Boy, 11, relentlessly bullied over last name — Trump — and 'doesn't want to live feeling like that anymore'

The parents of Joshua Trump told WPVI-TV their son began getting bullied when Donald Trump began running for office.

It got so bad that his father, Bobby Berto, took drastic action.

"I pulled him out of school and home-schooled him for a year," Berto told the station.

Joshua's parents figured things would be better for their son when he got a grade older and started going to Talley Middle School in Wilmington, Delaware, WPVI reported.

Image source: WPVI-TV video screenshot

But for Joshua, now 11, it's been the same frustrating story.

'They curse at him, they call him an idiot, they call him stupid'

"They curse at him, they call him an idiot, they call him stupid," his mother, Megan Trump, told the station.

Image source: WPVI-TV video screenshot

"He was getting ridiculed and bullied for the fact that his last name was Trump," Berto added to WPVI, which noted that Joshua isn't related to the president.

Image source: WPVI-TV video screenshot

Joshua's parents told the station the Brandywine School District wasn't addressing the bullying and they met with school officials and teachers to tell them about their son's past problems.

Mark Mayer, principal of Talley Middle School, acknowledged the situation in an interview with WPVI.

"I do know the teachers were aware of the last name, and I know in speaking with the student that the teachers do their very best to try not to say his last name," Mayer told the station.

Image source: WPVI-TV video screenshot

But Joshua's parents told WPVI the bullying didn't stop — and things started getting frightening.

"He said he hates himself, and he hates his last name, and he feels sad all the time, and he doesn't want to live feeling like that anymore," Megan Trump tearfully recounted to the station, "and as a parent that's scary."

Maybe some hope?

Mayer told WPVI that after a recent meeting with Joshua's parents, an investigation identified five students who were then disciplined.

"They were apologetic, and they did say that they were sorry," Mayer added to the station.

A big change

The principal and Joshua's family met again Tuesday morning, WPVI said, and the school agreed to immediately change Joshua's last name to his father's name in their system.

Image source: WPVI-TV video screenshot

They also are working on providing Joshua with extra support so he feels comfortable reporting any future incident, the station said.

(H/T: EAG News)