One can imagine that it is not easy being the child of the American president. However, the children of the presidential family have no other choice. Although having the president of one of the most powerful countries in the world as a father certainly has its advantages, being constantly in the center of attention and under the scrutiny of the public causes a lot of pressure. Just remember the comments about Chelsea Clinton, Sasha and Malia Obama and Barron Trump.
That said, presidents’ children must follow strict rules that affect everything from their behavior in public to their choice of school to their daily routine at home. Click through some of the rules presidential children must follow.
2/28 photos
© Getty Images
Opening windows is prohibited!
One of the strictest rules for the President’s children and the entire family is that they are not allowed to open a window anywhere in the White House or in a car.
3/28 photos
© Getty Images
Opening windows is prohibited!
Even if that doesn’t sound bad at first, imagine not being able to get some fresh air whenever you want.
4/28 photos
© Getty Images
They should not hold official roles in the administration
5/28 photos
© Getty Images
They should not hold official roles in the administration
His eldest daughter, Ivanka Trump, took on a role as special adviser to the president, handling many non-specific tasks, while her husband, Jared Kushner, became director of the now-defunct Office of American Innovation.
6/28 photos
© Getty Images
They should not hold official roles in the administration
In 1967, Congress passed an anti-nepotism law that “prohibits the President from appointing family members to serve in any office or agency over which he presides.”
7/28 photos
© Getty Images
They should not hold official roles in the administration
However, Jared and Ivanka did not violate this law, as it does not prevent the president’s children from working as unpaid advisers. And that is precisely how they justified their roles in the White House.
8/28 photos
© Getty Images
They are expected to attend private schools
However, this is not because private schools provide a better education, but because they can provide greater security for the president’s children and reduce confrontation with the public.
9/28 photos
© Getty Images
They are expected to attend private schools
However, this rule was broken in 1977 when President Jimmy Carter enrolled his nine-year-old daughter Amy in a public school in Washington DC.
10/28 photos
© Getty Images
You must always be accompanied by the Secret Service
Just like the President and his wife, the President’s children must always be accompanied by the Secret Service when they leave the White House.
11/28 photos
© Getty Images
You must always be accompanied by the Secret Service
Just like their parents, even former presidential children must be accompanied by the Secret Service until they are at least 16 years old.
12/28 photos
© Getty Images
You must participate in certain events, such as Easter egg rolling
Although presidential children are not supposed to take on official roles, they are still expected to attend certain White House events.
13/28 photos
© Getty Images
You must participate in certain events, such as Easter egg rolling
One of these events is the White House Easter Egg Roll, which has been around since 1878 and was first held under President Rutherford B. Hayes.
14/28 photos
© Getty Images
Riding in a friend’s car is usually not allowed
This rule does not apply to all presidential children, but was enforced for Sasha and Malia Obama.
15/28 photos
© Getty Images
Riding in a friend’s car is usually not allowed
For safety reasons, the two never took public transportation or rode with friends during their teenage years.
16/28 photos
© Getty Images
Riding in a friend’s car is usually not allowed
In fact, they weren’t even allowed to be driven by Barack Obama, since presidents aren’t allowed to drive on public roads. However, the president did allow Malia’s prom dance partner to drive them there (with the Secret Service, of course).
17/28 photos
© Getty Images
You must attend formal events
At formal events, the public’s attention is also on the children and their every action is scrutinized.
18/28 photos
© Getty Images
You must attend formal events
As a child, Amy Carter was once criticized for showing up at a state banquet with books to combat boredom.
19/28 photos
© Getty Images
You must attend formal events
Because of the strict rules of conduct and etiquette, many presidential families after Carter’s term in office tried to keep their children away from these official functions as much as possible.
20/28 photos
© Getty Images
You are not allowed to keep expensive gifts
Being part of the presidential family also has its advantages, such as receiving gifts from visiting dignitaries and other guests.
21/28 photos
© Getty Images
You are not allowed to keep expensive gifts
Unfortunately, many gifts to the presidential family are considered government property and placed in the National Archives.
22/28 photos
© Getty Images
You are not allowed to keep expensive gifts
Sasha and Malia Obama were not allowed to keep the national jerseys that former Chancellor Angela Merkel brought them.
23/28 photos
© Getty Images
You are not allowed to keep expensive gifts
They were also not allowed to keep the national jerseys signed by Lionel Messi, which were given to them by former Argentine President Mauricio Macri.
24/28 photos
© Getty Images
Presidents’ children are not allowed to eat what they want
A common misconception about life in the White House is that the presidential family is served endless amounts of extravagant food.
25/28 photos
© Getty Images
Presidents’ children are not allowed to eat what they want
While it is possible to be served exquisite food at every meal, the President and his wife are expected to pay for their own meals.
26/28 photos
© Getty Images
Presidents’ children are not allowed to eat what they want
Without their parents’ permission, children are unlikely to be served the finest fillet steaks or caviar.
27/28 photos
© Getty Images
You must not have public accounts on social networks
There is hardly a teenager these days who does not have a public profile on social networks. However, the president’s children are supposed to stay away from the public eye on the networks and instead set them to private.
28/28 photos
© Getty Images
You must not have public accounts on social networks
