Photo: Alamy
President Donald Trump was joined by First Lady Melania Trump on Monday afternoon in the beautiful, blooming Rose Garden at the White House for a special ceremony celebrating the signing of key legislation that will protect American children and women from online harassment.
On Monday, the president signed the “Take It Down Act” into law, which will make it illegal for someone to publish or threaten to publish non-consensual pornographic images of real people created by AI, as previously reported by RSBN.
The First Lady gave brief remarks, describing the signing as a “national victory that will help parents and families protect children from online exploitation.”
“This legislation is a powerful step forward in our effort to ensure that every American, especially young people, can feel better protected,” she explained.
Mrs. Trump also pointed out how artificial intelligence and social media are the “digital candy for the next generation,” describing it as “sweet, addictive” and easily “weaponized.”
She reflected on her work in advocating for this bill, praising the resilience of Elliston Berry, a young girl targeted by her peers who orchestrated a deepfake harassment campaign that resulted in “intimate images” that were spread online.
“Elliston, your voice and the voices of so many like you made this bill a national priority,” the First Lady said.
She also said she appreciated the bipartisan nature of the legislation, thanking the lawmakers in the audience for their willingness to “prioritize people over politics” on this issue.
Additionally, Mrs. Trump said the “Take It Down Act” reflected the values of her “Be Best” initiative, which is focused on improving the well-being of children, fostering kindness, and curating safe online environments for kids.
“I want to thank my husband, President Trump, for standing with us in this effort,” she said, noting that this legislation affirmed that the “well-being of our children is central” to the future of American families.
In his remarks, President Trump thanked his wife for her strong work on helping get the legislation passed, praising her as a “dedicated and compassionate First Lady” who was able to foster a bipartisan spirit in Congress.
“Bipartisanship is still possible,” he said.
The First Lady has spent the last several months advocating for this bill, which was sponsored by Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Congresswoman Maria Salazar, R-Fla., and other key Republicans.
In early March, Mrs. Trump held a roundtable in Washington, D.C., with members of Congress to discuss the legislation’s importance and urge the House to pass it.
