The harassment of Barron Trump and the difficulties of children who grow up as children of the president of the United States
As the head of a public office, the President of the United States can often come under fire on social media. But should a line be drawn when it comes to your children?
Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron, has been teased by some online since his father announced his presidential candidacy, but others have come out to defend him saying the 10-year-old should not be included in the political fight.
The White House published a brief statement on Tuesday that speaks of a "long tradition that presidents' children are given the opportunity to grow up outside the political focus."
Although there is no mention of the name of President Trump or his son, he asks that "this tradition continue."
The official message came after Katie Rich, writer of the NBC comedy show Saturday Night Live, posted a tweet (now deleted) that read: "Barron will be the nation's first home schooled sniper."
The comment sparked fury from some, including a few "loyal viewers" of the show, who demanded Rich's firing and a boycott of the show.
The writer later apologized for her "insensitive" tweet and NBC announced on Tuesday that it was suspending her indefinitely, according to local media reports.
A Facebook post that has been shared more than a million times claimed that "no child deserves to be treated that way."
User Melissa Earnest, a supporter of President Trump, said: "Whether they like this family or not, this is their 10-year-old son. He is still growing and words hurt."
When President Trump won the election on November 8, the boy also received a series of taunts for his expression of apparent boredom.
Being in constant exposure is one of the characteristics that comes with the role of being the son of the president of the United States.
Just as Barron Trump has been the target of negative comments, the same has happened with some of the children of previous leaders.
Chelsea Clinton
Chelsea, the only daughter of former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, joined Barron's support network, though in the same tweet she criticized Trump saying: "Defending all children also means opposing policies. of the president who hurt children. "
Clinton was 12 when her father became president and the family moved into the White House.
Although social networks did not exist in 1993, the little girl also had to face insults about her appearance.
Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh compared her to a dog, while Saturday Night Live did a skit making fun of her.
The show's executive producer Lorne Michaels publicly apologized, saying that Clinton "was a child who did not choose to be in the public eye."
President Clinton told People magazine at the time that while he didn't dislike being made fun of on a comedy show, he felt it was "very insensitive to laugh at a teenage girl."
Malia and Sasha Obama
The daughters of former President Barack Obama were also unaware of cyber abuse during their father's eight-year tenure.
Two years ago, Sasha, then 13, and Malia, 16, were mentioned by a Facebook user, who asked them to "try to show a little more class."
The author was Elizabeth Lauten, communications director for a Republican congressman, referring to the length of the girls' skirts: "Dress as if you deserve respect, not a seat in a bar."
In response, dozens of people wrote to Lauten's boss and popularized the hashtag "#DespidanAElizabethLauten" on Twitter.
Lauten publicly apologized and later resigned from her post.
When Obama's eldest daughter, Malia, was admitted to the prestigious Harvard University, the Fox News website had to delete a series of comments from readers that disqualified her because of her race.
Jenna and Barbara Bush
The twins Jenna and Barbara were 19 years old when their father, George W. Bush, was elected president of the United States.
Four years later, as a "joke" on April Fools' Day, Maxim magazine decided to make a photo montage of the faces of young women on the bodies of models in underwear.
The publication's editor, James Heindery, said at the time that putting the Bush sisters in the magazine was "the first suggestion everyone threw on the table."
The First Lady's press officer, Laura Bush, declined to comment on the issue.
Amy carter
Amy, the only daughter of former President Jimmy Carter, was 9 when her father became president in 1977.
The little girl was the first minor to live in the White House since the presidency of John F. Kennedy in the 1960s.
Soon her introverted personality began to appear in the newspapers in a negative way.
A German reporter criticized her reading books to entertain herself at official dinners, describing her as "a pampered and perpetually tired pitiful wretch with miserable habits."
"There has been criticism of Amy, far more than a child can bear," reported the Ohio state newspaper The Blade Toledo in April 1980.
