Barron Trump escorted to NYU by security in bulletproof vests after second assassination attempt on father
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Barron Trump, the youngest son of former president Donald Trump, is getting some extra protection of late - both on and off campus.
With his father facing multiple threats to his life in recent months, it seems that Barron’s security has been ramped up to an entirely new level as he continues his university journey at NYU.
The noticeable increase in his security comes after two assassination attempts were made on his father in three months. Considering this, it’s no surprise that Barron’s safety has become a top priority.
A fresh start at NYU for Barron Trump
Barron Trump kicked off his college this September at New York University's Stern School of Business. For several months before this, there had been endless speculation regarding where he would end up studying.
He has been spotted regularly on campus, usually surrounded by his security team. He commutes daily from Trump Tower in midtown Manhattan to the NYU campus, where Secret Service agents are always by his side.
In fact, new photos captured on Monday showed Secret Service agents trailing Barron on campus. The 6-foot-9 teenager was flanked by security carrying ballistic plates and heavy-duty backpacks.
Some agents were even seen with bulletproof vests peeking out from under their clothes. Barron himself kept it casual in a white long-sleeved polo, navy pants, and blue and white striped Adidas sneakers.
Heightened security in the wake of Donald Trump's assassination threats
The decision to increase Barron’s security is understandable given the recent threats against his father. At a September 18 rally in Long Island, New York there was a bomb scare inside the rally perimeter. Luckily, the police were quick to debunk the explosive device report — but it was enough to make security extra cautious.
On September 15, another disturbing incident had taken place: A man named Ryan Wesley Routh allegedly pointed a gun at Donald Trump while he was golfing in West Palm Beach, Florida. The 58-year-old gunman was swiftly arrested and appeared in court, where he was denied bail.
This marked the second attempt on Trump’s life in the last few months. The first occurred on July 18 in Butler, Pennsylvania, where 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire at a Trump rally, narrowly missing the former president and leaving one person dead besides the gunman himself.
These incidents have undoubtedly pushed the Secret Service to heighten their protection for the entire Trump family, Barron included. The former president’s security detail has reportedly increased even more following a bipartisan bill passed in the House of Representatives on September 20.
Barron Trump's life at NYU
Despite all the attention, Barron’s classmates at NYU seem mostly unfazed by his presence. Many say they’ve noticed the Secret Service agents, but the security team keeps a low profile and doesn’t interfere much with student life.
Eighteen-year-old freshman Rohan told The US Sun that the Secret Service agents “give him a little bit of space and breathing room,” He acknowledged that Barron is hard to miss, adding, “Obviously, he’s very known. Not just from his status but also just physically, you can tell who he is - he’s clearly really tall.”
Another freshman named Aaruush agreed, noting that Barron has been trying his best to blend in and live a normal student life.
“He doesn’t like to use that privilege and use that, I guess, prestige to influence other people," he said. “He’s trying to be as normal as possible.”
Students weren’t too surprised when they learned Barron would be attending Stern, given that he grew up in New York City and is familiar with the area. Aaruush commented, “I’m not too surprised because he grew up here. And so I think he wanted to stay in Manhattan.”
Not everyone, however, was aware of Barron’s arrival or the security presence on campus. One student, Sloan, admitted she hadn’t noticed the Secret Service until recently. “I hadn’t heard until I found out he was here. I wasn’t following the announcement made prior about a New York school. It wasn't something I really followed or cared too closely about," she said.
Barron Trump is breaking tradition
Barron Trump's decision to attend NYU’s Stern School of Business marks a break from Trump family tradition. His older siblings — Ivanka, Tiffany, and Donald Jr — all attended the University of Pennsylvania, where their father also studied. Despite Barron’s choice to forge his own path, Donald Trump seems proud of his son’s decision.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, the former president spoke highly of Barron. "He's a very smart guy, and he'll be going to Stern, the business school, which is a great school at NYU," Trump said, adding, “He’s a very high aptitude child, but he’s no longer a child. He’s just passed into something beyond child-dom. He’s doing great.”
