Barron Trump, the youngest child and only son of former president Donald Trump and Melania Trump, has found himself at the center of a new social media phenomenon after enrolling at New York University’s (NYU) prestigious Stern School of Business. TikTok users have dubbed him the “real-life Gossip Girl,” drawing parallels between Trump’s privileged upbringing and the fictional elite of the TV show.
“I have been seeing so many TikToks and Instagram Reels about Barron Trump going to NYU,” Grace Choi (12), frequent social media user, said. “My brother goes to that school, so it was kind of interesting to see that he would now be in the same place as Trump’s son. It also makes me wonder how Barron is going to fit in there.”
Everyday, Barron is escorted to campus by a Secret Service detail, traveling in a convoy of SUVs with blacked-out windows. He commutes from the Trump Tower building on Fifth Avenue in Midtown, just like how fictional character Chuck Bass lived in the suite of his father’s multi-billion dollar hotel in New York City.
“It is so funny to see how Barron Trump’s current life and situation as an NYU student aligns with so much of the Gossip Girl storyline,” Sijeong Bang (12), Gossip Girl viewer, said. “I always thought Gossip Girl was a little over-exaggerated, but I guess not. I mean so much of it is happening in real life, and so many people are posting about it all over social media for the world to see.”
When he arrives on campus, he is swarmed by large groups of paparazzi. It has also been revealed that Barron has had to decline selfie requests from classmates. This reminds many of Serena Van der Woodsen, who similarly struggled with a lack of privacy due to her “nepo-baby” status.
“I cannot imagine what it would be like to attend school with Barron Trump,” Avin Im (12), college applicant, said. “I wonder how people are treating him there, especially with his father’s ongoing presidential campaign and all of the backlash surrounding it. It must feel really weird to attend such a liberal college coming from one of the most conservative, right-wing backgrounds.”
Donald Trump has previously shared that the decision to attend NYU was entirely his son’s. Barron had reportedly been accepted to other universities but ultimately chose Stern Business School, drawn to their extreme prestige in the field.
Nonetheless, many speculate Barron did not get into University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, despite his father’s legacy, and has publicly shamed and mocked him for this presumed rejection. This situation mirrors Blair Waldorf’s storyline, where Blair faces societal pressure and personal disappointment after being rejected from her dream school, Yale University, and ends up going to NYU instead.
In addition to avoiding the spotlight in class, Barron has also chosen to steer clear of extracurricular activities. He reportedly skipped NYU’s “Stern Spotlight” event, which serves as an opportunity for students to join clubs and societies and has been absent from welcome parties typically attended by first-year students.
He is surrounded by bodyguards at all times, which may inhibit him from not only immersing himself in the school culture but fitting in in general. Yet again, this resonates with Blair Waldorf’s dilemma of navigating social status and family expectations, which often prevent her from being able to engage in a normal school experience.
“I get why Barron would be surrounded by bodyguards,” Seohyun Park (12), frequent news reader, said. “I mean, like, he is a public figure because of his family, and there are always safety concerns for high-profile people like him, especially being the son of a former president and, not to mention, a current presidential candidate. But I also feel like that would make it so much harder for him to fit in. I cannot imagine talking to or engaging with other people while being surrounded by like five bodyguards.”