A former NBC executive has sparked outrage online for saying Barron Trump — the former president’s youngest child — is “fair game” now that he’s turned 18.
Mike Sington shared the bizarre message, insinuating that it is now okay for the public to root for the 18-year-old, along with a photo of Barron and his father – but he was criticized for the ‘creepy’ message.
Sington wrote on Wednesday: “Barron Trump turns 18 today. He’s fair game now.”
After a huge backlash from critics who called him out for the alarming message, Sington quickly deleted the tweet. He said he meant “fair game” in terms of press criticism – but others took it to mean that Barron is now open to harm.
Sington apologized for his bizarre words – and told Newsweek he never intended to invite anyone or “wish bodily harm to anyone.”
Former NBC executive Mike Sington shared the Tweet on Barron’s 18th birthday on Wednesday
Sington deleted the tweet after a harsh response online, saying he never wished “physical harm” on anyone
Barron spent much of his childhood almost completely out of the spotlight, as much of his adolescence took place during his father Donald Trump’s tenure in the White House.
He was the first boy to grow up in the White House since JFK Jr. in 1963 – and Barron lived through many of his family’s scandals during his teenage years.
In January 2018, he was not yet 12 when the media was awash with porn star Stormy Daniels’ claims that she had an affair with Donald just four months after Barron’s birth.
During his presidency, Trump’s most ardent critics even resorted to criticizing the young boy as a means of attacking his father.
Trump’s adult children from previous marriages have drawn criticism for their public profiles, but Barron’s young age has shielded him from much attention.
Sington’s comments today prompted him immediately received hundreds of critical responses.
Garrett Ventry, former Republican senior communications adviser to the Senate Judiciary Committee, wrote, “This is super creepy.”
Michael R. Caputo, former deputy secretary of public affairs for the Department of Health and Human Services, said, “This creepy NBC guy is completely broken. I wonder if he has children? Cousins? Cousins? How old are they?’
“See the small, delicate hands,” said the business magnate who would one day be mocked for the small size of his own hands. (Photo: at his grandmother’s funeral in January)
We saw baby Barron’s huge nursery, a corner room with a beautiful view of Manhattan and filled with huge soft toys, where The Donald borrowed his son from the nanny so he could hold him for the cameras. (Pictured: inside Trump Tower in 2016)
For a young man who has spent much of his life firmly out of the spotlight, Barron Trump made his TV debut at a shockingly young age. (Image: 10 months old with his parents in 2007)
Javon A. Price, former aide to Republican Rep. Byron Donalds, wrote, “You sound like a creep.”
In his apology, Sington said: ‘I posted that he is now ‘fair game’, meaning as an adult he is ‘fair game’ because of the criticism from the press.
‘Someone pointed out to me that ‘fair play’ could mean harming fair play. I don’t wish physical harm on anyone, so I removed it.
‘I listen to the comments and criticism I receive.’
Although he has received as much protection as possible, this is not the first time Barron has been criticized online.
During Trump’s inauguration, SNL writer Katie Rich tweeted, “Barron will be this country’s first homeschool shooter.”
The insults hurled at Barron got so bad that another former First Child – from across the aisle – spoke up on his behalf.
He quickly became bilingual and learned to speak Slovenian from his mother so well that he could call his grandmother – who died in January – and not have to resort to English. (Image: Barron held by his grandmother, next to his grandfather, in 2007)
“I can’t emphasize enough how nice and polite Barron is… he’s just a great guy,” Stephanie Grisham, former White House press secretary and Melania’s former chief of staff, told DailyMail.com. (Pictured: 2020)
Chelsea Clinton tweeted: “Barron Trump deserves the chance every child gets: to be a child.”
“I can’t emphasize enough how nice and polite Barron is… he’s just a great guy,” Stephanie Grisham, former White House press secretary and Melania’s former chief of staff, told DailyMail.com.
Grisham added that she saw a “clear difference” between Barron and his much older half-siblings — including Ivanka, Donald Jr., Eric and Tiffany.
“Just very, very kind and humble and empathetic and smart,” Grisham said. “Not that I’m saying his half-siblings aren’t smart at all.”
He was only ten when his father became president and as First Lady, Melania had to consider giving up the very private and independent existence she cherished in New York.
She famously wanted to stay in the Big Apple for almost the first five months of her presidency — with Trump alone in DC — so Barron could finish his school year.