Melania Trump is speaking out about previous rumors that her son Barron Trump is autistic.
In her memoir Melania, published on October 8, the former first lady revealed that her son was bullied after comedian Rosie O'Donnell tweeted that he appeared to be autistic. I am writing about.
In a tweet that has since been deleted, O'Donnell wrote, “Is Barron Trump autistic? If so, this is a great opportunity to draw attention to the autism epidemic.”
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O'Donnell also shared a video of Barron Trump at the 2016 Republican National Convention.
Melania Trump is speaking out about previous rumors that her son Barron Trump is autistic. (Getty Images)
The viral video has since been deleted, but the creator added a caption that hinted that the 10-year-old boy had autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Melania Trump wrote in her book that she was “appalled by the brutality.” “It was clear that she had no interest in raising awareness about autism. I felt like she was attacking her son because she didn't like her husband.”
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“There's nothing shameful about autism (although O'Donnell's tweet hints that he has autism), but Mr. Barron is not autistic,” she added.
“Mr. Barron's experiences with bullying both online and in real life since the incident clearly demonstrate that irreparable damage has been caused.”
The former first lady also described the experience as “devastating.”
“It felt like my heart was being torn apart.”
Rumors that Barron Trump is autistic were sparked by a video of him at the 2016 Republican National Convention. (Getty Images)
Her memoir “Melania'' is published by Skyhorse Publishing and distributed by Simon & Schuster.
Dr. Agnesa Papagian, aka Dr. Aggie, a clinical psychologist in Los Angeles who specializes in autism and neurodiversity, talks to Fox News Digital about the potential harms of publicly suggesting that someone is autistic. told.
“Public speculation about diagnoses such as ASD also perpetuates harmful stereotypes.”
“Publicly making assumptions about whether a person is autistic based solely on how they act, speak and behave can have a negative impact not only on that person, but also on the wider autism community. Yes,” she said.
“It leaves individuals feeling judged, misunderstood, excluded, and stigmatized.”
“Publicly making assumptions about whether someone is autistic based solely on how they act, speak and behave can have a negative impact not only on that person, but also on the broader autism community. “There is,” the expert said. (Getty Images)
Even if the assumption is well-intentioned, it can frame a person's behavior or communication methods as abnormal or “weird” or as something that needs to be labeled. Dr. Aggie warned.
“Public speculation about diagnoses such as ASD also perpetuates harmful stereotypes.”
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Given the complexity of the autism spectrum, Dr. Aggie said that diagnosis should only be made by trained professionals and “not by friends or strangers on the internet, via social media.” he emphasized.
“Making assumptions about others based on surface-level observations can lead to misdiagnosis, which not only affects the person in question, but can also increase misconceptions about autism itself,” she said. pointed out.
Melania Trump addresses rumors that her son has an autism spectrum disorder in her new memoir, writing that she was “appalled by such cruelty.” (Sunday Morning Futures)
“This can also lead to unfair treatment of individuals and create unnecessary barriers and judgments in their personal and professional lives.”
The doctor also emphasized that autism symptoms vary widely from person to person.
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“The spectral nature of autism means that some people are highly verbal and have exceptional cognitive abilities, while others have significant communication and sensory problems,” she said. says.
“This variation is particularly pronounced among children, as developmental milestones can vary widely.”
Experts called speculation about autism symptoms “reckless”. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)
Dr. Nechama Sorsher, a clinical psychologist in New York City, agreed that these kinds of claims can be harmful.
“Assuming someone is autistic is the same as implying that someone has a physical or mental health problem without clear evidence,” she said.
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“Simply put, it's reckless.”
Almost one in four students report being bullied, Sorsher said.
Symptoms of autism spectrum disorder vary greatly from person to person, ranging from mild to severe. (St. Petersburg)
“Being a kid is already difficult enough, but for Barron, he's in the national spotlight and is under constant scrutiny,” she said.
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“If there were rumors that he was autistic, it could have created a very difficult environment for him.”
Mr Sorsher noted that more than 60% of children and youth with autism have experienced bullying.
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“Whether or not a child actually has autism, this type of bullying behavior can lead to negative mood, self-image, changes in sleep patterns, and decreased academic performance.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to representatives for Melania Trump and O'Donnell for comment.
