On Monday, Mar. 3, 2025, Melania Trump, First Lady, made her first solo appearance during President Donald Trump’s second term. However, those watching on Fox News saw less than half of her brief remarks about combating revenge explicit photos and the rekindling of her “Be Best” campaign.
Many viewers interpreted the network’s decision to cut her off mid-speech as an apparent snub. Fox News aired about two minutes of her nearly six-minute-long speech before moving on to preview other segments.
The First Lady was on Capitol Hill to back the “Take It Down Act,” a bipartisan bill targeting revenge explicit photos and AI-generated explicit content known as “deepfakes.” The proposed legislation seeks to criminalize the online posting of intimate pictures or videos without the individual’s permission. The penalties include up to three years in prison for sharing images involving minors and two years for those involving adults.
Melania Trump used the roundtable discussion as an opportunity to shed light on the experience of 15-year-old Elliston Berry, who fell victim to explicit AI-generated images created without her consent. “They used her likeness in pornographic content solely to humiliate her,” said the First Lady.
While the First Lady was speaking, Fox News shifted their coverage away from her speech to preview other segments, including an interview with Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) about banning transgender athletes from women’s sports and news about the death of actor Gene Hackman.
President Trump seemed to be watching the broadcast, posting a Fox News link to Truth Social with the message: “Watching our First Lady now, great job!” This happened even after the network had already moved away from her speech.
In her speech, Melania expressed her gratitude to the sponsors of the bill and highlighted the cross-party collaboration. “I was heartened to learn that Senator Cruz and Senator Klobuchar united on this fundamental matter,” she remarked. “However, I expected to see more Democratic leaders here today to address this serious issue. Surely, as adults, we can prioritize America’s children ahead of partisan politics.”
She also announced the revival of her “Be Best” anti-cyberbullying initiative, which was launched during Trump’s first term. She emphasized her commitment to the initiative, underlining the importance of online safety in an era where digital interactions are an integral part of daily life.
Since President Trump’s second inauguration in January, Melania Trump’s public appearances have been limited. Aside from accompanying the president to view the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina and wildfires in California on January 24, this marked her first solo public appearance of the new term.
In a Fox News interview on January 15, Melania shared her plans for the second Trump administration. She mentioned that she would be present in the White House as well as in New York or Palm Beach as needed, emphasizing her roles as a mother, a first lady, and a wife. She added that her focus would shift towards serving the country after January 20.
Despite this, sources told People magazine that she has spent more time at Mar-a-Lago than in Washington D.C. Her office, however, has been active, recently announcing the resumption of public White House tours.
The “Take It Down Act” has already gained Senate approval and is currently awaiting the green light from the Republican-led House. If passed, it would mandate social media platforms and websites to promptly remove non-consensual explicit images, including AI-generated ones, upon notification by the victims.
At the roundtable, the First Lady painted a picture of the “toxic environment” created by revenge porn, and its “devastating” impact on young people, particularly girls. She referred to the effects as “heartbreaking” and urged lawmakers to set aside party politics and prioritize the welfare of children.
The “Be Best” campaign was originally introduced during Trump’s first term in 2018, with a focus on children’s well-being, online safety, and opioid abuse. Despite criticisms over perceived inconsistency with her husband’s social media activities, Melania has remained dedicated to the initiative.
The White House has previously acknowledged the difference in communication styles between the President and the First Lady, stating that they “often communicate differently — as most married couples do.” In contrast to Melania’s opposition to cyberbullying, President Trump is known to use social media to criticize his political adversaries.
Melania’s presence at Capitol Hill on Monday was seen as potentially instrumental in helping the “Take It Down Act” pass the House. She was back at the Capitol on Tuesday, March 4, for the president’s address to a joint session of Congress.