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Speculation surrounding Barron Trump’s health has been a recurring topic since he stepped into the public eye as the youngest child of former President Donald Trump. However, not every piece of gossip holds truth. A recent example is a rumor that circulated on X, the platform previously known as Twitter. A user alleged that Barron was diagnosed with hereditary bone spurs, a condition reportedly shared with his father. This claim, despite being viewed over 1.7 million times, lacks any solid evidence.
The intrigue around Barron’s supposed bone spurs is partly linked to the controversy surrounding Donald Trump’s own diagnosis, which exempted him from the Vietnam War draft. Skepticism has surrounded the elder Trump’s medical claim for years. Although the draft is no longer a practice in the U.S., the former president’s penchant for aggressive foreign policy has prompted some to muse about a future where Barron might face military service.
Rumors of Barron Trump having autism have also persisted, fueled by misconceptions about the disorder, which, as WebMD notes, affects communication, learning, and behavior. Melania Trump addressed these allegations, particularly those made by Rosie O’Donnell, in her memoir “Melania.” She recalled her dismay at what she perceived as an attack on her son rooted in dislike for her husband. The former first lady emphasized the emotional toll on Barron, noting the bullying he endured both online and offline as a result of these unfounded claims.
Beyond the realm of speculation, Barron did contract COVID-19 during the pandemic, as confirmed by his mother in October 2020. Initially, he had tested negative despite other family members being positive. However, Melania Trump disclosed in a now-deleted White House blog post, as reported by NPR, that Barron eventually tested positive. Fortunately, he experienced a mild case without any severe symptoms. Melania expressed gratitude for the family’s time together during his recovery, and she confirmed that he has since tested negative.
Barron Trump has been the subject of numerous wild rumors over the years
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Alongside supposedly suffering from bone spurs, it’s also long been rumored that Barron Trump has autism, which “affects how people interact, communicate, learn, and behave,” according to WebMD. However, the first lady shut down that speculation when addressing Rosie O’Donnell’s previous assertion that Barron might be on the spectrum. As Melania Trump admitted in her self-titled memoir, “Melania,” “I was appalled by such cruelty.” She elaborated, “It was clear to me that she was not interested in raising awareness about autism. I felt that she was attacking my son because she didn’t like my husband.” The rumors also negatively impacted the college student, with Melania sharing, “Barron’s experience of being bullied both online and in real life following the incident is a clear indication of the irreparable damage caused.”
Shifting away from the many wild rumors about Barron, in reality, the first son tested positive for COVID-19 in the middle of the pandemic. His mother publicly confirmed the news in October 2020. Although Barron initially escaped contracting the virus after several of his family members tested positive, he eventually caught it. “My fear came true when he was tested again and it came up positive,” Melania wrote in a since-deleted White House blog post (via NPR). However, the first son fared better than most and didn’t experience any adverse side affects. Melania also expressed gratitude over the fact that their family was able to spend some quality time together and help to take care of each other, adding, “He has since tested negative.”