Chelsea Clinton defends Barron Trump after 'fair game' comment by Mike Sington

It didn't take long for Donald and Melania Trump's son, Barron, to become talk show material.

A former NBC News official posted a social media comment last week saying the newly-turned-adult youth is "fair game." That elicited a week's worth of debate.

The exec, Mike Sington, got massive blow back for the seemingly threatening missive and then sought to self-correct telling Newsweek he took down the original post, does not "wish physical harm on anyone" and simply meant the still high schooler is now open to "criticism from the press."

That still didn't satisfy others, particularly one daughter of a former president who spent a good part of her childhood in the White House.

So, what's the controversy about? Here are a few things to know.

Where's the former first lady? Melania Trump says "stay tuned" about return to campaigning as she votes in Palm Beach

Who is Barron Trump?

Barron turned 18 on March 20. He is a senior at Oxbridge Academy, which was founded in 2021 and is just west of West Palm Beach, about eight miles from Mar-a-Lago. He is expected to graduate this May.

He is the tallest of his half-brothers and half-sisters, reportedly about 6 feet, 7 inches, which makes him taller than his father at 6'3".

Donald Trump is known to comment on his older children, especially Donald Jr., Eric and Ivanka, but largely has not spoken about Barron.

He noted in one Super Bowl Sunday interview while he was president that Barron enjoyed playing soccer. At the Conservative Political Action Committee, or CPAC, meeting in Orlando in 2022, Trump boasted about what he said was Barron's prowess with technology. "I have a young son, Barron. He can make his computer sing," according to The Independent.

Barron Trump stayed out of the spotlight as his father, a real estate mogul and former TV show host, ran for president, then served a term in the White House and now is the presumptive 2024 Republican presidential nominee.

In fact, Barron Trump has neither said or done anything to seek attention or end up in the political fray. So, why has his name come up?

In part, attention has focused on Barron Trump due to Melania's absence from public events

Attention has been cast on Barron Trump in part because his mother, Melania, has been absent from Trump political rallies and events.

In one of her few public, political appearances with her husband, the former first lady joined Donald Tump as they cast votes in the March 19 Florida presidential preference primary. "Stay tuned," she replied when asked if she would be joining her husband on the campaign trail.

That drew a sarcastic social media post by one of her former White House aides, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, who wrote on X: "Let me interpret this for you. DON'T HOLD YOUR BREATHE," the book author wrote in her post."

Melania's mother, Amalija Knavs, passed away in January. The illness was only disclosed late last year, and Donald Trump spoke about it at the annual New Year's Eve party explaining that Melania was not at the event because she was in Miami where her mother was hospitalized.

People who know the former first couple say the illness was a major reason Melania was not seen as her husband appeared in courtrooms fighting 91 felonies, and at rallies has his political career again rolled toward a third straight GOP presidential nomination.

Others have reported it's because of her desire to parent Barron.

A source told People magazine: "Melania’s main job is taking care of Barron, and I think it’s possible that she will follow him wherever he goes to school ... Melania is all about Barron and her family. She has always been family-oriented, and in addition to some of the charity work she has done, staying ahead of family issues is her priority. She has a good life."

Daughter of Trump political rival: Chelsea Clinton - Leave Barron Trump 'alone'

The daughter of one of Donald Trump's fiercest political rivals came to Barron Trump's defense last week.

Chelsea Clinton, who also grew up in the glare of a White House childhood, sharply criticized the "fair game" comment and other speculation.

“I think he’s a private citizen,” Clinton said when asked about the matter during an appearance on the ABC TV network’s “The View” talk show. “I feel so strongly that if you are a private citizen, you have an unimpeachable right to privacy, and I think the media should leave him alone.”

Clinton, now 44, was just 12 years old when her father, Bill Clinton, became the 42nd U.S. president. Not soon after, Chelsea was parodied in a Saturday Night Live skit, and the show later took other digs at her.

The cast member who played Chelsea in the controversial segment later said the inclusion of the teenager was "wrong." And SNL creator Lorne Michaels apologized to Chelsea and later said the laughs weren't "worth” the risk of harming "a kid who didn’t choose to be in public life.”

What other presidents raised children in the White House?

Barron is the seventh child to have lived in the White House during the past 60-plus years.

They include Caroline and John F. Kennedy, Jr., Amy Carter, daughter President Jimmy Carter, and President Barack Obama's daughters, Malia and Sasha.

George W. Bush's twin daughters, Jenna and Barbara, graduated high school before his election in 2000 and were at college during his presidency.

Antonio Fins is a politics and business editor at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at afins@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Chelsea Clinton defends Barron Trump after Mike Sington comment