Melania Trump makes rare public speech on dangers of revenge porn

Melania Trump made the first public remarks of her second tenure as first lady on Monday,  speaking out against revenge porn and deep fakes generated by AI.

In her speech, she slammed Democrats for their lack of support on the issue.

'I expected to see more Democrat leaders with us here today to address this serious issue. Surely as adults, we can prioritize America's children ahead of partisan politics,' she said. 

Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California was the only Democratic lawmaker at the event, which took place in the U.S. Capitol building.

Melania Trump also used the event to relaunch her Be Best initiative.

'In today's AI-driven world, the threat of privacy breaches is alarmingly high,' she noted.  'As First Lady, my commitment to the Be Best initiative underscores the importance of online safety. In an era where digital interactions are integral to daily life, it is imperative that we safeguard children from mean-spirited and hurtful online behavior.'

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Republican Senator Ted Cruz led the roundtable discussion, where the first lady heard from teenage girls who were victims of fake online pornography using AI.

Cruz sponsored the Take It Down Act, which increases protections for victims of non-consensual sharing of sexual images known as 'revenge pornography' and that includes content generated by artificial intelligence, also known as deepfake porn. 

It also requires websites to make a reasonable effort to take down the images within 48 hours of a complaint being filed.

One of the victims will be the first lady guest on Tuesday night when President Donald Trump addresses a Joint Session of Congress.  

Elliston Berry, 15, will sit in Melania's box. Her mother and stepfather Mark and Anna McAdams will also be there.

Elliston said she was just 14 when a classmate used AI to edit a photo from social media into a nude photo with her head attached to it. 

'I was 14 years old when I was violated all over social media,' she said.

'I came here today to not only promote this bill but to fight for the many survivors. It is so inspiring to know that my voice is being heard, giving hope to not only me, to all the many people that have been affected by this. It is truly so amazing how this awful situation has turned to good,' she added.

Melania Trump joined others in the room in giving Elliston a round of applause. 

Senator Cruz noted Elliston is from Texas and that his how he became aware of the issue – when her mom called his office.

'Elliston's mom said she had called Snapchat, she emailed them, she tried repeatedly take this garbage down of my daughter, and she'd got no response at all, no movement,' Cruz said.

He then personally called the CEO of Snapchat and got the images removed.

'It should not take a sitting senator or sitting member of Congress picking up the phone to get a picture down or a video down. It should be the right of every American, every teenage girl victimized, should have the right to get this garbage taken down, and this bill will give them that right as a matter of federal law,' he said. 

Cruz also noted he was 'confident that when this bill is signed into law' each of the victims present would get invited to the signing ceremony and get one of the pens used by President Trump to sign it.

He noted that 'they're big pens.'

The senator then said to the first lady: 'Your husband does nothing small.'

Melania laughed in response.

Speaker Mike Johnson joined the first lady to hear from the victims. 

He and the first lady chatted after the event. 

And Cruz took a photo with Elliston Berry, 15, and Francesca Mani, 16. Both girls testified about their experiences. The first lady chatted with them and their parents for several minutes.

Melania Trump told them: 'Keep up the good work. Stay strong.' 

Melania Trump will be back on Capitol Hill on Tuesday night for President  Trump's Joint Address to Congress. She'll hosts guests in her box in the House chamber.