As global tensions rise—particularly following the U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities—conspiracy theories and misinformation have once again been aimed at Barron Trump, the youngest son of President Donald Trump.
This time, a peculiar rumor is making the rounds on social media, claiming that the 19-year-old NYU student could avoid a future U.S. military draft due to “inherited bone spurs,” the same condition cited by his father during the Vietnam War era.
The theory suggests that Barron may be exempt from military service thanks to a genetic connection to Donald Trump’s infamous draft deferment in 1968, when he avoided service due to bone spurs in his heels. Trump later referred to the condition as “temporary” and minor, though actual medical records have never been publicly produced.
Allegations long swirled that the deferment may have been arranged by a podiatrist who rented office space from Trump’s father, Fred Trump, according to Snopes. However, the claim that bone spurs are hereditary or could be used as a basis for draft exemption lacks any scientific basis. Bone spurs—technically called osteophytes—are bony projections that develop along joint edges, typically from aging, arthritis, or overuse.
They are not genetically passed on like eye color or height, making the notion that Barron could “inherit” them for draft purposes absurd. There is also no evidence or public record suggesting that Barron Trump suffers from bone spurs or has sought any sort of military deferment.
The false rumor gained momentum after Donald Trump announced “successful” airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend, sparking speculation about the potential for war and prompting online users to revisit his draft history. The conversation quickly veered toward Barron and the idea that he, too, would find a way out of military service.
But this is not the first time Barron has been caught in a wave of online misinformation. Earlier this year, unfounded reports claimed that he had been rejected from top universities like Harvard, Columbia, and Stanford, following his father’s political attacks on elite educational institutions. A spokesperson from the Office of the First Lady shut down the speculation: “Barron did not apply to Harvard, and any assertion that he, or that anyone on his behalf, applied is completely false,” said Nick Clemens.
Additionally, viral AI-generated videos claiming Barron wed Spain’s Princess Leonor in a lavish royal ceremony circulated widely, despite being entirely fictional. The Spanish royal family made no such announcement, and the videos bore clear signs of artificial manipulation, including distorted visuals and fabricated imagery. In the age of digital misinformation, Barron Trump has become a frequent subject of bizarre internet fabrications—none of which hold up under scrutiny.