Family first! President-elect Donald Trump‘s wife, Melania Trump, exclusively told Us Weekly earlier this year that her son, Barron, was her main focus amid the 2016 presidential campaign, which perhaps explains why the soon-to-be first lady plans to stay in NYC with her son after Donald’s January inauguration.
“[My husband is] on the road a lot and he’s traveling a lot, and he’s not home much, but it’s all about the schedule, it’s all about Barron’s school and homework and after school programs,” the future first lady, 46, told Us of her only child, 10, during an interview in January. “So when we are in New York, [our schedule] didn’t change much, and I want to keep it that way because I’m at home raising my child.”
The former model continued, “[Donald is] traveling a lot, he’s campaigning. I join him when I can and I support him 100 percent from home, and I’m with him when I can [be]. It didn’t change because Barron is the priority for now and he needs me at this age. He needs a parent at home, and I like to keep it as normal as possible.”
Melania echoed similar statements about her son in an October interview with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos. “He’s taking [the campaign] very well,” she explained. “I keep him balanced and just [keep] his childhood as normal as possible, and he’s enjoying his school and his sports. He’s a great athlete. I just want to have him out of the spotlight for now.”
As reported earlier on Sunday, Donald, 70, and the Slovenia native are gearing up to become the first couple of the United States — but are not moving to the White House together, at least not straight away. The president-elect confirmed reports that the future FLOTUS and Barron will stay behind at the family’s luxe Trump Tower penthouse in New York City.
The New York Post reported that Melania will stay in the Big Apple so that her son can continue attending his private elementary school on the Upper West Side. A source told the newspaper that Donald’s presidential campaign “has been difficult for Barron, and [Melania] is really hoping to keep disruption to a minimum.”
The real estate mogul’s communications director, Jason Miller, meanwhile, told Us that while the family is “energized and excited” about Donald’s new role, they are also “concerned about pulling their 10-year-old son out of school in the middle of the year.”
CNN reported on Sunday afternoon that Donald told reporters at his Bedminster Golf Club on Sunday that while he intends to live in the White House, Melania and Barron will move to Washington DC “right after he finishes school.”