Barron Trump, the youngest son of former U.S. President Donald Trump, is charting his own course as a college student in New York City. At 19, he is pursuing a degree at New York University’s Stern School of Business, where classmates say he maintains a quiet presence and focuses primarily on his studies. Yet despite his efforts to live a normal college life, his famous last name continues to draw him into the center of national controversies—most recently, an online debate about military service.
The controversy erupted after President Trump, now serving a second term, authorized airstrikes on three nuclear sites in Iran on June 22. The move reignited national divisions, with some lawmakers calling the strikes unconstitutional. As discussion intensified, critics on social media pointed out that Trump himself never served in the military and began demanding that his youngest son enlist.
“Don’t panic, MAGA,” one user posted on X. “Not a single Trump male will be anywhere near the fighting. Barron already has preemptive fake bone spurs.” Another comment read, “If Trump wants to send troops to Iran, let Barron enlist first. The Trump family loves the military so much—time to show it.”
The criticism ties into a long-running argument about the Trump family’s lack of military service. Donald Trump received multiple draft deferments during the Vietnam War, citing bone spurs as a medical condition. “Over time, it healed up,” he once said, explaining why he never underwent surgery. Records show that for at least three generations, no Trump family member has served in the U.S. armed forces.
While Donald Trump has often called the military “the backbone of America,” many critics say his avoidance of service undercuts that message. The renewed conflict in Iran has only amplified those sentiments, with one viral post stating, “It should be mandatory that any sitting president who starts a war has their sons enlist and serve in combat. Barron should be in boot camp right now—not living the good life in New York.”
As the online backlash spreads, Barron Trump remains out of public view, reportedly focused on his studies and trying to maintain privacy amid the growing national debate.
