As colleges across the United States gear up to welcome new students, all eyes are on Barron Trump, the youngest child of former President Donald Trump, whose college decision could be announced as early as next week. Newsweek reported that several institutions are preparing for the arrival of first-year students, heightening interest in where the 18-year-old might choose to pursue his higher education.
Barron, who graduated from Oxbridge Academy in Palm Beach, Florida, in May, has largely kept a low profile compared to other members of the Trump family. While there has been much speculation about which college he might attend, the Trump family has remained largely silent on the matter.
In the coming weeks, colleges across the nation will begin orientation programs for incoming students, with some institutions even starting their move-in process next week. One of the most talked-about possibilities for Barron is the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn), where move-in begins on Monday, August 19. UPenn holds significant ties to the Trump family, as Donald Trump himself attended the Wharton School of Business there, and three of Barron’s half-siblings—Ivanka Trump, Tiffany Trump, and Donald Trump Jr.—are also alumni. In a 2023 interview with Megyn Kelly, Trump mentioned that Barron was “thinking about” attending UPenn.
In June, Trump revealed that Barron had already made his college decision. “This is a young man, he just turned 18. A very young man who is now going to college. Got into every college he wanted to and he made his choice,” Trump said during a rally in Miami on July 9, where Barron accompanied him. Praising his son, Trump added, “He’s a very special guy, Barron Trump. This is the first time he’s ever done this.”
Trump has previously indicated that Barron’s college selection process was influenced by recent events on U.S. college campuses. In an interview with Fox News’ Fox & Friends Weekend in June, Trump discussed how the wave of pro-Palestinian protests across various college campuses had impacted Barron’s decision. “Six months ago, you looked at a college, and you sort of want a certain college,” Trump said. “And then you see all of these colleges are rioting, and maybe you want to go to a different kind of a college. Because there’s plenty of colleges that we also like that are different, and they don’t riot.”
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