Dear Editor:

We all thought it would take a few more years for Barron Trump to make tabloid news … but he’s all in now. Emulating his stepbrother, Don Jr., and his grandfather, he has pledged the infamous Tate brothers’ fraternity; Barron considers himself the “third Tate brother.” Toxic masculinity, tax evasion, porn, human trafficking, rape: What’s not to like for a wealthy, privileged 19-year-old boy?

My guess is that he ‘liked’ the Facebook video of the Tates flying to Florida on their private jet, laughing and taking selfies. The Romanian government had held these multi-millionaire, online celebrities under house arrest for three years while they were being investigated for serious crimes in three countries. But then, under pressure from President Donald J. Trump’s family, via Richard Grenell, they were released and allowed to return to the U.S.

Not everyone is cheering, though; even Governor Ron DeSantis announced that they are not welcome in the Sunshine State. But Mar-a-Lago is Florida’s Vatican City, a world unto itself with golf, gold and girls galore; presumably there are poolside lounges for these bad boys.

It’s hard not to sense a three-generational through line in the Trump family. Serial divorces and affairs; rape and sexual assault accusations by E. Jean Carroll and 25 other victims; “Playboy” centerfold Karen McDougal (while Barron was conceived); Stormy Daniels (while Barron was four months old); dressing room visits at Miss Teen USA, Miss USA, and Miss Universe pageants. (Don Jr calls it “a fact of life”); parties and private jets with Jeffrey Epstein; and now the Tate brothers — these events have informed young Barron’s upbringing.

Is it surprising that, in addition to his marketing classes at NYU, Barron has Zoomed with the bros who founded “Hustler’s University” and offer PhD (“pimpin’ hoes degree”) courses as part of their homophobic, racist, misogynistic, webcam-blackmailing digital empire? The self-named ‘Hateful Tates’ have roped the youngest Trump scion into their Charlie Kirk-endorsed, toxic manosphere — worse, Andrew Tate has been sharing “dating advice” with him. Will any of his exemplary family members care to deprogram him?

Bill Hammond

Boothbay