New book reveals Barron called Trump in a 'state of distress' after Charlie Kirk shooting
WASHINGTON, DC: A new book has shed light on the tense moments inside the White House after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot, claiming President Donald Trump first learned about the attack not from his advisers but from his youngest son, Barron Trump.
According to 'Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump', written by New York Times journalists Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, the incident unfolded on September 10, 2025, as White House officials raced to confirm reports that Kirk had been shot while speaking with students at Utah Valley University.
Barron Trump apparently feared another attack on his father
The book claims White House deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich immediately tried to verify reports of the shooting after a Signal group chat involving Charlie Kirk, Donald Trump Jr, Vice President JD Vance, and others began filling with messages asking whether Kirk was okay.
Budowich reportedly sent an aide to the Situation Room, but staff there allegedly "knew nothing."
He then began calling hospitals in Utah to confirm Kirk's condition before informing the president, who was meeting in the Oval Office with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and "an Indian steel tycoon."
By the time Budowich had enough information, the authors claim Barron had already reached his father.
"Trump's youngest son, Barron, had already called to tell his father that Kirk had been shot," Haberman and Swan write.
They add that the then-19-year-old "had phoned in a state of distress" because he feared another assassin might be targeting the president.
Barron reportedly told his father, "This is what happens when you go out there. This is what happened."
Donald Trump tried to calm Barron as White House learned more
The book says Trump attempted to reassure his son during the emotional phone call.
"Calm down, honey, calm down," the president reportedly told Barron, although the authors claim Trump himself "was clearly unnerved."
As aides continued gathering details, Trump reportedly asked where Kirk had been shot. When told it was his neck, he replied, "Not good. That's not good."
The president also reflected on Kirk's role during the 2024 campaign.
"Man, Charlie," Trump reportedly said. "He's such a good guy. He really helped me out in 2024. He got the youth vote."
The authors further claim Trump had previously warned Kirk that his outdoor college campus appearances could make him vulnerable to political violence, particularly after surviving an assassination attempt during the 2024 campaign and another alleged attempt later that year.
Donald Trump later reflected on Barron and Charlie Kirk's relationship
According to the book, Trump later asked longtime aide Natalie Harp to show him video from the shooting after it surfaced online.
The authors write that he quickly looked away, saying, "It's horrible. Poor Charlie."
Two days later, on September 12, 2025, Trump spoke about Barron's admiration for Kirk during an appearance on 'Fox & Friends'.
"Barron came to me. And he said, 'Dad, I'd like to meet somebody that you know.' 'Who?' 'Charlie Kirk,'" Trump recalled. "I said, 'What?' You know, I thought he was going to say, 'I want to meet like King Charles' or something."
The president said he arranged a lunch between the two, adding that Barron returned impressed.
"I set up a lunch with him and Charlie. And he came back, he said, 'That guy's great, Dad. That guy's great.' You know, it was cute," Trump said. "He's unbelievable. I don't know what it was."
