First Lady Melania Trump pushed for a bill to criminalize revenge pornography during her first solo second-term act and took a jab at Democrats for not attending the roundtable discussion on Monday.
During a roundtable discussion, Melania Trump pushed for Congress to pass the “Take it Down Act,” which would make it a federal crime to publish or threaten to publish nonconsensual intimate imagery, including “digital forgeries” made possible by artificial intelligence.
“The widespread presence of abusive behavior in the digital domain affects the daily lives of our children, families, and communities,” the first lady said during the roundtable. “Addressing this issue is essential for fostering a safe and supportive environment for our young people.”
“Every young person deserves a safe online space to express themselves free without the looming threat of exploitation or harm,” Trump added.
The roundtable included testimony from victims and advocates, but key Democrats who sponsored the legislation were not in attendance, which the first lady called out during her remarks. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) was the only Democratic lawmaker in the room.
“I must admit I expected to see more Democratic leaders with us today to address this serious issue,” she said. “Surely as adults, we can prioritize America’s children ahead of partisan politics.”
In the first Trump administration, Melania Trump led an initiative called “Be Best,” which focused on online safety, and indicated on Monday that she’s interested in reviving those efforts.
“As First Lady, my commitment to the Be Best initiative underscores the importance of online safety in an era where digital interactions are internal daily life. It is imperative that we safeguard children from mean-spirited and hurtful online behavior,” she added.
The bill, sponsored by Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), passed in the Senate in February and would require special media platforms to remove such images within 48 hours of a victim’s request.
If passed, the legislation would enforce penalties of up to three years in prison for sharing nonconsensual intimate images, whether they are authentic or AI-generated. The bill would also require penalties of up to two and a half years in prison for threat offenses involving minors, and one and a half years in prison for threats involving adults. It was introduced in the House by Reps. Maria Salazar (R-FL) and Madeleine Dean (D-PA) in January.
MELANIA TRUMP TO SHORE UP HILL SUPPORT FOR DEEPFAKE REGULATIONS IN FIRST ACT OF SECOND TERM
Cruz, who thanked his Democratic cosponsors during his remarks, called on his House colleagues to pass the legislation and send it to President Donald Trump’s desk to become law.
“Just three weeks ago, the Senate unanimously passed the Take It Down Act, and now it goes to my house colleagues, and I have every assurance and confidence that the House will take this up and pass it and put it on the president’s desk so we can protect the victims of these predators,” Cruz said.
Cruz said the measure was inspired by Elliston Berry, who was just fourteen years old when Snapchat refused to remove an AI-generated nonconsensual graphic image that was posted of her for nearly a year.
“I share my story to give victims a voice they never heard and to change this horrible situation into something good,” Berry said during the roundtable discussion.
