On Monday, Melania Trump visited Capitol Hill to advocate for legislation making it a federal offense to distribute intimate images online—whether real or artificial intelligence (AI)-created—without consent, and compel tech companies to quickly remove such content. This marked her first solo public appearance since she resumed her duties as first lady on January 20.
Melania voiced her concerns over the distress teenagers and, in particular, young girls face when targeted by malicious and explicit online content. She urged Congress to focus on safeguarding the well-being of the youth. “This toxic environment can be severely damaging. We must prioritize their well-being by equipping them with the support and tools necessary to navigate this hostile digital landscape,” she expressed during a roundtable discussion at the U.S. Capitol about the “Take It Down Act.”
The “Take It Down Act,” proposed by Senators Ted Cruz of Texas and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, successfully passed in the Senate in February. With Melania’s public endorsement, the bill could gain the momentum needed to pass the Republican-majority House and reach President Donald Trump’s desk for ratification.
Ted Cruz was present for the discussion in the Capitol’s Mansfield Room, alongside online safety proponents and victims of non-consensual intimate image exploitation. Cruz highlighted that the bill drew inspiration from Elliston Berry and her mother, who faced challenges in getting Snapchat to remove an AI-generated explicit image without consent for nearly a year. “No one should have to experience the pain, humiliation, and trauma that so many Americans have at the hands of AI deepfakes,” Cruz commented.
The legislation, which has the support of major tech entities like Meta (the parent company of Facebook and Instagram), prescribes that knowingly posting or threatening to post intimate imagery without consent is a crime. It further mandates social media platforms to remove such images within 48 hours upon the victim’s request and prevent re-emergence of similar content. “Having an intimate image—real or AI-generated—shared without consent can be devastating, and Meta developed and backs many efforts to help prevent it,” stated Andy Stone, Meta’s communications director, on X.
During the previous Trump administration, Melania led an initiative called “Be Best,” which among other priorities, focused on online safety. She has expressed interest in revitalizing the program under her continued role.
Since the start of her tenure, Melania Trump has kept a low public profile, with a few appearances such as accompanying her husband to inspect disaster-stricken areas in North Carolina and California soon after the inauguration, and attending a black-tie dinner with the country’s governors in the White House on February 22. She is also expected to be present at the Capitol on Tuesday for President Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress.
