Growing up in the spotlight is never easy. Growing up in the spotlight when your father is the president of the United States is even harder. Barron Trump, son of President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, has found himself in this very position, and, as his father was sworn into office, former First Daughter Chelsea Clinton took to Twitter with a plea.
Millions were disappointed by the result of the election, some feeling that Donald Trump is unfit to be president given that he has never before held elected office. Millions more were offended by his speeches during his campaign. It didn’t take long for those on Twitter to make Barron Trump their target following the inauguration, seeming to forget that he is only 10-years-old and that nothing his father says or does remotely reflects on him.
While journalists and prominent political figures alike rushed in to defend Barron Trump, it is perhaps Chelsea Clinton’s message that is most notable. She understands, after all, what it’s like growing up in the White House being scrutinized by the public eye.
“Barron Trump deserves the chance every child does – to be a kid,” she stated in a tweet on Sunday, also adding that “Standing up for every kid also means opposing @POTUS policies that hurt kids.”
Barron Trump deserves the chance every child does-to be a kid. Standing up for every kid also means opposing @POTUS policies that hurt kids.
— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) January 22, 2017
While it is an unspoken rule and a longstanding tradition that underage children of presidents are off-limits, Barron Trump isn’t the first to fall victim to hateful comments. Chelsea Clinton, herself, was ridiculed shortly after her father took office. Malia and Sasha Obama also found themselves subject to ridicule.
Clinton’s tweet is a reminder that no first child chose to enter the political world that they have been thrust into, and they should be protected from scrutiny. While some focused on degrading a child, others have chosen to focus on the game of peek-a-boo that Barron Trump played with his 10-month-old nephew Theodore.