The suspense was over: Donald TrumpAn American television personality who became US president from 2016 to 2020, and will become president again in January 2025. had won the 2024 US presidential election. But as he took to the stage to claim victory, not all eyes were on him. Instead, they were looking at the young man standing behind him: his son Barron. Towering over the future president, the boy was obviously incredibly tall - but exactly how tall?

Donald Trump claims that Barron has reached 6ft 9ins; but the president-elect is famous for exaggerating figures. Barron's height is more usually put at 6ft 7ins or 6ft 8ins, though he could still be growing.

Donald Trump has five children: Donald Jnr, Ivana and Eric by his first marriage to Ivana Zelnickova; Tiffany by his second wife, Marla Maples; and Barron by his SlovenianA central European country with a population of 2.1 million. It is a part of the former Yugoslavia. -born current wife, Melania. Barron, who turned 18 in March, is the youngest by 13 years.

His father has long favoured the name Barron. In his younger days he would ring journalists pretending to be someone called John Barron to say what a good businessman Donald Trump was.

Barron was brought up largely by Melania and her parents, to the extent that he spoke with a Slovenian accent as a child. Donald Trump has said that Barron owes his height to his grandmother's cooking. ¹

Barron grew up between New York, Washington and Florida. Described as quiet, gentle and considerate,² he has just begun studying at New York University's business school.

He is credited with aiding his father's victory by encouraging him to woo young male voters. In particular, he advised him to reach them by doing podcast interviews with people such as the comedian Joe RoganAn American podcast host. .

According to one of Donald Trump's senior advisers, Jason Miller, every recommendation Barron made "has turned out to be absolute ratings gold that's broken the internet. He's done a great job." The interview with Joe Rogan has been listened to more than 50 million times.

The percentage of male voters aged 18 to 26 supporting Trump is estimated to have increased from 41% in 2020 to 56% in 2024.³

"I'm very proud of him," Melania Trump says of Barron: "about his knowledge, even about politics, and giving advice to his father. He brought in so many young people. He knows his generation."⁴

He may also have encouraged his father's support for cryptocurrenciesA type of decentralised, anonymous virtual currency.. According to Donald Trump: "Barron knows so much about this. Barron's a young guy but he knows it. He talks about his wallet."⁵

The US has a long history of political dynasties. Its second president, from 1797 to 1801, was John Adams, whose son John Quincy Adams held office from 1825 to 1829.

More recently George W Bush - president from 2001 to 2009 - was the son of George H Bush, president from 1989 to 1993. Robert F Kennedy, whom Donald Trump is planning to put in charge of public health, is the nephew of President John F Kennedy.

Political dynasties are strong in other countries too. In the Philippines a law has been proposed to reduce their power.

There is already merchandise on eBay with the slogan "Barron Trump for President 2044".

Is Barron destined to be president?

Yes: Although Americans pride themselves on being democratic, they cannot resist the allure of political dynasties. The Trumps will follow in the footsteps of the Kennedy and Bush families.  

No: Those who have not already had enough of the Trump family certainly will have done by the time Donald's presidency ends. Besides, Barron might not want to take charge of such a dysfunctional country.

Or... We should not assume that Barron will share his father's temperament. He might turn out to be a well-balanced man who really cares about other people and deserves to be president in his own right.