Donald Trump formally accepted the Republican nomination for president on Thursday, the final day of the Republican National Convention. Much of his family stood by his side as balloons dropped overhead, including four of his five children: Donald Jr., Eric, Ivanka, and Tiffany.
The missing child? 18-year-old Barron Trump.
The Trump campaign announced in May that Barron would be a Florida delegate at the RNC convention, alongside siblings Donald Jr., Eric, Ivanka and Tiffany. But Melania Trump quickly issued a statement saying their youngest son was unavailable.
“While Barron is honored to have been chosen as a delegate by the Florida Republican Party, he regretfully declines to participate due to prior commitments,” the statement said.
In May, Trump said that Barron is “pretty young” but that if he wanted to be a delegate, “I’m all for it,” in an interview with Telemundo 51 Miami.
During his 90-minute speech at the convention, he acknowledged Barron’s absence jokingly.
“I also want to thank my entire family — Don and Kimberly, Ivanka and Jared, Eric and Lara, Tiffany and Michael,” he said. “Barron, we love our Barron.”
Barron graduated from high school in May and plans to attend an unnamed college in the fall. On July 9, he attended a Trump campaign rally in Miami, his first and last appearance on the campaign trail.
Melania Trump, Ivanka Trump appear at RNC
Trump’s wife, Melania, and eldest daughter, Ivanka, were conspicuously absent from the first three days of the RNC, but on Thursday, they both made an appearance at the convention, yet neither delivered a speech.
Melania’s absence broke with tradition, as Republican presidential candidates’ spouses are typically at the convention and often give speeches.
Several Trump relatives made appearances and gave speeches at the convention, including his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, granddaughter, Kai Trump, and his two oldest sons, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric.