Barron Trump, the 19-year-old son of President Donald Trump, is reportedly dating, according to rumors circulating on his college campus. These whispers have sparked questions about how the first son navigates romance while under constant Secret Service protection.
According to People, an anonymous "friend" at New York University told NewsNation that "Barron has a really nice girlfriend and hangs out with her a lot," though no further details were provided. The president's youngest child recently completed his freshman year at the Manhattan-based university.
While dating with Secret Service agents constantly present might seem challenging for any teenager, sources indicate that the protection detail is not as restrictive as many might assume. One political insider told People that agents are "well-versed" in handling romantic relationships for their protectees.
Former first children have successfully navigated romantic relationships despite constant security presence, providing a roadmap for Barron's dating life.
Jenna Bush Hager, daughter of former President George W. Bush, has been particularly vocal about her dating experiences while under Secret Service protection. She's shared multiple stories about her now-husband Henry Chase Hager's awkward encounters with agents, including being caught by security when trying to "sneak out" of the White House after staying overnight.
In another incident Jenna has described as her "worst date," Henry's car ran out of gas on a hill and rolled backward into the Secret Service vehicle following them. Even Henry's marriage proposal on a mountaintop included an agent standing nearby, with Jenna noting that the agent was "the first person to find out about the proposal."
Despite his privileged upbringing and high-profile family, sources describe Barron as surprisingly down-to-earth and socially active during his first year of college.
"He met a lot of new people at NYU and made some friends," one source told People. "He is no slouch and attracts the attention of girls. And not just at college. He had female friends in high school in Florida. He gets along well with his female friends."
Another source whose daughter knew Barron in high school described him as "a regular guy who was well-liked" and who "didn't hold court and act like he was better than the others." This contrasts with his father's more bombastic public persona, with one Trump source noting, "It's hard to believe he is Donald Trump's son as he is more laid back, but he does have some of his moxie in a low-key way."
The political source interviewed by People dismissed concerns that Secret Service protection would prevent Barron from dating or having normal relationships.
"He can have a girlfriend as the Secret Service guys are well-versed on how to handle this," the source explained. "Anyone who says being under Secret Service protection would keep him from dating is way off." The same source added that agents protecting first families have seen it all when it comes to romantic entanglements, quipping that "their stories could fill an X-rated novel!"
While the Secret Service's primary mission is protection, they've developed protocols that allow protectees to maintain some semblance of normal life, including dating. As Jenna Bush Hager once noted, their job is keeping people from "coming in" to secure areas—not preventing first children from "hooking up."
Despite the dating rumors, sources close to Barron suggest that romance might not be his primary focus at this stage of his life.
One Trump source believes that Barron isn't currently seeking a serious relationship. "He definitely wants to go out in the world and make money," the source said. "That is more important to him now than anything long-term in the romance department. But he is still young with more school ahead."
Barron follows in the footsteps of other modern first children who navigated their young adult years in the public eye, including Susan Ford, Chelsea Clinton, the Bush twins, and the Obama sisters. Each found ways to develop friendships and relationships despite the security challenges.
