Donald Trump is well-known for having avoided the draft during the Vietnam War. Now it appears that his youngest son, Barron Trump, will not be heading into the military either, which has made some Americans furious. The discussion centers around a possible medical exemption.
The war in Iran is currently escalating. US and Israeli forces have reportedly bombed several locations, including the capital city of Tehran, and during the weekend the attacks allegedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.Iran has responded with retaliatory strikes, and as of Tuesday, six US service members were reported killed. Exact figures regarding casualties on the Iranian side have not been confirmed.
While Donald Trump and his administration ordered strikes on Iran without congressional approval, critics have questioned whether the president — who never served in the military — understands the consequences of military action.None of Donald Trump’s children — Donald Jr., Eric, Ivanka, or Tiffany — have served in the military either, which has led some people online to speculate whether Barron Trump could become the first member of the Trump family to do so.
It is widely known that Donald Trump avoided the draft multiple times during the Vietnam War. For example, Dr. Larry Braunstein, a podiatrist in Queens who died around 20 years ago, reportedly diagnosed Trump with bone spurs as a favor to his father, Fred Trump, which helped him avoid military service.
In 2016, Donald Trump said that a physician gave him “a very strong letter” about problems with his heels to submit to draft officials. However, he later said he could not remember the doctor’s name.
#SendBarron hashtag trending in connection to Iran war
The fact that Donald Trump may have avoided the draft has not sat well with some Americans, particularly military personnel and their families.Over the weekend, as the war in Iran intensified, the hashtag #SendBarron began trending online.One user wrote:
“Why not demonstrate that Trump family spirit of patriotism and sacrifice by sending Barron to fight Iran?”Another added:“At least someone from the Trump family should demonstrate how patriotic they are by serving instead of grifting.”
A different post read:“#SendBarron. Would certainly send a message of solidarity with our troops, and gratitude for the sacrifices they make every day.”Another user wrote:“If you vote for leaders who love war, maybe you or your children should at least be first in line to explain why it’s worth it.”
Some also criticized the president for escalating the conflict while remaining safe. One person commented:“POTUS is chilling at his own country club while starting WWIII. #SendBarron.”
Medical reasons Barron Trump ‘can’t join’ the US military
If a military draft were to occur, the first men selected would typically be those turning 20 during the calendar year of the lottery. Because Barron Trump turns 20 in May, he could theoretically fall into that group.However, reports suggest that the youngest son of the president could be exempt from military service for medical or physical reasons.
Barron Trump is reportedly around 6 feet 7 inches tall, which could make him too tall for certain military roles. Positions that require working in tight spaces — such as inside armored vehicles, tanks, or aircraft — often have strict height limits.
According to recruitment guidelines, the US Army has a maximum height limit of 6 feet 8 inches for some positions. Individuals taller than that may not qualify for certain roles.
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