In her recently released memoir, Melania, former First Lady Melania Trump opens up about the deeply hurtful rumours that her son, Barron Trump, has autism. These rumours, which first surfaced in 2016, led to waves of online speculation, public scrutiny, and ultimately, bullying of the then-10-year-old boy.
In her writing, Melania emphasises the impact of these false assumptions, explaining how they led to lasting emotional damage for her son and her family. Here’s how the incident unfolded and why the former First Lady believes such speculations are harmful.
The origins of the autism rumours
The rumours surrounding Barron Trump’s alleged autism began after a viral video surfaced following the 2016 Republican National Convention. Barron’s facial expressions and actions in this video were examined and captioned to raise the possibility that he may have autism. The incident became more heated when comedian Rosie O’Donnell posted the video to social media and speculated that he might have autism. In her memoir, Melania Trump discloses that this event was not only startling but also extremely distressing for her as a mother because Barron was abruptly brought into the public eye in a way that had never been seen before.
Melania’s response and the decision to speak out
Melania, the former First Lady, discusses her decision to speak out over autism accusations, emphasising her responsibility as a protective mother. Melania explains that she first preferred to remain silent, thinking that the rumours would die down. However, when the murmurs became louder and more individuals joined in, she felt obligated to confront the false charges. “I was appalled by such cruelty,” she says, adding that the supposition appeared to be aimed at harming her family rather than boosting autism awareness. Her words are a call for sensitivity, especially when discussing children in the public sphere.
The effects of speculation on Barron’s well-being
In the memoir, Melania also highlights the consequences that these autism rumours had on Barron, who was only a child when the viral video circulated. She relates the pain of having her son bullied and feeling as if he was under surveillance owing to false assumptions. Barron’s reaction, she explains, was one of perplexity and hurt. Melania claims that such public speculation can have long-term psychological effects on children, including feelings of isolation and altered self-image, and emphasises the importance of allowing children, regardless of family background, to grow up free of public scrutiny.
Photo: AP Photo
Autism advocacy and the harm of misinformation
Throughout her memoir, Melania touches on her views on autism awareness, expressing respect for families and individuals affected by autism spectrum disorder. However, she stresses that speculating about a child’s potential diagnosis on social media is harmful, and not helpful. It is pointed out that public speculation can build stigma, reinforce stereotypes, and ultimately harm both the individual being speculated about and the autism community at large. A diagnosis as complex as autism should only come from medical professionals, not from armchair analysis on social platforms.