Former President Donald Trump has found himself in the spotlight once again, this time for misstating the age of his youngest son, Barron Trump, during an interview with Univision 51. The blunder comes shortly after Trump mocked President Joe Biden's mental acuity, leading to renewed scrutiny of the embattled ex-president's own cognitive abilities.
In the interview, which aired on Thursday, Trump discussed Barron's upcoming political debut as a Florida delegate for the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in July. Barron, who turned 18 on March 20, was recently named a delegate, marking his first significant foray into the political arena.
"Well, to me that's very cute because it's a very young guy and he's graduating from high school this year," Trump said of Barron's role. "He's a very good student, very smart. And I think that's great. I think it's very interesting too. But he's pretty young. I will say. He's 17, but, if they can do that, I'm all for it. I think I'm all for it. And he probably would be, knowing him. He would probably be for it too."
However, Trump's statement was inaccurate, as Barron is not 17 but rather 18, having celebrated his birthday nearly two months ago. The mistake has drawn attention to the former president's own mental acuity, particularly in light of his recent criticism of President Biden.
During the same interview, Trump touted his ability to multitask and handle various responsibilities simultaneously. "I'm able to put it aside and to think about other things," he said. "I'm very ambidextrous, so to speak. I can do a lot of things at one time. I'm willing to do and able to do things and lots of different things. I run a business right now, but now I'm starting to get full back into the campaign mode. And we're really, I mean, doing amazingly well. It's the best numbers we've ever had. It's been incredible."
Ironically, Trump's gaffe regarding Barron's age occurred just a day after he ridiculed President Biden, calling him a "confused man" who "doesn't know he's alive." In a Truth Social post made while he sat in a Manhattan courtroom during the Stormy Daniels hush money trial, Trump claimed that Biden "can't put two sentences together" and "doesn't have a clue."
The Trump campaign has responded to the controversy surrounding Barron's age by attacking NBC News, with spokesperson Steven Cheung accusing the network of engaging in "tabloid journalism fit for the checkout aisle of a grocery store." Cheung emphasized that the focus should be on Trump's "second term agenda and undoing Crooked Joe Biden's disastrous policies."
Barron Trump's entry into the political sphere as a delegate alongside his siblings, Eric Trump, Donald Trump Jr., and Tiffany Trump, marks a significant step for the young man who has largely remained out of the public eye. The former president referred to his son's role as "very cute" and mentioned that Barron will be graduating from high school next week.
In fact, Trump has requested a break from his ongoing criminal trial in New York to attend Barron's graduation on May 17. Judge Juan Merchan, presiding over the hush money case in which Trump is accused of falsifying business records, has granted the former president permission to attend the ceremony. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
