GIORGIO VIERA/AFP via Getty Images BY LORA MICHELLE/UPDATED: MAY 17, 2024 4:04 PM EST
May is the month of graduations, and even the most famous of offspring indulge in the ritual of a cap and gown to receive their diplomas. Barron Trump is no exception, and on May 17, he was part of the graduation ceremony at Oxbridge Academy in Palm Beach, FL. Mom Melania Trump and dad Donald Trump (who was granted a day off from his hush-money trial to attend) were in the front row of the audience to watch as their son accepted his high-school diploma. In a video posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, the youngest Trump was seen standing head and shoulders above everyone else as he stepped up to the platform stage, paused for a photo with the officiants, and was handed his diploma with a handshake. He then walked off the stage and down a ramp, where he was positioned for another photo by what looked like school officials.
While we weren't expecting any fist bumps raised in victory or tossing of the cap, the graduate didn't even crack a smile — not for the photos, or even to himself when he walked away with his diploma in hand. It seems when it comes to the Donald's son, he's a lot more like his mom Melania when it comes to showing emotions — very stoic and very private.
Neither Barron or Melania seem to showing emotion much in public When Barron Trump graduated from Oxbridge Academy, a private prep school with a reported tuition of $41,500 per year, he showed little to no excitement about his accomplishment. Looking on as he received his diploma were dad Donald Trump and mom Melania Trump, who sat together in the front row (unlike Donald's criminal trial, where Melania's absence has caused rumblings about their marriage).
While the former president dressed in his usual suit, Melania wore a white skirt, blue jacket, and a straw boater hat. In the outside ceremony, which took place on the school's football field, the sun overhead combined with her hat's large brim allowed Melania's face to be mostly hidden in shadows — perfect for a woman who is known for keeping her feelings close to the vest in public. Observers on X who watched the video noticed Barron's similarities to his mother's no-emotion demeanor. One person commented, "I can hear someone say, "right, look, no emotion". LOL The boy never shows emotion." It's a similar sentiment to one made by another X poster, who noted about Melania, "I realize she's never shown ANY emotion of ANY kind. Am I right?" Read More: https://www.thelist.com/1584619/barron-trump-big-moment-graduation-just-like-melania/
Melania 'tactile' with Donald as she shows 'genuine enjoyment' at Barron's graduation
Melania Trump looked more relaxed and showed a new side to her personality as she watched her son Barron graduate - even sharing a laugh with her husband Donald
The 18-year-old offspring of former president Donald Trump graduated from Oxbridge Academy in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Friday. Trump was granted a break from the hush money trial to attend, and he was joined by Melania and her father, Viktor Knavs.
Barron was spotted towering over his classmates in his graduation attire, standing at an impressive 6 foot 7 inches.
Body language expert Judi James analysed Melania's demeanour as she watched her son's graduation. She suggested that the former first lady displayed a more relaxed and lighthearted persona than we're typically used to seeing, reports the Express US.
(Image: (Image: Getty))
"Melania looks far more relaxed than usual here and also very connected to her husband. Her knees seem to lean in his direction, and when she places her hands on her lap, they are also positioned towards him."
James commented: "We can see her smile from beneath the broad brim of her hat and it does seem to lack some of the normal rigidity to show authentic enjoyment and even a sense of fun."
"She leans back and laughs as Donald jokes about, and she is still smiling as he places his hand on her shoulder in a relatively easy-going gesture."
POLITICS
Melania Trump's Derby Look At Barron's Graduation Totally Misses The Mark
It's official: Barron William Trump finally had his big moment as he graduated from the tony Oxbridge Academy on May 17, 2024. Barron's four half-siblings apparently skipped his graduation — granted, there may have been limited seats available — but the two most important people in his life were there to cheer him on.
Dad Donald Trump had been granted a day off from his ongoing "hush money" fraud trial to be in Florida for the occasion, and wife Melania was at his side in a rare public appearance. The former president wore his usual professional ensemble of a dark blue suit, white shirt and tie, while the former first lady wore an accessory that pulled some of the focus off her son's big day.
Parents who can afford tuition at an elite private school (the yearly cost for upper school students is nearly $45,000) can also afford to splurge on their wardrobe.
According to the Daily Mail, Melania turned out in a $5,000 Dior blazer, a $900 Michael Kors white skirt, and pumps appearing to be $745 Blahniks. But the real attention-getter was her hat: a $630 Gucci straw hat with a brim so wide it obscured her face.
Photographers managed to capture a few shots of Melania during the ceremony, but all that was visible was a smile peeking out from under the massive topper. It seemed a better choice for the Kentucky Derby bleachers or a royal garden party than for a school event.
Some thought Melania's hat sent a message Naturally, there was a huge response to the short online clip of Barron Trump receiving his diploma from Oxbridge Academy. Yet, there was equal interest in the appearance of Donald and Melania Trump, who shared a brief affectionate moment in the stands during the ceremony.
And the former FLOTUS's hat sparked some interesting comments on X (formerly Twitter). Its wide brim may have shielded Melania from the hot Florida sun, but online critics felt it sent a message about her feelings about being married to a man on trial for allegedly helping cover up money paid to an adult film star.
