Eric Trump has shared what his younger brother Barron said to Joe Biden during Donald Trump’s inauguration this past January.
Barron, the youngest son of former President Trump, interacted with Biden as his father was officially inducted as the 47th President of the United States on January 20.
During the event, the 46th President was observed leaning in to shake Barron’s hand while exchanging words with him. The encounter piqued the curiosity of many, with some speculating that the 19-year-old might have told Biden to “go f*** yourself.”
To shed light on the viral moment, lip reader Jeremy Freeman analyzed the clip to decipher what might have been said between Biden and Barron.
Freeman explained to LADbible that Biden, while shaking Barron’s hand, told him: “It’s good to see you man.”
According to Freeman, Barron replied with a simple: “Exactly.”
Until recently, the Trump family had not commented on the exchange. Eric Trump addressed it on a recent episode of The Megyn Kelly Show, providing clarity on what took place during that viral moment.
According to PEOPLE, Eric stated: “Do you remember that whole controversy where [Barron] went up to Biden … and [the media] had all these like lip-reading experts [analyze it], and they’re like, ‘Barron just told Biden to go F himself’?
“So one night … I call Barron, I go, ‘Buddy, look, what did you actually say?’ And he goes, you know, like — it was something so polite I almost wouldn’t even get it right — but [something], like, ‘Congratulations and best of luck to you’ — or something like that.”
Eric emphasized that the exchange was ‘something very respectful’, countering the assumptions made by some on the internet.
Barron’s older brother remarked that the youngest Trump ‘doesn’t have that in him’ to say such things to an outgoing president.
Eric further added: “He’s a nice guy. He’s probably thinking it. He definitely has it up here, but like, he’s too courteous to actually go out there and say it. Barron’s a really nice kid.”
In an extended version of the viral clip, Barron was seen proceeding to shake Kamala Harris’ hand after his interaction with Biden.
Following the release of the new angle, Barron was commended for being a ‘gentleman’ and displaying ‘class’ by shaking Harris’ hand, despite her political contest against his father.
“That’s a bit of ‘class’ right there by Barron Trump,” one observer commented, while another noted: “Direct eye contact and a handshake. A respectful thing. Young men don’t do this very often nowadays.”