania Trump initially stayed behind in New York City so he could finish the school year. Although the stately confines of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue might not suit all children, it's likely Barron was quite comfortable residing there since, according to Melania, he's been a fancy kid since the beginning.

In 2013, she informed ABC News that Barron was "not a sweatpants child." She said: "He doesn't mind putting on [a suit] — but not every day — and he likes to dress up in a tie sometimes like Daddy." Further, Melania slathered the young boy, then 7 years old, with her Caviar Complex C6 moisturizer on a nightly basis. "I put it on him from head to toe. He likes it!" she enthused. The doting mother also shared, "I call him 'Mini-Donald.' He's my priority." 

Her comments echoed what the former first lady told Parenting in 2015 (via Redbook). "Sometimes I call him little Donald. He is a mixture of us in looks, but his personality is why I call him little Donald," she said, adding that Barron "is a very strong-minded, very special, smart boy. He is independent and opinionated and knows exactly what he wants."

Clearly, by Melania Trump's own admission, Barron Trump is quite similar to his father, Donald Trump. But that doesn't mean the former "Apprentice" host was a hands-on dad, with Melania admitting to Parenting (via Romper) that, although the duo shared a special relationship, Donald "didn't change diapers." According to the Be Best founder, she didn't mind. "We know our roles," Melania said. "I didn't want him to change the diapers or put Barron to bed. I love every minute of it."

The Associated Press notes that Mick Mulvaney, who was then acting White House chief of staff, confirmed at CPAC in 2020 that Donald calls Barron all the time to check on him. "The president's just a really caring father, and you don't see that," he asserted. 

Further, body language expert Judi James confirmed to Express that the former commander-in-chief's stance around his youngest child showcases just how much he really cares about him. "[Donald] tends to stand him directly in front of himself, clutching both his shoulders in a gesture of pride and endorsement," she said. 

In fact, during a rally in North Carolina (via YouTube), Donald openly bragged about how tall Barron is, measuring 6 feet, 7 inches — and he called Eric Trump "short" in comparison. Evidently, the young man is more than living up to the illustrious moniker bestowed upon him by his famous father.