U.S. First Lady Melania Trump urged the legislation of a bill to combat online sexual abuse, such as 'revenge porn' and deepfakes. This is the first time Melania has taken official steps since Donald Trump assumed the presidency again.
On the 3rd (local time), according to CNN, Melania attended a discussion regarding the 'Take it down' bill, co-sponsored by Republican Senator Ted Cruz and Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar, held at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, where she appealed for support.
The bill defines the act of posting private images online without the consent of the victim as a federal crime and contains provisions requiring platforms to delete such content upon notification from the victim. The bill has passed the Senate and is currently awaiting a vote in the House.
Melania said, "It is heartbreaking to see especially young girls facing tremendous challenges due to malicious online content like deepfakes, and every young person deserves to have a safe online space where they can express themselves freely without exploitation or intimidation."
Melania appeared in a beige three-piece suit with a black tie. This marks the first time since President Trump's inauguration that Melania has made a formal speech. During Trump's first term, Melania was rarely publicly seen, earning her the nickname 'the reclusive First Lady.'