Will Barron Trump pursue a career in sports? POTUS 45’s youngest son has all he needs to become a soccer star
Barron Trump might be an enigma to the world, however, if the world knows one thing about him other than the fact he's Melania and Donald Trump's son, it's his love for sport— soccer, to be precise. Over the last few years, the teen, now 14, made headlines when his parents voiced out their wholesome support for their son playing sports. When the tyke was born, the gifts he received bordered between lavish to outlandish. Yes, Ellen DeGeneres, we're talking about that billion-dollar golden stroller that'll soon be in the Smithsonian.
Aside from a Mongolian horse, a giant stuffed dog toy by journalist Barbara Walters and a mink coverlet by fashion designer Dennis Basso, Barron's most coveted and sensible present would be the soccer ball his father received from Russian President Vladimir Putin. He handed US President Trump a World Cup ball during a joint press conference after their summit on July 16, 2018, in Helsinki, Finland, and now we're sure that's probably somewhere in the teen's room.
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A quick look at the other children of former presidents indicates that they did like sports to an extent. Starting off with Chelsea Clinton, Bill Clinton's daughter. An author and global health advocate, Chelsea wrote 'She Persisted in Sports: American Olympians Who Changed the Game', a book that celebrates "women in sports who broke records and smashed barriers with their persistence." She recently joined with Jenna Hager Bush (George W. Bush's daughter) to buy stakes in the National Women's Soccer League's team.
The Obama kids weren't far behind. The elder daughter, Malia Ann Obama can play tennis. Then-First Lady, Michelle Obama, according to Tennis.com, had stated that she wanted her children to play tennis because it is a lifelong sport. The younger kid, Sasha Obama played some basketball. Obama even recollected the time when he sat in the stands rooting for Sasha’s team (the Vipers) at Sidwell Friends School, the elite D.C. private school attended by several presidential children.
So, the children of the other presidents did play some sport to an extent, and now the focus shifts to Barron. He's already played for DC United. The U.S. Soccer Development Academy has listed him as a midfielder when he played for the U-12 side. In 2017-18, he played 24 games followed by four the following season and just one game in the 2019-20 season. Understandably so with the COVID-19 pandemic taking over. The bigger question is will he carve a career in soccer like most think he would?
The longtime soccer fan has been a fan of Premier League side Arsenal. He's played for DC United's U-12 side and Arlington Soccer Association’s under-14 teams, so there's enough sporting experience that could help make his case. Skills can be honed, and the lanky teen is wholly capable of building an athlete's physique.
There has been enough support from his father as he's talked up FIFA and introduced Barron to soccer stars. "When my son heard [Infantino] was going to be here, he said, ‘Dad, I’d like to meet him,’” Trump recounted. "Barron loves soccer. And soccer has to be one of the fastest-growing sports in the world."
If there is one sport he wouldn't find favor in Trump, then that would have to be football. Trump has been pretty clear in his opinions on safety standards. "I just don't like the reports that I see coming out having to do with football." Trump added, "I thought the equipment would get better, and it has. The helmets have gotten far better but it hasn't solved the problem," he told The List.
"So, you know I – I hate to say it because I love to watch football. I think the NFL is a great product, but I really think that as far as my son – well, I’ve heard NFL players saying they wouldn’t let their sons play football. So it’s not totally unique, but I – I would have a hard time with it."
What works in Barron's favor is the age. If there is a promise, skill, and enough talent in his game, he's halfway there. Naturally, if he like most soccer-loving children nurtures a dream to play in the English Premier League, then that's another topic altogether.
In 2018, Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney was in attendance for the White House Christmas party and Barron got a chance to hang out with the soccer star’s young sons. He also clicked a picture with Rooney, who was playing for DC United at the time. Technically, this means the platform is set for Barron Trump to actually build a career in soccer, the only question is: Does he want to?