Stop Shaming Barron Trump
Donald Trump's 10-year-old son Barron attended his father's inauguration last month, putting him in the global spotlight. After the ceremony, during which the youngest son of new president looked sleepy and was yawning, Barron was ridiculed on social media. There were even comments suggesting he has autism.
Earlier, television host Rosie O’Donnell made similar comments about Barron’s mental health. She shared a video, created by the blogger James Hunter, drawing attention to Barron's unusual behavior in public places: his manner of applauding, his strange avoidance of even the lightest touch, and so on. The clip is titled "Is Barron Trump Autistic?”. After the video went viral, Melania Trump filed a law suit against the video's creator. The case never went to court, however, because James Hunter made a public apology and took the video down.
Saturday Night Live comedy writer Katie Rich posted a “joke” on Twitter: "Barron will be this country's first homeschool shooter." When her tweet triggered a storm of controversy, Rich was indefinitely suspended by SNL. She deleted her tweet and apologized, writing: "I sincerely apologize for the insensitive tweet. I deeply regret my actions & offensive words. It was inexcusable & I’m so sorry.”
When will the harassing and shaming of Barron Trump stop?
Former U.S. president Bill Clinton’s 36-year-old daughter Chelsea came to Barron's defense on Facebook, calling on people to stop the harassment. “Barron Trump deserves the chance every child does — to be a kid,” she wrote. Chelsea Clinton, who grew up in the White House, said Americans should pay more attention to Donald Trump's policies and stop focusing on his children.
Following the spectacle of harassment of this 10-year-old child, one can wonder how our society became so callous and cruel. Americans speak of individual rights and tolerance, yet the harassment of Barron Trump is a violation of basic values of decency and respect. We need to ask ourselves about limits and boundaries that must be respected, even towards a family that has moved into the White House. Surely a 10-year-old child — even if the son of the President of the United States — must be off limits.
