Claims that Barron Trump has autism are being squashed. The 10-year-old son of Donald and Melania Trump has been the subject of fierce debate for months over autism rumors. Incensed by the outrageous gossip, Barron’s mother is reacting to the torrent of speculations that her son is autistic by going after a source fueling the rumors.
The unfounded allegations have circulated for some time, but hit fever pitch when Rosie O’Donnell tweeted a message last week about a video she watched on YouTube titled, “Barron Trump Autistic? #StopTheBullying.” She then surmised that Barron might be autistic and if it were true, how “amazing” it would be for autism awareness.
O’Donnell’s message ignited outrage for irresponsibly suggesting that the president-elect’s son might be autistic when there were no facts supporting it. She essentially promoted a YouTube video that alludes to the notion Barron Trump is special needs by highlighting the way he clapped, sat in his seat, walked, and stood on stage. All of the clips were filmed during the Republican National Convention in July in which the 10-year-old was exhausted from lack of sleep and having to listen to hours of speeches.
Melania Trump has reached her limit with the chatter surrounding her son and is threatening to sue the individual responsible for creating the YouTube video. She’s not threatening legal action against O’Donnell, though TMZ reports she just exacerbated the situation.
Melania Trump — Threatens Suit Over False Barron ‘Autism’ Video… And Says Rosie O’Donnell Made it Worse https://t.co/PaZxM3UTIS
— TMZ (@TMZ) November 28, 2016
The letter from Melania’s attorney, Charles J. Harder, reads that the video maker made “insinuations” that Barron Trump has autism and that those notions “instigated” O’Donnell and others to bully Barron.
“The video allegedly seeks to ‘stop the bullying’ of Barron Trump. Not true… The video did instigate further bullying by Rosie O’Donnell and others.”
Harder himself defends Barron Trump after watching the video, which touches on the way he clapped his hands in the video. Barron’s hands didn’t make contact with each other in one of the scenes, to which Harder argues the “vast majority of the time, he claps normally.”
While Melania isn’t threatening to sue Rosie O’Donnell, her attorney wants the person responsible for the video to take it down and post an apology.
According to the letter and other sources close to the situation who spoke with TMZ , Barron Trump is “absolutely” not autistic. Melania Trump is reportedly furious and is serious about pursuing legal action if the video maker doesn’t delete the footage that’s done nothing but propagate the idea that Barron has autism.
Barron Trump Autistic? if so – what an amazing opportunity to bring attention to the AUTISM epidemic https://t.co/Acgy1Qxyqi via @YouTube
— Rosie (@Rosie) November 22, 2016
O’Donnell posted a letter on her website explaining why she was addressing autism rumors about her longtime foe’s son. She began by sharing that her 3-year-old daughter, Dakota, was diagnosed with high-functioning autism (HFA) in September and has “immersed” herself with educating herself on the diagnosis. The comedienne added that parents struggle with the diagnosis, writing that “we try to grab onto anything to keep us standing.” It was a way of O’Donnell suggesting that if it’s true Barron Trump has autism, it would equate to an incredible platform for autism awareness.
Rosie O’Donnell Responds After Being Slammed for Asking if Barron Trump Is Autistic — And She’s Not Apologizing https://t.co/dx4bwzF2Ge
— EAGLE WINGS (@ConstanceQueen8) November 28, 2016
Many have speculated that Barron Trump has autism based on a handful of scenes from events held at insane hours when most children are fast asleep. Donald and Melania Trump have never confirmed nor denied that their son has autism. They’ve clearly reached their limit with the speculations and are firing back.
Update, 4:53 p.m, PT : The individual who made the video agreed to delete it and issue an apology to Melania and Barron Trump. The video creator says , “ TMZ just contacted me to tell me Melania Trump is threatening a lawsuit over this video… I never ever meant this as a bullying video.”
[Featured Image by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images]