Barron Trump's presence at FL rally sparks speculation about emerging political dynasty
Former President Donald Trump delighted a rally crowd in Florida last week by introducing his youngest son, Barron, who made his first public appearance at such an event.
Though the former first son's presence at the proceedings in Doral was notable in that it marked a change from his historically private persona, some commentators suggest that it was a sign that Donald Trump was signaling the start of a family political dynasty, as the Daily Beast reports.
A grand introduction
It was on Tuesday that former President Trump welcomed his youngest child to the political arena for the first time, prompting the assembled supporters to offer a standing ovation, as the BBC noted.
“Barron Trump! This is the first time he's ever done it,” the proud father told the crowd, according to The Hill. “That's the first time, right?”
Donald Trump said that his son secured admission to every college in which he was interested, and he also described the 18-year-old recent high school graduate as a “very good guy.”
In response to the crowd's enthusiastic reaction to Barron's presence, Trump said to him, “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.”
The former president acknowledged the stress and strain political life can bring to anyone's life, musing that his young son “had such a nice, easy life,” but added, that now, “it's a little bit changed.”
Birth of a dynasty?
While it may have been Barron's first official foray into the cutthroat world of politics, John Mulholland of the Daily Beast suggests that it could also represent an informal coronation of sorts, in terms of a burgeoning Trump dynasty.
Mulholland noted that the “18-year-old moved like a practiced veteran. He raised his 6-foot-7-inch frame upwards, waved his right hand to all sides and acknowledged the applause. This looked easy.”
Recalling the seemingly bashful, private Barron Trump of prior years, Mulholland added, “there was nothing shy or awkward about the Barron that moved center stage on Tuesday. This was a consummate, if fleeting, appearance by a political debutant.”
“If the young man harbors political ambitions, then this event – and that photo – will be a coming-of-age moment,” he continued.
“Statesmanlike” presence
Though some political observers have operated under the assumption that Donald Trump Jr. was his father's heir apparent in terms of aspirations to higher office, Barron's emergence onto the scene has some rethinking that scenario.
Mulholland referenced an observation from former Melania Trump White House chief of staff Stephanie Grisham, who said that Barron Trump is “statesmanlike. It's almost like royalty.”
Though Barron recently declined an opportunity to serve as a delegate to the Republican National Convention this week, insiders have indicated that his interest in politics is very real and likely to last, and, according to Mulholland, “[f]or Republicans, who are desperate to energize more young people to vote, the emergence of Barron as a youthful, fresh new face is a political win.”