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Will Barron Trump Live In The White House? Probably, But Nothing's Official Yet
As the nation readies for President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20, 2017, Trump and his team have a lot of preparing to do — from staffing up for a new administration and making Cabinet picks to figuring out what, exactly, will happen to Trump's massive business empire. As it turns out, hiring movers may or may not be on the list of things to do, since it's yet to be announced publicly if the Donald, Melania, and Barron Trump will live in the White House. Contrary to popular belief, there is no law requiring that presidents live in the residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. However, then-candidate Trump told The Hill last year that living in the White House would be "the appropriate thing to do":
I would rarely leave the White House because there’s so much work to be done. I would not be a president who took vacations. I would not be a president that takes time off.
What's less clear is whether Melania and son Barron, 10, will follow suit. The patriarch, matriarch, and youngest Trump currently reside in New York City at the lavish Trump Tower, complete with breathtaking views of Manhattan and Central Park. According to Parenting magazine, Barron even has an entire floor of the penthouse to himself.
Though Barron currently attends a private school in the city, some are speculating he might become a student at the same D.C. school as Sasha and Malia Obama, the highly selective Sidwell Friends School. Kate Andersen Brower, author of "First Women: The Grace and Power of America's First Ladies," called Barron's prospective move to the White House "historic" during an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer — after all, only first daughters have lived in the official presidential residence since 1963. Barron would become the first since John F. Kennedy Jr., whose father was assassinated that year.
Barron has generally avoided the spotlight during his short life, but considering his father's historic win, it's easy to assume we'll be seeing more of the littlest Trump in the coming years. Here's a few things we know about Barron so far, based on interviews given by his parents:
- While he likes to decorate his living space with helicopters and airplanes, he prefers his bedding "clean and white."
- Barron has a "beautiful relationship" with his father, one full of "respect and love," according to Melania:
New York is our home base, but we spend a lot of time in Mar-a-Lago [in Palm Beach, Florida]. There they play golf, spend time together, eat dinner together, and we enjoy family time. It is always a really special time. He didn’t change diapers and I am completely fine with that. It is not important to me. It’s all about what works for you. It’s very important to know the person you’re with. And we know our roles. I didn’t want him to change the diapers or put Barron to bed. I love every minute of it.
- He enjoys firing people (like the family's housekeeper and nanny) even more than his father.
- Barron is fluent in Slovenian.
- He appreciates a good suit, like his father, and Barron's favorite school subjects are math and science.
Whatever role Barron plays in the future first family remains to be seen, but there's no doubt he has some big shoes to fill.