Let Barron be a kid, says Clinton
STATES: Chelsea Clinton has defended Donald Trump’s 10-year-old son after he was taunted for his appearance during his father’s inauguration.
‘‘Barron Trump deserves the chance every child does - to be a kid,’’ the daughter of former president Bill Clinton and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton posted on Facebook.
She added, however, that Donald Trump’s ideas should be rejected, adding: ‘‘Standing up for every kid also means opposing . . . policies that hurt kids.’’
The young Trump was criticised for appearing to be bored during last Saturday’s ceremonies, and photographers captured him yawning during his father’s inaugural address after his swearing-in.
Later, during the procession to the White House, he cut a bewildered figure when the First Family left their vehicles to walk part of the way down Pennsylvania Avenue. He declined to hold his mother Melania’s hand, and looked awkward while waving to the crowds.
The response to his appearance underlined the extent to which the youngest of Donald Trump’s five children is now in the public eye. While some of the comments were gently mocking, others subjected him to nastier taunts.
A TV comedy writer said that Barron, who will be the first son of a president to live in the White House since the Kennedy administration in the 1960s, would be the ‘‘country’s first homeschool
UNITED
shooter’’. The tweet was later deleted.
Chelsea Clinton, 36, was aged 12 when her father was elected president and she became a target of his critics. Rush Limbaugh, a conservative radio host, compared her to the White House dog. He later apologised.
She also became the subject of intense media attention as a university student when her father was caught in the Monica Lewinsky sex scandal, which broke in 1998.
Barack and Michelle Obama were fiercely protective of their children’s privacy, which was largely respected by the media. Malia Obama was 10 and her sister, Sasha, was 7 when they moved into the White House eight years ago.
Visitors to Chelsea Clinton’s Facebook page supported her plea to leave Barron Trump alone. ‘‘Thank you, Chelsea. Exactly what a woman who grew up in the White House should say,’’ one wrote.
Barron Trump will stay in New York with his mother to finish the school year before moving to the White House.
Donald Trump’s eldest daughter, Ivanka, 35, has joined her father in Washington after her husband, Jared Kushner, was named as a White House adviser to his father-in-law. She said last week that she and Clinton remained friends despite the often acrimonious election campaign between their parents. They have not spoken since the election, however. - The Times