Oxbridge asks media, onlookers to stay away from graduation for Barron Trump, other seniors

The private school from which Barron Trump will graduate on Friday has asked the public, media and the curious to stay away from the proceedings.

A statement issued by Oxbridge Academy on Tuesday noted the ceremony is "private, by invitation only." The statement did not mention the sole child of Donald and Melania Trump by name but acknowledged "the heightened interest in this year’s event."

Barron Trump will be one of 116 seniors graduating, but his participation has been in the national spotlight since his father fumed on April 15 "that I can't go to my son's graduation" because of his ongoing New York business fraud trial. However, the judge presiding over the case dealing with the bookkeeping of an alleged hush money payment to a porn star subsequently canceled court on Friday, allowing the former president and 2024 presumptive GOP nominee to attend the graduation.

2024 GOP convention: Barron Trump "declined" delegate invite, Melania Trump said in statement

Barron Trump also became a headliner when it was reported earlier this month that he would be a Florida delegate at this July's Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. But on May 10, former first lady Melania Trump issued a statement saying the 18-year-old was "honored" by the selection but nonetheless had "declined" the role due to "prior commitments."

The Oxbridge Academy statement issued May 14 noted there would no classes at the 54-acre school on Friday specifically so that school personnel can be "focused solely on our graduating seniors and the ceremony itself."

It added that "we respectfully ask all media to refrain from coming to the school to allow for the safety of our graduates, family members, and other guests in attendance."

Oxbridge Academy is a college-preparatory school for grades 6-12 in West Palm Beach.

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: Oxbridge: Graduation for Barron Trump, other seniors by invitation only