Members of Mar-a-Lago, the opulent Florida retreat owned by former President Donald Trump, are reportedly facing stern warnings about a potential ban after two models managed to capture photos of Trump’s son, Barron, during the club’s festive Christmas celebrations.
Barron Trump, now 19, made a rare public appearance alongside his father during the holiday festivities. He has largely remained out of the public eye, focusing instead on developing his financial interests.
The incident occurred when models Valeria Sokolova and Abla Sofy took pictures of Barron while he was enjoying the holiday season with his family. This breach of privacy was initially reported by the Daily Mail.
In response, insiders have allegedly informed gossip columnist Rob Shuter that members who were found taking unauthorized photos of Barron were cautioned that their memberships could be at risk.
“Melania has made it very clear that Barron’s privacy is non-negotiable,” an unnamed source reportedly stated. “Anyone caught filming or taking pictures would face immediate consequences, including the possibility of being banned from the club.”
Another insider emphasized the club’s strict policy: “The message was clear: no cameras, no leaks. Private family moments are to remain private.”
Those at the New Year’s Eve celebration have said Barron was following his father closely through the dining room and spoke very little throughout the night.
‘He was quiet, very reserved, wearing his usual blue suit, almost mirroring Donald,’ one insider said, according to Shuter.
Barron Trump, 19, had been spotted at his father’s side during Christmas celebrations at Mar-a-Lago after shying away from the spotlight to work on ‘financial interests’
Those at the Christmas celebrations have said Barron was following his father closely through the dining room and spoke very little throughout the night
Models Abla Sofy and Valeria Sokolova photographed the only son of the president and first lady sitting next to Trump while celebrating the holiday season with family, but may now be banned from the Mar-a-Lago club for doing so
Barron has kept a low profile since his father took office for the second time, and has been largely absent from public view after leaving New York University’s main campus for the Fall 2025 semester.
He was last seen by his father’s side when Trump took office last January.
At that time, the president praised his youngest son, who towers over him at 6-foot-9-inches, for helping him reach a younger crowd in the 2024 presidential election.
‘I have a very tall son,’ the 6-foot-3 Trump said in the Capital One Arena as the crowd erupted in cheers and Barron triumphantly raised his hands in the air, in a shift from the more reserved Barron the country is used to.
‘He knew the youth vote. We won the youth vote by 36 points. He was saying – “Dad, you have to go out and do this [podcast] or that one,”‘ Trump said.
‘We did a lot of them. He respects them all, he understood them very well.’
Months later, Barron was photographed in Manhattan, debuting a much shaggier, more relaxed look.
The towering NYU’s Stern School of Business freshman also sported a loose sweater, jeans, and Adidas sneakers.
Barron has kept a low profile since his father took office for the second time, but was near his father as he was sworn in, and alongside the tech titans that Trump has welcomed into his vision for his second term
Despite not being seen out with his dad, Barron was photographed in and around Manhattan. In April, he was pictured showing off a shaggier, more relaxed mane as he strode with purpose to university classes
Barron reportedly commuted to college from the Trump Tower apartment, home to his father and doting 54-year-old mother Melania.
But in September, his whereabouts came into question after he appeared to be absent from the school’s Manhattan campus for the first week of class.
It was later revealed he moved into the White House and started his sophomore year at NYU’s Washington campus.
NYU Washington, DC is the home to the Stern Executive MBA degree program, which will allow Barron to earn an MBA in two years time. Only about 60-100 students enroll in the program, which runs $32,811 in undergraduate tradition.
Barron’s transfer to the DC campus came as he apparently tried to prioritize getting his own business ideas off the ground.
According to insiders, Barron has been busy taking meetings with business partners, developing tech projects, and setting up deals.
‘Barron has been actively working on his own financial interests and has spent time with others who he is involved with in that area,’ a source told People.
‘Still, he has spent a great deal of time with his family.’
Influencer pastor Stuart Knechtle (pictured), 37, revealed that 19-year-old Barron Trump is ‘very close’ to accepting Christianity after the two had a late night phone call
He has also reportedly become more religious in recent months, with MAGA pastor Stuart Knechtle, 37, revealing last month that Barron is ‘very close’ to embracing his Christian faith fully after a late night phone call.
‘I was talking on the phone with Barron Trump at 12.30 at night one night and I thought I was hitting him with everything but the kitchen sink when it came to all the evidence for God and Christianity,’ Knechtle said on The George Janko Podcast this week.
‘I thought I was really on. I was pumped,’ he added. ‘Then at the very end, I came up pretty much totally open-handed with nothing.’
However, Knechtle claimed the 6ft 9in teenager is ‘very close’ to putting his faith in Christ after he made a last ditch effort to persuade him using ‘evidence’ of dreams and revelations.
‘I brought up dreams and revelations and I said, “Hey, look, Baron, I usually don’t go by this typically with as evidence, but I’ll just let lastly you know this,”‘ he said.
‘I have a friend over in Africa who witnesses thousands of Muslims coming to Christ through dreams and revelations. How do you explain that? [Barron’s] like, “Oh, that’s a very, very interesting point. And you have eyewitness testimony.”
‘You know, the way his mind works, it’s like that was the only thing that stuck with him and he’s very close to putting his faith in Christ. Very close. And so I pray that goes through.’
Daily Mail has reached out to the White House, the Trump Organization, as well as Valeria Sokolova and Abla Sofy for comment.
