Donald Trump, the former President of the United States, is no stranger to public and political attention. However, within his own family, there seems to be a language barrier that makes him feel like an outsider. The issue arises from the multilingual dynamic between his wife, Melania Trump, and their son, Barron Trump, who reportedly converse in Slovenian, leaving Trump occasionally frustrated and disconnected.
Barron Trump, the youngest child of Donald Trump and Melania Trump, has always maintained a relatively private life, especially during his father’s presidency. However, as he enters adulthood, Barron has become more visible in public, making his campaign rally debut in July 2024. One of the key aspects that has caught the public’s attention is his ability to speak multiple languages fluently.
At 18 years old, Barron is said to speak English, French, and Slovenian—a skill he has inherited from his mother, Melania, who is originally from Slovenia. While being multilingual is often seen as a benefit, it seems to have created a slight rift in the Trump household. According to reports, Melania frequently converses with Barron in Slovenian, the language of her homeland, which has left Donald Trump feeling somewhat excluded.
Trump ‘Annoyed’ By The Language Barrier
The former President has expressed his irritation over the language dynamic in his household. Mary Jordan, author of the book The Art of Her Deal, which chronicles Melania Trump’s life, shared that Trump has admitted feeling left out when Melania and Barron, along with Melania’s Slovenian-speaking relatives, converse in their native tongue.
In fact, Trump has reportedly mentioned that it annoys him because he has no idea what they are saying. Jordan also noted that even the Secret Service, tasked with protecting the family, are often left in the dark due to their inability to understand the Slovenian conversations.
Despite being married to Melania since 2005, and dating her for several years before that, Trump has not learned the Slovenian language. His choice not to bridge the language gap has only amplified his sense of exclusion, especially when Melania’s parents, Viktor and Amalija Knavs, were more involved in the family during his presidency. The tight-knit group often spoke Slovenian, effectively creating a ‘unit within a unit’ that Donald Trump felt isolated from.
Melania’s Perspective on Language
Although the language barrier may bother Trump, Melania is evidently proud of her son’s ability to speak multiple languages. However, she agrees with her husband on one particular point: in public, they both believe that English should be spoken.
In a 2024 interview, Melania mentioned that while speaking several languages is beneficial, it’s important to use English when in the United States. This perspective, while unifying in public settings, doesn’t seem to mitigate the language issues within their home.
The language dynamic became a public topic of discussion in mid-August 2024 when a video of a young Barron speaking Slovenian with a slight accent resurfaced online. The footage showed a four-year-old Barron, whose limited interaction with people outside his family had resulted in him picking up his mother’s native accent. The video quickly went viral, reigniting conversations about the unique relationship between Barron, Melania, and Donald Trump.
The Role of Melania’s Parents in Barron’s Life
Adding another layer to this family dynamic is the involvement of Melania’s parents, Viktor and Amalija Knavs, in Barron’s upbringing. The couple, who moved to the United States following their daughter’s marriage to Donald Trump, played an active role in Barron’s life during the Trump presidency.
It was widely reported that Barron spent a significant amount of time with his maternal grandparents, often more than with his parents. This close relationship undoubtedly strengthened Barron’s connection to the Slovenian language, further contributing to Donald Trump’s sense of exclusion.
Sadly, Melania’s mother, Amalija, passed away in January 2024, which was a deeply emotional time for the family. Melania described her mother as a strong, graceful woman who was entirely devoted to her family. Amalija’s death marked the end of a significant chapter in Barron’s upbringing, as she had been an integral part of his life.
Conclusion
The unique linguistic relationship between Melania and Barron Trump has inadvertently created a wedge within the family, leaving Donald Trump feeling frustrated and left out. While multilingualism is often celebrated as a skill, in this case, it has made the former President feel disconnected from his son and wife. Despite his annoyance, it seems that the language barrier isn’t something that will change anytime soon, as Barron continues to bond with his mother in their shared Slovenian tongue.
The language issue adds another intriguing layer to the Trump family’s complex dynamic, showing that even in one of the world’s most high-profile families, there can be communication challenges that lead to feelings of exclusion.
