Barron Trump Arrives at New York University for First Day of Classes as Donald Reveals His College Choice

Barron Trump arrived at New York University in Manhattan on Wednesday, Sept. 4, following months of speculation about the former first son's college choice. Three NYU security officers confirmed to PEOPLE that he was spotted outside the library surrounded by Secret Service agents.

Barron's father, former President Donald Trump, teased to the New York Post in August that his youngest son had decided on a "good" school in New York, though he didn't specify which.

On Sept. 4, Donald confirmed to Daily Mail that Barron, 18, would be attending NYU's Stern School of Business. "He was accepted to a lot of colleges," Donald told the outlet. "He's a very smart guy."

Barron graduated from Oxbridge Academy on May 17. His father Donald, mother Melania Trump and grandfather Viktor Knavs attended the exclusive West Palm Beach ceremony.

He transferred to Oxbridge after his family left the White House in 2021. Before that, he had attended numerous other prestigious schools, including Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School in New York City and St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in Potomac, Md.

Donald confirmed during a Philadelphia radio interview in May that his youngest son planned to continue his education, but in the months after earning a high school diploma, Barron kept his college shortlist under wraps.

A source told PEOPLE in the spring that Melania was keeping her son close as he pondered his future plans.

"Melania will keep her hand on Barron’s future just as much going forward as she has throughout his early and current school years," the insider said. "He is her world. She is proud of him, and she is the primary decision maker on Barron and his future."

Earlier this year, Barron declined an opportunity to serve as an at-large delegate for Florida at the Republican National Convention, citing "prior commitments" in a statement made by his mother. 

"While Barron is honored to have been chosen as a delegate by the Florida Republican Party, he regretfully declines to participate due to prior commitments," Melania said in the statement.

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The convention occurred from July 15-18 in Milwaukee, and Trump’s youngest son did not attend, making him the only of the Republican presidential candidate’s five children absent from the event. Just before the RNC, though, Barron made his first appearance at a campaign rally for his father.