Donald Trump formally accepted the presidential nomination on Thursday, the final day of the Republican National Convention, with many of his family members standing nearby as balloons floated overhead, including four of his five children: Donald Jr., Eric, Ivanka, and Tiffany.
The missing child? 18-year-old Barron Trump.
The Trump campaign announced in May that Barron would be Florida’s delegate to the Republican National Convention alongside siblings Donald Jr., Eric, Ivanka and Tiffany, but first lady Melania Trump quickly issued a statement saying her youngest son would not be able to attend.
“Mr. Barron is honored to be selected to represent the Republican Party of Florida but unfortunately will not be able to participate due to prior commitments,” the statement said.
In an interview with Telemundo 51 Miami in May, Trump said Barron was “fairly young” but that if he wanted to be a delegate, “I’d be all for it.”
During his 90-minute speech at the party conference, he jokingly acknowledged Barron’s absence.
“I also want to thank Don and Kimberly, Ivanka and Jared, Eric and Lara, Tiffany and Michael, the whole family,” he said. “Barron, we love you Barron.”
Barron graduated from high school in May and plans to attend an undisclosed college in the fall. On July 9, he attended a Trump campaign rally in Miami, his first and last appearance on the campaign trail.
Melania Trump and Ivanka Trump appear at the Republican National Convention
Trump’s wife, Melania, and daughter, Ivanka, were conspicuously absent from the first three days of the Republican National Convention but both appeared at the convention on Thursday, although neither spoke.
Melania’s absence broke tradition, as the spouse of the Republican presidential candidate typically attends the convention and often gives a speech.
Several members of Trump’s family attended and spoke at the rally, including his daughter-in-law Lara Trump, granddaughter Kai Trump, and his eldest sons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump.
