Donald Trump Shifts His Focus to Barron as Ivanka Steps Away from Politics
With Ivanka Trump officially stepping back from political life, her father, Donald Trump, appears to have shifted his focus to his youngest son, Barron, as the potential new face of the Trump family’s legacy. Ivanka, along with her husband Jared Kushner, served as senior advisors to her father during his presidency, with Ivanka leading the Office of Economic Initiatives and Entrepreneurship.
Her absence in Donald’s current campaign has left a noticeable void, prompting speculation that Barron might take on a more prominent role in the future. Body language expert Judi James recently weighed in on the changing family dynamics, telling Irish Star, “On his first run-up to the White House and for most of the time as President, it was Ivanka who was looking like the chosen one, with her husband Jared very much up there as main support and ambassador.”
Ivanka’s close presence beside her father once positioned her as a likely successor within the Trump family, leading many to assume she might pursue a political role of her own. However, in 2022, she announced that she would not be returning to her father’s team if he won the next election.
With Ivanka’s departure, James believes that Barron might now hold Donald’s attention. “Barron was always there but with Melania tending to use some very territorial rituals like hand or shoulder-holding to suggest it would not be a given that he would be sucked into his dad’s firmament,” James noted, alluding to Melania’s protective nature toward her son.
This “territorial” bond between Melania and Barron may have previously signaled that Barron wouldn’t be pulled into his father’s political orbit, but recent developments suggest he could be stepping into a more public role. The former First Lady shares a particularly close bond with Barron, affectionately nicknamed “mini Donald” due to his resemblance to his father.
Over the years, Barron has grown into a confident young man, reportedly pursuing a degree in management and finance at New York University. This academic direction aligns with his father’s interests, potentially preparing him for a future within the Trump family’s business or public endeavors.
According to Metro, Donald Trump has publicly shown pride in his son’s growth, even joking about Barron’s height at a campaign event earlier this year. After winning the Iowa Republican caucus by a margin of 51% in January 2024, Trump humorously credited his son’s height to his Slovenian grandmother, Amalija Knavs, Melania’s mother.
“Boy, did she take care of Barron? That’s how he got so tall – he only ate her food,” Trump said, drawing laughter from the crowd. Barron’s future role within the Trump legacy remains to be seen, but with Ivanka and Jared stepping away, many speculate that Donald Trump may be setting the stage for his youngest son to carry on the family name.