Melania Trump has always strived to keep Barron Trump out of the spotlight and rarely speaks about her son in public. However, Donald Trump regularly brags about Barron — albeit mainly regarding his height and looks. He continued in the same vein during an interview with Megyn Kelly in September 2023 while also hinting at Barron’s college plans. “Barron’s a very good athlete, he’s very tall … about 6 [feet] 8 [inches]. And he’s a good kid. He’s a good-looking kid … He’s a good student … very good student,” Donald said, adding that he and Melania were considering the possibility of Barron attending the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Donald attended Wharton himself and famously boasted that his exceptionally high intellect enabled him to gain entrance into the elite college. James Nolan, who used to be in charge of admissions at the University of Pennsylvania, begged to differ. “I certainly was not struck by any sense that I’m sitting before a genius. Certainly not a super genius,” Nolan told The Washington Post in 2019. Nolan hinted that Donald’s admission stemmed more from nepotism than brain power.
It’s possible that favoritism, combined with financial incentives, paved the way for Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Tiffany Trump who also attended Wharton. According to The Daily Pennsylvanian, all three of the offspring shelled out donations to the university, while the Trump Foundation is believed to have given up to $1.4 million.
