First Lady Melania Trump appeared on Capitol Hill on Monday and called out Democrats for not taking on the serious issue of youth online safety with the passage of the “Take it Down Act.”
Introduced by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), the first lady said during her first solo public appearance that she was there “with a common goal, to protect our youth from online harm,” calling on Congress to pass the act from Cruz that would “criminalize the distribution of non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII),” including AI-generated ”deepfake pornography,” per a Cruz office release.
“Addressing this issue is essential for fostering a safe and supportive environment for our young people,” Melania said during a panel discussion with victims of NCII. “I hope today’s roundtable builds awareness of the harm caused by non-consensual intimate imagery and eventually the approval of the ‘Take it Down Act’ in Congress.”
First Lady @FLOTUS @MELANIATRUMP on ‘Take it Down Act’: “I must admit, however, I expected to see more Democrat leaders with us here today to address this serious issue. Surely as adults we can prioritize America’s children ahead of partisan politics.” pic.twitter.com/0j9MIRv3cu
— CSPAN (@cspan) March 3, 2025
“In today’s AI-driven world, the threat of privacy breaches is alarmingly high. As organizations harness the power of our data, the risk of unauthorized access and misuse of personal information escalates,” she added. “We must prioritize robust security measures and uphold strict ethical standards to protect individual privacy.”
“I was heartened to learn that Sen. Cruz and Sen. Klobuchar [D-MN] unified to prioritize this fundamental matter. I must admit, however, I expected to see more Democrat leaders with us here today to address this serious issue. Surely, as adults we can prioritize America’s children ahead of partisan politics.”
The first lady then called on Congress to “prioritize the passage of the ‘Take it Down Act’ bill,” calling it essential to deal with the “growing concerns of online safety.”
Ahead of Monday’s roundtable, Cruz posted on X, “I am looking forward to a robust discussion with @FLOTUS.”
“My bill, the TAKE IT DOWN Act, passed unanimously in the Senate with a 100-0 vote,” he added. “This crucial legislation will protect ALL Americans, especially teenagers and young women. We need to get this done!”
The bill passed the Senate with bipartisan support in February, but has yet to pass the House, CNN noted.
During President Donald Trump’s first term, Melania introduced her “Be Best” initiative, which dealt with making the online platform safer for young people. At Monday’s event, the first lady noted that the “Take it Down Act” supports her “Be Best” platform by providing “important legislation to safeguard our youth.”
Related: Melania Trump’s Plans As First Lady Second Time Around: Report
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First Lady Melania Trump appeared on Capitol Hill on Monday and called out Democrats for not taking on the serious issue of youth online safety with the passage of the “Take it Down Act.”
Introduced by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), the first lady said during her first solo public appearance that she was there “with a common goal, to protect our youth from online harm,” calling on Congress to pass the act from Cruz that would “criminalize the distribution of non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII),” including AI-generated ”deepfake pornography,” per a Cruz office release.
“Addressing this issue is essential for fostering a safe and supportive environment for our young people,” Melania said during a panel discussion with victims of NCII. “I hope today’s roundtable builds awareness of the harm caused by non-consensual intimate imagery and eventually the approval of the ‘Take it Down Act’ in Congress.”
First Lady @FLOTUS @MELANIATRUMP on ‘Take it Down Act’: “I must admit, however, I expected to see more Democrat leaders with us here today to address this serious issue. Surely as adults we can prioritize America’s children ahead of partisan politics.” pic.twitter.com/0j9MIRv3cu
— CSPAN (@cspan) March 3, 2025
“In today’s AI-driven world, the threat of privacy breaches is alarmingly high. As organizations harness the power of our data, the risk of unauthorized access and misuse of personal information escalates,” she added. “We must prioritize robust security measures and uphold strict ethical standards to protect individual privacy.”
“I was heartened to learn that Sen. Cruz and Sen. Klobuchar [D-MN] unified to prioritize this fundamental matter. I must admit, however, I expected to see more Democrat leaders with us here today to address this serious issue. Surely, as adults we can prioritize America’s children ahead of partisan politics.”
The first lady then called on Congress to “prioritize the passage of the ‘Take it Down Act’ bill,” calling it essential to deal with the “growing concerns of online safety.”
Ahead of Monday’s roundtable, Cruz posted on X, “I am looking forward to a robust discussion with @FLOTUS.”
“My bill, the TAKE IT DOWN Act, passed unanimously in the Senate with a 100-0 vote,” he added. “This crucial legislation will protect ALL Americans, especially teenagers and young women. We need to get this done!”
The bill passed the Senate with bipartisan support in February, but has yet to pass the House, CNN noted.
During President Donald Trump’s first term, Melania introduced her “Be Best” initiative, which dealt with making the online platform safer for young people. At Monday’s event, the first lady noted that the “Take it Down Act” supports her “Be Best” platform by providing “important legislation to safeguard our youth.”
Related: Melania Trump’s Plans As First Lady Second Time Around: Report
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