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By Natalie Venegas and Gabe Whisnant
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First lady Melania Trump called out congressional Democrats during a Capitol Hill Roundtable on Monday afternoon over a bill that would criminalize the sharing of intimate imagery online without consent.
Why It Matters
Monday's roundtable marks Melania's first major solo public appearance since resuming her role as first lady on January 20. She visited Capitol Hill to advocate for the "Take It Down Act," a bill aimed at criminalizing the non-consensual posting of intimate images online, including deepfakes.
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If the "Take It Down Act" becomes law, social media platforms would be required to remove such images within 48 hours of a victim's request and take steps to delete duplicate content.
While the first lady has made few public appearances since the inauguration, her participation today highlights her commitment to online safety, a focus she previously championed through her "Be Best" initiative during her husband, Donald Trump's, first term.
What To Know
In a discussion about the "Take It Down Act," which passed the Senate in February, the first lady praised Senator Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat, for working with Senator Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, on the bipartisan bill.
However, she then expressed disappointment about the lack of Democrats in attendance at Monday's roundtable.
"I was heartened to learn that Senator Cruz and Senator Klobuchar unified to prioritize this fundamental matter, but I must admit, however, I expected to see more Democrat leaders here today to address this serious issue. Surely, as adults we can prioritize America's children ahead of partisan politics," she said.
It's unclear if Klobuchar was in attendance at Monday's roundtable, but the bill is co-sponsored by the Democratic senator.
Newsweek has reached out to Klobuchar's office via email for comment.
Melania's remarks come as Representative Ro Khanna, a California Democrat, was the only Democratic lawmaker at the event, which took place in the U.S. Capitol building.
In an emailed statement to Newsweek, Khanna called the bill "commonsense" and "bipartisan," adding that he was glad to join Melania and other lawmakers at the event.
"The Take it Down Act is a commonsense, bipartisan bill to protect Americans from the harms of intimate images being shared online without consent. I was glad to join Senator Cruz, Rep. Salazar, and First Lady Melania Trump for this important conversation about public safety," Khanna said.
Cruz, who participated in the discussion, highlighted the inspiration behind the bill—a visit to his office by Elliston Berry and her mother, who struggled for nearly a year to remove an artificial intelligence (AI)-generated, nonconsensual graphic image from Snapchat. The legislation addresses real and computer-generated intimate imagery, including so-called "deepfakes."
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, also attended the roundtable and expressed his support for the bill but offered no timetable for a vote.
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What People Are Saying
First lady Melania Trump wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on X on Monday: "BE BEST: On my way to The Hill to advocate for the Take It Down Act bill. I urge Congress to pass this important legislation to safeguard our youth."
Republican Senator Ted Cruz wrote on X on Monday: "I am looking forward to a robust discussion with @FLOTUS. My bill, the TAKE IT DOWN Act, passed unanimously in the Senate with a 100-0 vote. This crucial legislation will protect ALL Americans, especially teenagers and young women. We need to get this done!"
Meta communications director Andy Stone wrote on X on Monday: "Meta supports @SenTedCruz & @SenAmyKlobuchar's TAKE IT DOWN Act, and we appreciate that @FLOTUS is highlighting the issue. 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."
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said Monday: "We are anxious to put it on the floor in the House, to get it to President Trump's desk for his signature because we've got to do what we can to stop this, and I am a full supporter of it."
What Happens Next?
The House, under Republican control, has yet to take up the measure. However, Melania's public endorsement could bolster its chances of reaching President Trump's desk for his signature.
Meanwhile, the first lady will return to the Capitol on Tuesday for her husband's primetime address to a joint session of Congress.
Update 3/3/25, 3:20 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
Update 3/3/25, 3:33 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
Update 3/3/25, 6:50 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
Update 3/4/25, 7:42 p.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from Khanna.
Reporting by the Associated Press contributed to this article.
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