Why Some Folks Are Upset Over Spencer Trump’s 13th Birthday Pics

Let’s be real—Donald Trump is a larger-than-life figure. He’s got that big personality, that towering presence, and, love him or hate him, an undeniable influence that stretches far and wide. So, it’s no shocker that his family is just as sprawling. Despite the traditional family values he’s sometimes championed, the guy’s got five kids with three different women. Talk about a complicated family tree!

His oldest, Donald Jr., is pushing 48 this year, while his youngest, Barron, is 19 and probably still getting used to the spotlight. Then there’s the next generation—11 grandkids, ensuring the Trump name isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

Some of these grandkids, and even Trump’s own kids, have carved out their own slice of fame. Sure, you could argue they’ve got their dad’s (or grandpa’s) clout to thank for their wealth and status, but they’ve still managed to become household names in their own right.

But not every Trump is out there making headlines or fighting political battles. Some of them, especially the younger ones, are just kids living their lives—far from the drama of the public eye. Or at least, that’s how it’s supposed to be.

Take Spencer Trump, for example. He’s the 13-year-old son of Donald Trump Jr. and his ex-wife, Vanessa. Just a kid, doing kid things, celebrating his birthday like any other teen. But when your last name is Trump, even a simple birthday can spark a firestorm.

Donald Trump Jr. did what any proud dad might do—he hopped on Instagram, where he’s got a whopping 10 million followers, and shared a sweet post for Spencer’s big day. It was a carousel of 12 photos, capturing moments of Spencer growing up, with a heartfelt caption: “Happy birthday to my little man, Spencer! Can’t believe you’re 13 already. Hope you have the best day, buddy. Love you tons, and I’m stoked to get back out in the woods with you. You make me proud.”

Sounds wholesome, right? Just a dad gushing over his kid. But not everyone saw it that way. A few of those photos showed Spencer holding hunting rifles, and for some folks, that was enough to set off alarm bells. The comments section lit up with criticism.

One person wrote, “He’s not even 13, and you’ve got him posing with a gun? That’s messed up. No kid needs to be out there hunting animals for food in this day and age.” Another chimed in, “What kind of person gets a thrill out of killing innocent creatures? Disgusting.”

Now, if you know anything about Don Jr., you know this isn’t his first rodeo with hunting backlash. The guy’s been open about his love for the outdoors, and that includes hunting. Back in 2019, the BBC reported he took a hunting trip to Mongolia that supposedly cost taxpayers $75,000. That same year, ProPublica dropped a story claiming he’d bagged a rare Argali mountain sheep and only got the permit for it after the fact. More recently, in early 2025, Italian authorities looked into whether he and his crew shot a protected Ruddy Shelduck in a conservation zone in Venice. Don Jr.’s team denied any wrongdoing, but the accusations keep piling up.

So, here we are, with Spencer’s birthday photos stirring up the same old debate. To be clear, Spencer’s just a kid, and he’s not out here making headlines on his own. He’s 13, probably more worried about school or video games than geopolitics or public opinion. But those rifle pics? They’ve got people talking, and not in a happy-birthday kind of way.

What’s your take on this? Is it just a dad sharing his hobbies with his kid, or is there something off about a 13-year-old posing with a hunting rifle? Drop your thoughts below.