Donald Trump Graduation Photo Goes Viral Amid Barron Concerns

A photo of Donald Trump graduating from college has gone viral, following news the former president may miss son Barron's high school graduation ceremony due to his attendance at the Stormy Daniels "hush money" trial.

The 77-year-old faces charges of allegedly falsifying business records to hide a payment to adult film actress Daniels, in exchange for her silence about a rumored affair with Trump ahead of the 2016 general election. Trump has denied all charges, and an affair with Daniels, claiming he is the victim of a political witch hunt.

Trump's lawyers have requested he miss court on May 17 to attend Barron Trump's celebration. Judge Juan Merchan has yet to confirm or deny the request, which depends on whether the trial is running to schedule.

Trump hit out at Merchan on Monday, calling the New York state judge "conflicted and corrupt" on Truth Social. Trump's supporters have rallied behind him on social media, criticizing Merchan.

One such post went viral after being shared to X, formerly Twitter, on Monday. The image claims to show a young Trump at his high school graduation. Wearing a black gown with a yellow collar, the Republican politician stands with his father, Fred Trump, as the duo smile for the camera.

The photo was shared by conservative political strategist and lobbyist Roger Stone, who worked as a consultant on Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. The 71-year-old was arrested in 2019 as part of Robert Mueller's special counsel investigation, which examined whether Russian interference influenced the 2016 U.S. general election.

Stone was found guilty on seven counts, including lying to the House of Representatives' Intelligence Committee, obstructing justice and witness tampering. However, his 40-month jail sentence was commuted by Trump in July 2020.

"Barron Trump deserves to be accompanied by his father at his high school graduation, just as Donald Trump was accompanied by his father, Fred, at his," Stone wrote. "Just like every other graduating student in the United States!"

However, the picture was actually taken at Trump's college graduation in 1968.

Newsweek has reached out to Donald Trump for comment via email.

At the time of publishing, the photo has received more than 419,000 views.

Trump originally attended Fordham University in New York, before transferring to the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce at the University of Pennsylvania in 1966, where he graduated with a BSc in Economics.

Although the photo received 23,000 likes and almost 5,000 reposts, many users hit out at Trump in the comments.

"Criminal defendants don't get perks," wrote @DCAZELY.

"He is using his son Barron as a political pawn," said Gail Dow.

"Better get used to his dad missing his events! This isn't the last thing he'll miss!" commented @invictis117.

"It's May 17 and it's at night when court [is] not in session. He already put a request in to take that day off and the judge said he would consider [it] if they were on track," said Billy Jones.

"If Trump behaves himself and doesn't drag the case down, I take the judge at his word," wrote @cleductoo.

"Wait. Did Trump attend his other 4 kid's graduations?" asked Kelly Trott. "[By the way], Barron's graduation is a Friday night. He'll make it."

However, others praised Stone's post, with @TheUnitedSpot writing: "Well said."

"It's ridiculous what they are doing to Trump," wrote @thandar324.

"That judge needs to be sued!" commented @Elizabe19214542.

"Trump should ignore the court and go," said James Holden. "Corrupt judges are a dime a dozen in NYC but his kids graduation is once in a life time."

Barron is Trump's youngest child and only son with wife and former first lady Melania Trump.

The politician is also father to Donald Trump Jr., 46, Ivanka Trump, 42, and Eric Trump, 40, whose mother was Trump's late first wife, Ivana Trump. The Apprentice star also shares Tiffany Trump, 30, with his ex-wife Marla Maples.