What we know: Donald Trump attends Barron Trump graduate high school in West Palm Beach
The most anticipated high school graduation since the end of the pandemic took place at Oxbridge Academy Friday morning.
Among the 116 seniors who received their diplomas in the exclusive, private prep school's graduating Class of 2024 was 18-year-old Barron Trump, the son of Donald and Melania Trump. The former first couple attended the ceremony.
On Tuesday, Oxbridge officials reminded the media and the public that the ceremony at the 54-acre campus was private and by invitation only. The school acknowledged "the heightened interest in this year’s event," presumably because of the participation of the Trumps' only child together, and the erstwhile uncertainty over the attendance of the former president and presumptive 2024 Republican presidential nominee.
Oxbridge Academy graduation: Prep school asks media, onlookers to stay away from ceremony for Barron Trump, other seniors
Here is what we know:
What do we know about the teenager?
About Barron Trump? Not a lot. The youth turned 18 on March 20, and as a minor throughout his father's public life in television, business and politics, he has been kept out of the spotlight and the media headlines.
At 6'7", he is the tallest of the Trump siblings, and rises above his father, who is 6'4". He has been living at Mar-a-Lago with his parents.
Since moving to Palm Beach after his father left the White House, Barron has attended Oxbridge Academy, a college-preparatory school for grades 6-12 in West Palm Beach where annual tuition is a reported $41,500.
What has Donald Trump said about Barron?
Donald Trump has occasionally spoken about his son, mentioning in a pre-Super Bowl interview more than four years ago that Barron liked soccer. He also noted his youngest son is a computer whiz of sorts.
Trump said last week that Barron is “very popular” in school. In a separate interview, he said Barron occasionally offers him political advice.
During a radio interview with the Kayal and Company show on Talk Radio 1210 WPHT in Philadelphia, Donald Trump said Barron advises him from time to time.
“It’s sort of funny. He’ll tell me sometimes, ‘Dad, this is what you have to do,’” Trump said on the show this month.
Where will Barron go to college?
That's another shrouded topic.
Donald Trump in the past has said he believed Barron would follow in his footsteps by attending the University of Pennsylvania. There has also been speculation that the young man might choose New York University in Manhattan, where he spent much of his childhood — and lived until his father was sworn in as the 45th president in early 2017.
But according to what Trump has told Newsweek, it looks like Barron is mulling other options now.
“Right now, he’s doing a great job,” Trump told the weekly news magazine. “He has great marks. He’s going to be going to college soon. And we’re looking at some colleges that are different than they were two months ago.”
Politics 2024: Barron Trump "declined" delegate invite to GOP convention, Melania Trump said in statement
Is Barron Trump into politics?
For three days last week, the answer appeared to be yes.
On May 8, NBC News reported that Barron Trump had been selected as a member of the Florida delegation to this summer's Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. As a delegate, he would join his half brothers Donald Jr. and Eric, and half sister Tiffany in casting votes to officially nominate their father as the GOP's presidential nominee for a third straight time.
But then, on the evening of May 10, Melania Trump issued a statement that saying that while Barron was honored to have been chosen, he was declining the opportunity due to prior commitments. She did not elaborate as to what those commitments might be.
If he follows a century of first family history, Barron Trump will not be a political player. Other children of presidents, such as Amy Carter and Chelsea Clinton, who spent part of their childhood living in the White House have not pursued political careers.
The exception was the daughter of President John F. Kennedy, Caroline, who served as U.S. ambassador to Australia and Japan.
George W. Bush, the 43rd president, followed his father's footsteps to the White House, but he did not grow up in the presidential mansion. Ditto for his brother, Jeb, who served two terms as governor of Florida and unsuccessfully sought the presidency in 2016.
Will Donald Trump attend his son's graduation?
Yes, he was there.
Last month, Donald Trump fumed "that I can't go to my son's graduation" because of his ongoing New York business fraud trial. However, the judge presiding over the case dealing with the bookkeeping of an alleged hush money payment to a porn star subsequently canceled court on today, allowing Trump to attend the graduation.
Later today, the former president will jet off to Minnesota to speak at a GOP event there this evening.
Note: This is a breaking news story. Please. return for updates.
Antonio Fins is a politics and business editor at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at [email protected]. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Donald Trump to see Barron Trump graduate at Oxbridge Academy
