There’s been a swirling rumor that President Trump’s youngest son, Barron, was rejected by Harvard University — a story that quickly became more than just gossip.
It turned into an ongoing joke inside the White House, with insiders quietly teasing about the president’s apparent grudge against the Ivy League school.
This chatter caught the attention of Trump biographer Michael Wolff, who recently shed light on how the rumor spread among MAGA allies and staff.
Michael Wolff Explains the White House Buzz
Michael Wolff, known for his insider takes on Trump and his circle, confirmed that this joke was indeed circulating in the White House.
Speaking about Melania Trump’s recent public denial, Wolff explained that the rumors gained traction because “that was the joke within the White House.”
He even took to Instagram a few weeks ago to share the punchline going around: “What do all the universities Trump is targeting have in common? Barron didn’t get into them.”
Melania Trump Steps In to Quash the Rumor
To stop the rumor mill, Melania Trump took an unusual public step by issuing a firm denial.
Through her communications director, Nicholas Clemens, she called the story “completely false” and insisted that Barron or anyone on his behalf had never applied to Harvard.
It turns out Barron is currently a freshman at New York University’s prestigious Stern Business School — a fact President Trump has confirmed several times.
Barron’s College Journey and the NYU Choice
Barron Trump’s decision to attend NYU surprised some, since the rest of the Trump family traditionally chose other elite schools.
His father and many siblings went to the University of Pennsylvania or Georgetown, but Barron was drawn to New York City and NYU’s business program.
Trump has said Barron was accepted to multiple colleges but had his heart set on Stern.
The young Trump graduated last May from Oxbridge Academy in Florida and now lives in Trump Tower while pursuing his studies.
Harvard’s High Rejection Rate Fuels Speculation
Harvard, known for its extremely selective admissions process, rejects about 96% of applicants each year.
That fact alone makes it plausible for any young applicant — even a Trump — to be turned away.
But it didn’t stop the rumor from igniting widespread speculation.
When President Trump publicly targeted Harvard, canceling about $100 million in federal contracts and banning foreign students from attending, many online immediately wondered if the personal slight of Barron’s rejection was to blame.
Political Figures Jump Into the Conversation
Even politicians got involved. Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island added fuel to the fire with a tweet that playfully questioned how many members of the Trump family had been rejected by Harvard.
The timing of these attacks and the public jokes in the White House gave the story extra legs, despite Melania’s firm denial.
Melania’s Protective Role and Barron’s Life in New York
Melania Trump is known to be very close and protective of her son.
Since Barron started college, she has spent a lot of time in New York with him.
Last fall, she told Fox News that Barron had always wanted to live and study in New York City.
She emphasized his wish to stay close to home while pursuing his education — something that explains why he chose NYU over other schools like the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, which he also considered.
Trump’s Broader Battle Against Elite Universities
This whole episode happens against the backdrop of President Trump’s ongoing war on elite universities.
He has accused schools like Harvard of promoting “woke” ideologies and even antisemitism, calling their leadership “Marxist maniacs and lunatics.”
His demands include scrapping diversity and inclusion programs, cutting faculty power, banning foreign students, and outlawing masks at campus protests.
Harvard is pushing back hard, fighting back with federal lawsuits to defend itself.
What’s Next in This Ongoing Saga?
As the battle between Trump and Harvard unfolds, the rumors about Barron continue to swirl.
Whether or not there’s any truth to the rejection story, it’s clear that this personal angle has added fuel to a political firestorm.
The family’s next moves and Harvard’s legal battles will keep this story alive in the headlines for some time.