If you were watching the 2025 inauguration on your phone or TV, you probably noticed the same thing everyone else did: Barron Trump is essentially a giant now. Standing at 6 feet, 9 inches, the youngest Trump son basically towered over everyone in the room. But while the internet was busy meme-ing his height, a lot of people started asking a very specific question. Who is the older man sitting right next to him?
It wasn't a Secret Service agent. It wasn't a random donor. Honestly, it was someone much closer to home.
Viktor Knavs: The "Secret" Family Member Next to Barron
The man sitting next to Barron Trump at the inauguration was his grandfather, Viktor Knavs.
If that name doesn't ring a bell immediately, it’s because he usually keeps a pretty low profile. Viktor is Melania Trump’s father. During the ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda, the seating was very tight-knit and family-oriented. Barron was essentially sandwiched between his mother, Melania, and his grandfather, Viktor.
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For those who follow the family closely, seeing Viktor there made total sense. Since the passing of Melania’s mother, Amalija Knavs, in early 2024, Viktor has been spotted much more frequently with the family. He’s been a constant presence for Barron, especially as the teenager made the transition from high school to being a freshman at New York University (NYU).
Why the seating chart looked a bit different
The 2025 inauguration felt different because it was indoors. Due to some pretty brutal sub-freezing temperatures in D.C., the whole thing was moved into the Rotunda. This meant fewer seats and a much more intimate—and scrutinized—seating arrangement.
You might have noticed that some of the "big names" you’d expect to see in the front row were actually pushed back. Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, for instance, were seated further back than they were in 2017. Meanwhile, Barron was front and center. This wasn't an accident. Barron has reportedly become a key "advisor" to his father, specifically helping him navigate the "bro-ey" world of podcasts and Gen Z voters. Sitting him right behind the President was a clear nod to his growing influence within the family’s political circle.
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The Big Tech Takeover in the Front Row
While Viktor Knavs was the family member people didn't recognize, there were plenty of other faces nearby that sparked a lot of chatter. This inauguration's guest list looked more like a Silicon Valley board meeting than a traditional political gathering.
Directly in the same orbit as Barron and the rest of the Trump family were some of the wealthiest men on the planet. We’re talking:
- Elon Musk: Who was practically a fixture of the transition team.
- Jeff Bezos: Seated near the family, marking a massive shift from his previous relationship with the administration.
- Mark Zuckerberg: Sitting surprisingly close to the action, right next to Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
It was a weird mix. You had the Slovenian grandfather of the First Son sitting just a few feet away from the guys who own X, Amazon, and Meta. It really signaled that the "inner circle" for this second term is a blend of blood relatives and tech titans.
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Barron’s Evolution from 2017 to Now
It’s wild to think back to the 2017 inauguration when Barron was just a 10-year-old kid trying to stay awake during the speeches. Fast forward to 2025, and he’s a college student at NYU Stern who is reportedly the one telling his dad which influencers to talk to.
Melania has always been protective of him, which is why we don't see him doing solo interviews or "campaigning" in the traditional sense. But his placement at the inauguration—sitting next to his mother and his grandfather—shows that while he’s grown up, the "Melania wing" of the family remains a very tight, private unit.
What this means for the next four years
If you’re wondering if we’re going to see more of the man sitting next to Barron, the answer is probably yes. Viktor Knavs has lived in the U.S. for years and became a citizen in 2018. He’s part of that core support system that keeps the First Lady comfortable in the D.C. spotlight, which she famously isn't a huge fan of.
As for Barron, his seating says everything. He’s no longer the kid in the background; he’s the "tallest Trump" who has the President’s ear.
Next Steps for You:
If you're interested in how the new White House dynamics are shaking out, keep an eye on the guests at the upcoming State Dinners. The seating at the inauguration was the first clue, but the official visitor logs and dinner invites will tell you who actually has the power this time around. You might also want to look into the "Manosphere" podcasts Barron reportedly recommended, like The Joe Rogan Experience or Theo Von, to understand the specific demographic he's helping his father reach.