Inside the exclusive private school where Barron Trump studied - funded by conservative billionaire
Former President Donald Trump was excused from court today so he could attend son Barron's graduation from the exclusive private school Oxbridge Academy in Florida
Donald Trump has been excused from his hush money court case Friday to celebrate the graduation of his 18-year-old son, Barron, from a prestigious private school funded by a conservative billionaire.
The former President has previously suggested Barron was considering attending The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. But first his graduation from high school - the exclusive Oxbridge Academy in Palm Beach, Florida at 10am local time (3pm London). Donald won't have much time to celebrate with his son as he is set to fly to St Paul Minnesota where is set to make an appearance at a fundraising dinner at 5pm local time.
Rumours are abound that the younger Trump is eyeing up a career in politics so many are keeping a keen eye on the son of Donald and Melania. He was invited to serve as a delegate from Florida for this year's Republican National Convention, though he declined.
Read more: Melania Trump is 'primary decision maker' for Barron's future as he prepares to graduate high school
The Oxbridge Academy was set up in 2011 by William Koch, the youngest of the billionaire Koch brothers, who owned the massive oil and gas company Koch Industries and are notable donors to conservative politicians and causes.
In 1980, Bill, with help from one of his brothers Freddie, attempted to take over the company from Charles, who, they felt, had assumed dictatorial control. In retaliation William was fired and his stock in the family company sold netting him hundreds of millions. Koch sunk over $75million into building the school, hoping to build an educational environment that would be 'student first.'
He's put this money to use in his hobbies and in conservative causes, including giving $2 million to support 2012 Republican Party Presidential candidate Mitt Romney and campaigning against a massive off shore wind farm off Nantucket Island.
The billionaire has never been one to shy from splashing his cash, once buying a 130-year-old photo of legendary outlaw Billy the Kid for $2.3 million at a Denver auction.
William's elder brothers Charles and David are key funders behind Americans for Prosperity (AFP), a rightwing political advocacy group that has been viewed as one of the most influential American conservative organisations.
Apart from Barron, other notable alumni include Travis Homer, an NFL running back who was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks and went on to play with the Chicago Bears.
The school hit the headlines in 2016, and not for the right reasons after former head of school was suspended due to sexual harassment claims. Robert C. Parsons, was suspended and eventually dismissed.
The schools prestigious football programme was nuked by Koch in 2018 because he saw it as being run by a "power elites group" who "ran the asylum" and were allegedly overspending at every opportunity. The program was reinstated last year.
Barron started studying there in 2021 after the Trump family left the White House and moved down to Florida.
In 2020, the school's Director of Advancement, Scott Siegfried, said they looked "forward to welcoming him into our school and community."