Why was Barron Trump absent from RNC? Mom Melania and siblings' presence fails to dim demand for him

Barron Trump chose not to attend the RNC in Milwaukee, marking a rare public absence during a major political event for his father Donald Trump
UPDATED JUL 22, 2024
Barron Trump, who spent his pre-teen years in the White House, has largely been shielded from the public eye, especially by his mother Melania Trump (Getty Images)
Barron Trump, who spent his pre-teen years in the White House, has largely been shielded from the public eye, especially by his mother Melania Trump (Getty Images)

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN: Barron Trump, the youngest son of former president Donald Trump, was notably absent from the 2024 Republican National Convention (RNC) held in Milwaukee.

Unlike his four siblings, who were present, Barron chose not to attend the event, marking a rare public absence during a major political event of his father.

Acknowledgement of Barron Trump’s absence

In his 90-minute speech at the convention, Donald Trump acknowledged his son Barron's absence with a touch of humor. He expressed gratitude to his family members who were present, “I also want to thank my entire family — Don and Kimberly, Ivanka and Jared, Eric and Lara, Tiffany and Michael,” he said, before adding, “Barron, we love our Barron.”

Despite his low profile in his father's political activities, Barron, 18, has not been entirely absent from the political scene. He attended the Republican National Conventions in both 2016 and 2020.

Recently, Barron appeared at a campaign rally in Doral, Florida, on July 9, marking his debut on the campaign trail for the 2024 election, which led many to believe he would become more politically engaged.

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: U.S. President Donald Trump stands with his son Barron Trump inside of the inaugural parade reviewing stand in front of the White House on January 20, 2017 in Washington, DC. Donald Trump was sworn in as the nation's 45th president today. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Donald Trump stands with his son Barron Trump inside of the inaugural parade reviewing stand in front of the White House on January 20, 2017, in Washington, DC (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

In May, Barron declined an offer to serve as an at-large delegate for Florida at the RNC. His mother Melania made a statement on his behalf, citing other commitments. “While Barron is honored to have been chosen as a delegate by the Florida Republican Party, he regretfully declines to participate due to prior commitments,” she announced on May 10.

Around the same time Barron was selected as a delegate, Donald Trump mentioned in an interview with Philadelphia’s Talk Radio 1210 WPHT that his son has an interest in politics and occasionally offers advice. “And he’s really been a great student,” Trump said. “And he does like politics. It’s sort of funny. He’ll tell me sometimes, ‘Dad, this is what you have to do.’”

Donald Trump’s other children — Donald Jr., Eric, and Tiffany — attended the RNC throughout the week. Melania and Ivanka were present on the final night of the convention. Notably, Melania and Ivanka have kept a lower profile in Donald’s 2024 campaign compared to their active roles in his previous administration, MSNBC reported.

Barron Trump's privacy and public appearances

Barron Trump, who spent his pre-teen years in the White House, has largely been shielded from the public eye. A source told People in March 2023 that his mother Melania Trump prioritizes Barron's privacy and well-being. “She has always put him first,” the source said. “She is a good mother.”

Despite his general privacy, Barron did make a notable appearance at his father’s campaign rally in Florida. Donald Trump introduced Barron to the crowd, who responded with cheers as Barron stood, waved, and gave a thumbs-up. Trump praised his son, highlighting his academic achievements and sharing that Barron had been accepted into every college he applied to.

The audience reacted enthusiastically as Trump described Barron as a “very good guy.”

Trump’s pride in Barron was evident as he remarked on his son's popularity and likability. “That’s the first time he’s done it. That’s the first time, right?” Trump said, adding humorously, “You’re pretty popular, he might be more popular than Don and Eric, we gotta talk about this. Hey Don, we gotta talk about this.”



 

Following the rally, Trump posted photos of Barron on Truth Social, capturing moments of Barron waving to the crowd and pumping his fist. Trump humorously noted the change in Barron's life, stating, “So Barron, it’s good to have you,” and adding, “He had such a nice, easy life. Now, it’s a little bit changed.”

Kai Madison Trump's speech for 'grandpa' Donald Trump

While Barron Trump's absence was noticeable, another younger member of the Trump family, Kai Madison Trump, made quite an impact at the convention. Kai, the 17-year-old daughter of Donald Trump Jr, delivered an unscheduled speech on Wednesday night, sharing personal anecdotes about her grandfather.

She spoke about playing golf with Trump, his encouragement for excellence among his ten grandchildren, and his playful nature, such as giving them “candy and soda when our parents aren’t looking” and always wanting “to know how we’re doing in school.”

Kai also addressed the assassination attempt on her grandfather at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. “On Saturday, I was shocked when I heard that he has been shot, and I just wanted to know if he was OK,” Kai said. “It was heartbreaking that someone could do that to another person.”



 

Her heartfelt speech was reported by the New York Post and other outlets, which noted that she “stole the show” in the face of such a grave event.

MORE STORIES

On Tuesday, Senate Democrats blocked the GOP's eighth attempt to reopen the government
2 days ago
California already allows trans athletes to compete in school sports based on their gender identity
2 days ago
Pete Hegseth says 'Pentagon access is a privilege, not a right' as top outlets reject new media restrictions and risk losing credentials
3 days ago
Donald Trump said a very wealthy donor offered to personally cover troop pay if government shutdown funds fall short
3 days ago
The six people are from Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Mexico, Paraguay, and South Africa
3 days ago
President Donald Trump blamed Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer for the shutdown and confirmed ending several Democrat-backed federal programs
5 days ago
Donald Trump criticized Chuck Schumer over the shutdown and said he directed Pete Hegseth to use funds to ensure troops are paid on October 15
6 days ago
Several progressives who have long called for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas have not yet commented on the agreement’s terms or timeline
Oct 10, 2025
Trump posted a scathing montage, accusing Democrats of shutting down the government to please their 'radical left' base
Oct 9, 2025
John Kennedy is calling out Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer over the tough spot he’s in amid government shutdown
Oct 9, 2025