Think being a kid is tough? Try being a “first kid”—the child of an American president. President Donald Trump’s youngest child, Barron, is finding out the downside of Dad’s new job. The 10-year-old has been the target of some unkind treatment.
Barron isn’t the first “first kid” to suffer in the spotlight. Newspapers dubbed Lincoln’s and Garfield’s sons “terrors.” A reporter called Alice Roosevelt (daughter of Teddy) “a female caricature of her father”—and listed her unflattering traits. After a music recital by Margaret Truman, the press described her as “too much of a vocal beginner to appear in public.” And the media attacked nine-year-old Amy Carter for reading Nancy Drew books at a state dinner.
First families usually want their minor children to be off-limits to the media. But the public is curious. We want to know what happens in the mansion on Pennsylvania Avenue. Sadly, criticizing kids is how some grown-ups express their anger toward the president.
Lisa Caputo, former Clinton press secretary, thinks presidential kids should be left alone. She felt that way when then-12-year-old Chelsea Clinton was taking the heat. Talk radio host Rush Limbaugh mocked Chelsea over her looks—showing her picture when talking about “the White House dog.”
Caputo believes kids shouldn’t have to put up with the treatment that adults in politics expect. After all, she says, “They didn’t run for public office.”
Days after a TV personality tweeted something harsh about Barron, the White House appealed to the press. The government press office wanted respect for the boy’s privacy.
“It is a longstanding tradition that the children of presidents are afforded the opportunity to grow up outside of the political spotlight,” the press office said. “The White House fully expects this tradition to continue.”
How sad that our society needs to be reminded to “be kind to one another” (Ephesians 4:32)—that’s stronger than a White House tradition!
Probably no one understands how hard it is to have every word, move, hairstyle, and outfit critiqued—except another presidential kid.
Jenna and Barbara Bush are the daughters of 43rd president George. W. Bush. They recently applauded Malia and Sasha Obama for surviving the “unbelievable pressure of the White House.” The Bush twins encouraged the Obama girls to put their White House lessons to good use.
And it was Chelsea Clinton who came to Barron’s defense in a tweet of her own: “Barron Trump deserves the chance every child does—to be a kid.”
