In her recently published memoir titled “Melania,” the former First Lady Melania Trump discusses the persistent rumors regarding her son Barron’s potential autism diagnosis.
The speculation started in November 2016, when Rosie O’Donnell, a popular comedian, posted a tweet suggesting that Barron might be autistic. The tweet read, “Barron Trump autistic? If so — what an amazing opportunity to bring attention to the AUTISM epidemic.”
O’Donnell’s public speculation received immediate backlash, with critics accusing her of inappropriate comments about a child’s health and using the situation to indirectly attack President Donald Trump, with whom she had an ongoing public feud. O’Donnell later clarified that her intention was to raise awareness about autism, drawing from her personal experience of her daughter’s recent diagnosis.
However, Melania Trump saw the matter from a different perspective. In her memoir, she characterized the speculations as malicious and felt that O’Donnell was using the issue to target her son due to her dislike for Donald Trump. She further stated, “No apology can undo the harm inflicted upon him,” highlighting that the bullying Barron faced online and in real life motivated her to start the “Be Best” campaign.
The “Be Best” initiative, launched in 2018, focused on child welfare, online safety, and anti-bullying, aiming to foster a positive digital environment for young people. Despite its noble intentions, the campaign faced criticism due to perceived irony, given President Trump’s frequent use of social media to publicly disparage opponents. This perceived inconsistency drew criticism and weakened public support for the initiative.
In her memoir, Melania also shares details about Barron’s current life as a freshman at the Stern School of Business at New York University. Opting for privacy, Barron lives in Trump Tower in New York City, instead of a university dormitory. Melania describes him as a remarkable young man with a keen mind and diverse interests, including sports and business.
The release of Melania’s memoir coincides with Donald Trump’s re-election campaign. Melania emphasizes that safeguarding Barron’s privacy and well-being has always been her top priority. The memoir also provides insights into her views on various issues during her tenure as the First Lady, including her differing stance on reproductive rights from the Republican party.
The memoir is a pictorial journey of Melania’s life, beginning with her upbringing in Yugoslavia (now Slovenia) during the Cold War, her move to New York at 26, and her life with Donald Trump. The book also records Melania’s belief in the alleged unfairness of the 2020 election, hinting at a conspiracy by the media, Big Tech, and the deep state to prevent Trump’s re-election.
She also mentions “suspicious voting activity” reported nationwide on Election Day, but fails to acknowledge the dismissal of Trump’s election lawsuits by around 30 judges, some appointed by Trump himself. She does not mention the ongoing federal and state criminal charges against the former president related to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results.
Melania’s stance on key issues, like reproductive rights, diverges from her husband’s, similar to former First Lady Laura Bush’s support for abortion rights, despite her husband George W. Bush’s opposition. Melania frames the discussion in terms of personal freedom, stating, “A woman’s fundamental right to individual liberty, to her own life, grants her the authority to terminate her pregnancy.”