One comment went, "I...find Melania's hat to be interesting. It's almost as though she doesn't want any eye contact. It's like she's embarrassed — or maybe completely and thoroughly humiliated."
A second writer agreed, "If she pulled it down any further she'd need to cut holes in it for her arms to stick out."
Others pointed out a photo in which the couple was facing in different directions. "Looks like Melania and her dad are waving to Barron, while [Donald] is aping for the cameras in another direction...it's always about him," said a respondent.
The former commander-in-chief was scheduled to go to a Republican fundraiser in Minnesota that night, leaving Melania alone to celebrate with their son. No word yet on whether she took her hat off for the evening festivities, or whether any of Barron's siblings came to congratulate him in person.
'Melania is trying to hide': Viewers say awkward Trump graduation photo has story to tell
Former President Donald Trump fought a hard battle to appear at his son Barron's graduation day Friday amid a hush money trial. Thanks to a hat, how Melania feels about that choice is anyone's guess.
The black-rimmed straw hat in question appears atop Melania in a Reuters photograph capturing Barron's graduation ceremony at Oxbridge Academy’s football field in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Donald Trump was photographed Friday morning at his youngest son Barron’s graduation in West Palm Beach, Florida, standing next to his wife Melania in the front row of bleachers at Oxbridge Academy’s football field.
The elder Trump reportedly arrived just two minutes before the private commencement began, exiting a motorcade and entering the football field’s aluminum stands through a heavily guarded entrance.
Trump was wearing a dark suit, white dress shirt, and blue tie, with Oxbridge parents, loved ones, and soon-to-be graduates giving him a round of applause, the Daily Mail reported. Photos showed two Secret Service agents, wearing suits and sunglasses, standing behind Trump. Viktor Knavs, Melania’s dad, was also spotted in attendance beside his daughter.
Donald Trump arrives at Barron’s graduation with Secret Service agents in tow.
Marco Bello/Reuters
Trump was permitted to have Friday off from court in his New York City hush-money trial so he could attend. Trump posted to his social media platform, Truth Social, to announce his attendance just before his arrival.
“Going to Barron’s High School Graduation,” he wrote. “Great student, wonderful boy! Very exciting!!! DJT.”
Barron crosses the stage during his commencement ceremony.
Reuters/Marco Bello
Photos showed the 6-foot-7-inch Barron accepting his diploma on stage, towering over the school officials who ran the commencement. He wore a blue gown and tie, with a red stole draped around his shoulders.
The commencement was by invitation only, with the school—which charges a whopping $41,500 a year in tuition—asking journalists and onlookers unaffiliated with the graduating class to steer clear of the ceremony.
Donald Trump waves in the direction of graduates at Oxbridge Academy.
Getty Images/Giorgio Viera
Trump, who was photographed laughing as he waved in the direction of Barron during the ceremony, isn’t expected to be celebrating late into Friday evening—or even into the afternoon—with his son. Instead, he’ll have to hop on a plane to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he’s slated to headline a 5 p.m. fundraising dinner. With flight times from South Florida to the Twin Cities taking approximately four hours on commercial airliners, and with a single-hour time difference, Trump needs to be airborne by 2 p.m. at the latest if he doesn’t want to arrive late to the dinner.
It’s unclear what sort of post-graduation celebrations, if any, Trump attended for Barron.
Donald Trump attends his son Barron’s high school graduation along with his wife, Melania, and her father.
Reuters/Marco Bello
Barron’s graduation was the first time Melania had been spotted alongside her husband since his trial revealed nitty-gritty details about his alleged one-night stand with Stormy Daniels, said to have taken place in their first year of marriage. In photos from the ceremony, she appeared largely stoic, as she often does, but was also seen smiling and clapping.
Barron was one of 116 seniors who graduated Friday. Last year, the school sent students to attend some of the country’s most prestigious universities, including Northwestern, UCLA, Boston University, Cornell, and Vanderbilt.
It remains unclear where Barron is headed next, but his family has indicated he’s college bound. Potential schools for Barron include the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where his dad and half-siblings attended, or possibly New York University, down the road from his childhood home atop Trump Tower in Manhattan.
The only recent hint about Barron’s next steps came from Donald Trump. Last week, he revealed that Barron is looking at some new college possibilities and shared that his son has an interest in politics.
“Right now, he’s doing a great job,” Trump said at Mar-a-Lago last week, as reported in Newsweek. “He has great marks. He’s going to be going to college soon. And we’re looking at some colleges that are different than they were two months ago.”
11 hours ago — The black-rimmed straw hat in question appears atop Melania in a Reuters photograph capturing Barron's graduation ceremony at Oxbridge Academy's ...
7 hours ago — But the real attention-getter was her hat: a $630 Gucci straw hat with a brim so wide it obscured her face. Photographers managed to capture a ...
Apr 24, 2018 — Melania Trump made the fashion statement of the year while donning a striking, wide brimmed white hat as she and the president greeted ...
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