Barron Trump, the 18-year-old son of former President Donald Trump, began his first day at New York University’s Stern School of Business.
The Daily Beast reported that his arrival drew attention due to a meeting with administrators, some of whom had previously criticized his father in an open letter. Barron’s first day at NYU was highlighted by an encounter with faculty who had criticized his father during Donald Trump’s presidency.
According to reports, Barron allegedly met with J.P. Eggers, the interim dean of NYU Stern, as part of his introduction to the business school.
Eggers was among 14 administrators from Stern who had signed an open letter in 2020 that warned against Donald Trump’s presidency.
The 2020 open letter was authored by Harvard University Professor Deepak Malhotra. It was signed by more than 1,000 business school faculty members across the country, including administrators from NYU Stern. The letter urged business leaders to publicly denounce Donald Trump, asserting that his actions and policies posed a threat to the republic.
One section of the letter declared, “It is time for business leaders to follow suit and speak out against the threat Trump poses to our country.” Another part of the letter emphasized, “President Trump is unfit to lead and is a threat to the Republic.”
Eggers, who has served as interim dean of the Stern School since July 2024, was one of the 14 administrators at Stern who signed the letter.
While many of the letter's signatories have since left NYU, more than half of those from Stern still remain on faculty, according to reporting by The Daily Beast.
Barron’s first day at the prestigious business school wasn’t just marked by faculty tensions. The New York Post reported that Barron arrived at NYU with bodyguards and quickly met with administrators, including Eggers. Following the meeting, Barron attended his classes, officially beginning his college experience.
His choice of Stern over the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, where his father studied, also caught public attention.
Donald Trump told the Daily Mail that Barron preferred NYU Stern after considering Wharton. "It's a very high-quality place. He liked it. He liked the school," Trump said.
The tension surrounding his father’s reputation and legal troubles also followed Barron to Stern. Donald Trump is currently embroiled in a $250 million fraud case brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James, which has raised scrutiny over his business practices.
Stern accounting professor Eli Bartov, who is currently teaching at the school where Barron is enrolled, was hired by Trump’s Save America PAC to testify in the fraud case. Bartov was paid $900,000 to testify that Donald Trump’s financial statements were not "materially misstated" and that there was "no evidence of concealment."
However, Justice Arthur Engoron, who presided over the case, dismissed Bartov's testimony. The judge implied that Bartov’s expertise had been bought for the high payment, remarking, "All that his testimony proves is that for a million or so dollars, some experts will say whatever you want them to say."
In February 2024, Trump was found guilty of fraud and ordered to pay $455 million. Despite Bartov’s defense of Trump's accounting, the ruling indicated that the court did not find the testimony credible.
The controversy surrounding Trump’s business practices and the open letter criticizing him has created a tense environment for Barron at NYU. While the university did not comment on Barron’s arrival, The Daily Beast noted that NYU Stern did not respond to requests for interviews or clarification about the open letter.
As Barron begins his studies at Stern, the presence of administrators who have publicly criticized his father raises questions about how faculty and student interactions will unfold. For now, the young Trump is focusing on his academic journey, but his connection to one of the most polarizing political figures of the past decade ensures that his time at NYU Stern will be closely watched.
