Former first daughter Chelsea Clinton speaks out to defend Donald Trump's 10-year-old son from cruel internet bullies - but then immediately turns her post into a political attack on his father 

• e-mail

Former first daughter Chelsea Clinton came to the defense of Barron Trump on Sunday after he was subjected to taunts from internet bullies, though her statement quickly turned political.

Ten-year-old Barron was subject to a series of cruel taunts after Friday’s inauguration including one from an Saturday Night Live writer who said he will turn into a ‘homeschool shooter’.

Chelsea called for the public to lay off of Barron, while simultaneously encouraging her followers to oppose policies from Barron's father President Donald Trump that she claims will be harmful to children.

In a Facebook post on Sunday, she said: 'Barron Trump deserves the chance every child does - to be a kid.

'Standing up for every kid also means opposing POTUS policies that hurt kids.' 

Scroll down for video 

The former First Daughter called for the public to lay off of Barron, while simultaneously stating that his father needs to proceed with the well-being of children nationwide in mind

President Donald Trump salutes as he and Barron Trump watch the Inaugural Parade from the main reviewing stand in front of the White House on Friday

Chelsea poses with Hillary, then the First Lady, left, during the introduction of President Bill Clinton before his State of the Union address in 1996, and right, with President Clinton in 1998

Her post sparked an immediate response with some users calling her 'hypocritical' - to defend Trump's son while also denouncing his administration's policies.

Robin Harrison Merrick wrote: 'I personally find her message convoluted... as a child of a president she of all people should not make a statement about the Trump boy's childhood while making a point about opposing his fathers policies... the two things are unrelated and should be kept separate...IMHO.'

Gina Wareham commented: 'This seems very half-hearted to me. Are you standing up for this child, or are you using it as an opportunity to make a political point?'

Others took to Twitter. Pat ‏@danu728 tweeted: '@ChelseaClinton @POTUS Should have let the comment about Barron stand on its own & tweeted separately about his father. No props due to you.'

Mick Russom ‏@mickrussom wrote: ' @ChelseaClinton @POTUS Witch! You pretend to care for Barron and in the same tweet use him as a prop to attack DT?' 

Chelsea Clinton has come to the defense of the youngest Trump, Barron, as many criticized him for his apparent lack of engagement

But many supported Clinton's decision to speak out.

In response to the Facebook post Tawana John Fischer wrote: 'Chelsea, thank you for being classy like your mama, HRC. I love that you are advocating for all children. We know that the public doesn't always remember the children of the public figures as deserving of privacy. We all remember the haters who went after you, the Bush twins and the Obama girls. Do not let us repeat the cycle. Call the POTUS out on all his lies and bad policies but leave the child alone.....only Baron I am speaking about here. The adult children are already swimming in the cr*p and are fair game for criticism just like the father.'

Cynthia Medina commented: 'Why can't people just thank Chelsea for standing up for Barron and all children of our country without bringing in her mom, dad, Bernie, Trump and other unrelated things into this conversation. Jeez its embarrassing. This message is about standing up for our children no matter what party you belong to. Thank you Chelsea Clinton for your grace and for setting an example.'

Kelsey ‏@KSkinner221 tweeted: 'Classy of @ChelseaClinton to be a voice for Barron Trump. We should all defend children regardless of their parental political affiliation.  

Many celebrities and members of the media have come under fire for statements made about Barron, 10, over the last year

Rosie O'Donnell was criticized for sharing a Youtube video that insinuated Barron, 10, may be on the autism spectrum 

Chelsea spent most of her childhood in the White House while her father Bill Clinton presided from 1993 to 2001.

Having experienced much of the criticism that comes from being in the spotlight during that time, she could certainly understand the difficulty of being a First Child.

Many celebrities and members of the media have come under fire for statements made about Barron, 10, over the last year.

Having experienced much of the criticism that comes from being in the spotlight during that time, she could certainly understand the difficulty of being a First Child

Chelsea spent most of her childhood in the White House while her father Bill Clinton presided from 1993 to 2001

Last year Rosie O'Donnell was criticized for sharing a Youtube video that insinuated Barron, 10, may be on the autism spectrum. 

Saturday Night Live writer Katie Rich received strong backlash on social media for her tweet on Friday regarding the youngest First Son after Trump's inauguration. 

Just after noon on Friday, Rich wrote: 'Barron will be this country's first homeschool shooter'.

Chelsea, seen here encouraging her father's second term as president, has received backlash for her 'hypocritical' statement 

Critics slammed the writer for her 'tasteless' joke and called her 'sick' and 'disgusting' for targeting Trump's youngest child.

Sam Janney, tweeting under the username @PolitiBunny, wrote: 'Kids are off limits...and the internet is forever. Shameful @katiemaryrich'

Dennis ONeill wrote: '@latiemaryrich what's your problem. Do you get off picking on little kids? No wonder SNL is garbage these days. You work for them.' 

Some Twitter users demanded that she apologize, while several others called for NBC to terminate her contract.

Rich deleted the tweet hours later and set her account to protected, even though that seemed to anger some social medias even more as they continued to berate her online. 

Modern Family actor Julie Bowen posted a series of lighthearted posts expressing her dismay for the new president on her Instagram on Friday.

She shared several screenshots of Barron during the inauguration - and faced a similar barrage of commenters who slammed her for singling out the boy.

Trump supporters expressed their anger at Bowen, calling her a 'pathetic celebrity' and a 'jerk'. 

HOW BULLIES TARGETED BARRON

Saturday Night Live writer Katie Rich received strong backlash on social media for her tweet on Friday regarding the youngest First Son.

She said: 'Barron Trump will be this country's first homeschool shooter.'

Rich has since deleted the tweet and made her account private.

Saturday Night Live writer Katie Rich received strong backlash on social media for her tweet on Friday regarding the youngest First Son

Rosie O'Donnell, a long-time critic of Trump, was also criticized on Twitter in November for sharing a Youtube video that suggested Barron was autistic.

The video speculated that he may have the disorder because of erratic movements he was making during one of his father's campaign speeches, characteristic of children with autism. It also suggested that his lack of awareness while on television pointed to an autistic spectrum disorder. 

O'Donnell shared the video, and said: 'Barron Trump autistic? if so - what an amazing opportunity to bring attention to the AUTISM epidemic'

O'Donnell, whose own daughter has been diagnosed with High Functioning Autism, published a statement on her website explaining her actions. 

She claimed that the tweet was meant will no ill intention, and that she had nothing against Trump's children. 

Modern Family actress Julie Bowen was among celebrities to come under fire for posting insensitive photos about Barron

Modern Family actress Julie Bowen was among celebrities to come under fire for posting insensitive photos about Barron.

Throughout the inauguration on Friday, Bowen posted a series of close-up Instagram photos of Barron's reactions - or lack thereof.

One caption said, posted with a photo of the First Son looking concerned with his hands on his head.

The caption said: 'Barron, a majority voters share your horror #barronforpresident'

Many of her followers inundated her comments claiming she was bullying the ten-year-old.  

Bowen posted one photo of Barron looking stressed, saying 'a voting majority shares your horror'

In another she said she 'couldn't blaim' Barron for being on his Gameboy

She then objected to CNN for cutting Barron out of the live stream