In the opinion of American First Lady Melania Trump, children have an absolute right to privacy and must not be instrumentalized for political purposes. Trump's criticism was directed against law professor Pamela Karlan, who had made 13-year-old Barron Trump part of her political argument during a congressional hearing. Karlan "should be ashamed", she is obviously an angry and biased person, wrote Melania Trump on Twitter.
A minor child deserves privacy and should be kept out of politics. Pamela Karlan, you should be ashamed of your very angry and obviously public pandering, and using a child to do it.
- Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) December 4, 2019The US president continued to spread the tweet to his 67.3 million followers.
The constitutional scholar from the prestigious Stanford University was summoned by the Democrats as a witness to the Justice Committee of the House of Representatives on Wednesday. Karlan was consulted on the question of whether the current state of affairs in the Ukrainian economy is sufficient to initiate impeachment proceedings against Trump.
In a reply, the lawyer wanted to expose the difference between the president and a king. "While the president can name his son Barron, he can not appoint him baron," she said. There was a short laugh in the audience.
Pamela S. Karlan: "The president can name his son Barron, he can not make him a baron."
Full #ImpeachmentHearing video here: https://t.co/uAOLsUlxLA pic.twitter.com/qMJsiPsxSx
Trump's campaign team then issued a statement stating, "Only in the minds of crazy liberals is it funny to drag a 13-year-old child into impeachment nonsense." The remark showed that the Democrats had "no limits" in their "hatred" for everything related to Trump.
After criticizing her statement by the First Lady and others, Karlan apologized during the session for commenting on Trump's son. "It was wrong of me to do that," she said.
Pamela S. Karlan: "The president can name his son Barron, he can not make him a baron."
Full #ImpeachmentHearing video here: https://t.co/uAOLsUlxLA pic.twitter.com/qMJsiPsxSx
Barron is Donald Trump's youngest child and his only one with Melania. The 13-year-old usually does not take part in public appearances with his parents, he is only occasionally seen in boarding and disembarking when the family flies together.
MICHAEL REYNOLDS / EPA-EFE / REX
Donald, Barron and Melanie Trump on their way to Marine One in late November
At Wednesday's hearing, the three law professors invited by the Democrats accused Trump of offenses that they felt would justify impeachment. A professor of law, invited by Trump's republicans, objected and backed the president. You'll find more about it here.
Video: Law professors consider impeachment proceedings against Trump to be justified
AP / Alex Brandon