Eighteen-year-old Barron Trump has quietly transitioned into college life at New York University’s Stern School of Business, where he’s been enrolled for about six months. His brief departure from classes to attend his father Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration on January 20 drew renewed attention to his growing public profile. Since returning to NYU, Barron has been spotted around campus accompanied by Secret Service agents, a necessity that adds a layer of complexity to his daily life. A recurring sight is his simple black backpack, which some speculate is a purposeful statement to signal a desire to fit in rather than stand out.

Barron has largely grown up outside the spotlight, but his towering height and striking appearance have made him a frequent topic of public fascination. His entrance into adulthood and university life has only intensified that interest. According to a Daily Mail report, students claim he’s become “popular with the ladies,” although the omnipresence of his security detail tends to make casual socializing more difficult. Some classmates have even expressed sympathy, noting that Barron didn’t choose the public scrutiny that now surrounds him, nor the restrictive security measures that come with his last name.

Student reactions to Barron’s presence at NYU have been mixed. Some are intrigued, joking about dating him or imagining their parents urging them to pursue a relationship. Others, however, are critical, associating his enrollment with the wealth and privilege that typifies much of NYU’s student body. Nevertheless, Barron has reportedly found a workaround to typical college bonding—connecting with classmates through online gaming, especially via EA Sports FC 25 on Discord, allowing him a more private and controlled way to socialize.

Much has been made of his choice to carry an $88 black backpack, a seemingly modest item for the son of a billionaire. One TikTok user suggested that this accessory is part of a deliberate effort to appear relatable, reinforcing a down-to-earth image and resisting expectations of excess. Some see this as aligning with his father’s branding of modest, anti-elitist values, positioning Barron as a future Trump family figure with mass appeal. Whether intentional or not, the backpack has become a small but symbolic part of the narrative surrounding his new chapter.

Despite being raised in a highly private and protected environment, insights from stylist Nathan Pearce, who worked with Barron during the inauguration, reveal a young man with surprising depth. Pearce described him as “super-bright,” mature beyond his years, and intellectually curious. He also recalled Barron as polite, gracious, and possessing a witty, dry sense of humor. From showing guests around Mar-a-Lago to holding his own in conversations with seasoned professionals, Barron is emerging as more than just the youngest Trump—he’s carving out his own identity, one quiet step at a time.