Barron Trump, 17, towers over family members at grandmother's funeral

Though he has remained largely out of the limelight in recent years, Barron Trump, the teenage son of former President Donald Trump and former first lady Melania Trump, stunned onlookers with his impressive 6'7” stature as he attended his grandmother's funeral in Florida, as the U.S. Mirror reported.

Barron Trump, 17, cut a striking figure while standing together with his mother, father, and grandfather outside the Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea in Palm Beach Florida on Thursday, towering over all of them.

Pray for Melania, Donald and Barron Trump🙏 pic.twitter.com/T0rFk7NAR5

— MAGA LADY (@NuclearMAGALady) January 19, 2024

Though both of Barron's parents are tall themselves -- with the former president reportedly measuring an impressive 6' 3” himself, the young man's height caught many observers off guard, particularly those who have not seen recent images of the former first son.

The funeral service for Amalija Knavs, Mrs. Trump's mother, was surely a very solemn occasion for Barron, as he reportedly enjoyed close relationship to both of his maternal grandparents, even learning to speak Slovenian during time spent with them.

Dating back to at least 2017, Mr. and Mrs. Knavs resided in Turmp Tower together with Melania and Barron Trump, and it was reported that they also spent substantial time in Florida at Mar-a-Lago and at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey.

An insider close to Melania Trump told PEOPLE last year that Mr. and Mrs. Knavs have been “instrumental in [Barron's] rearing” throughout his childhood.

The former president offered fond reminiscences of his mother-in-law days ago during a rally in Iowa, noting how much his youngest son enjoyed the Slovenian delicacies she regularly cooked for him. “That's how he got so tall, he only ate her food,” Trump humorously recalled.

While Barron's height might suggest to some that his future could be on the basketball court, the former president declared that soccer was actually his game of choice.

“I said you're gonna be a basketball player,” the former commander in chief explained to the crowd, but noted that Barron replied, “well, I like soccer dad, actually.”

In addition to indulging his love of sports, Barron Trump has attended some of the most prestigious in the country, including Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School in Manhattan, Maryland's St. Andrew's Episcopal School, and Oxbridge Academy in Florida.

While Barron's upbringing was shaped largely by his mother and grandparents, the former president has been outspoken when it comes to the pride he feels for his son, telling rallygoers that he is “smart” and prepared to “do a good job.”

With those attributes coming to the forefront, insiders have suggested that Barron Trump may be poised to take a more active role in his father's presidential campaign and all that will entail in the coming year, as the New York Post noted.

The young man's increased recent visibility -- perhaps initiated by his December appearance at a Mar-a-Lago holiday party – is, according to a former top aide to Mrs. Trump, a sign of things to come. “Barron's appearance is truly monumental...I believe we will be seeing more of him now. Nothing happens by chance with Melania,” the onetime insider observed.