First Lady Melania Trump made her first solo appearance of President Donald Trump’s second term on March 3, 2025. She spoke about her “Be Best” initiative and the fight against revenge-explicit photos. However, Fox News aired less than half of her brief remarks.
Many viewers considered the network’s decision to cut away from her mid-sentence remarks as an apparent snub.
Melania supported the bipartisan “Take It Down Act” on Capitol Hill. The bill aims to criminalize revenge explicit photos and “deepfakes,” or AI-generated explicit content. It would make posting intimate images or videos without consent a federal crime, with penalties of up to three years for sharing images involving minors and two years for adults.
During the roundtable discussion, Melania emphasized the case of 15-year-old Elliston Berry. Berry’s face was used without her consent in explicit AI-generated images. “They used her likeness in pornographic content solely to humiliate her,” Melania Trump stated emphatically.
Though Melania spoke for nearly six minutes, Fox News aired only about two minutes of her remarks before shifting to other segments. This included a segment with Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) about banning transgender athletes from women’s sports and an update about actor Gene Hackman’s death.
Despite Fox News cutting away from her speech, President Trump indicated he was watching, posting a link to Fox News on Truth Social with the message: “Watching our First Lady now, great job!”
During her remarks, Melania expressed gratitude to the bill’s sponsors and highlighted the bipartisan cooperation on the issue. “I was heartened to learn that Senator Cruz and Senator Klobuchar united on this fundamental matter,” she said. “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.”
The First Lady also announced the return of her “Be Best” anti-cyberbullying platform, initially launched during the first Trump administration. She highlighted the importance of online safety and the need to protect children from harmful online behavior.
Melania’s public presence has been limited since her husband’s second inauguration in January. This marked her first solo public appearance of the new term, despite accompanying the president on tours of North Carolina and California disaster sites on January 24.
In a January 15 Fox News interview, Melania outlined her plans for the second Trump administration. She stated her priority was being a mother, first lady, and wife and that she would serve the country after January 20. Despite this, sources told the media that Melania has spent more time at Mar-a-Lago than in Washington, D.C.
The “Take It Down Act” has passed the Senate and awaits approval in the Republican-controlled House. If approved, the bill would compel social media platforms and websites to promptly remove non-consensual intimate images, including AI-generated explicit photos, once notified by victims.
During the roundtable, Melania talked about the “toxic environment” and “devastating” impact of revenge porn on young people, particularly girls. She found the effects “heartbreaking” and called on Congress to prioritize children’s well-being over partisan politics.
The “Be Best” initiative, launched in 2018, focuses on children’s well-being, online safety, and opioid abuse. Despite criticism due to her husband’s social media behavior, Melania has remained steadfast in her commitment to the campaign.
The White House previously recognized the Trumps’ different communication styles, noting that “the President and First Lady often communicate differently—as most married couples do.” While Melania has consistently condemned cyberbullying, President Trump frequently uses social media to criticize opponents.
Melania’s appearance at Capitol Hill on Monday was seen as potentially influential in helping the “Take It Down Act” pass the Republican-controlled House. She returned to the Capitol on Tuesday, March 4, for the president’s address to a joint session of Congress.
