First Lady Melania Trump Spoke at a Cyberbullying Summit While the President Tweeted Insults
First Lady Melania Trump is once again speaking out about one of the key components of her Be Best initiative: cyberbullying. But her comments are ringing a little ironic to many, given her husband’s propensity to, well, cyberbully.
Trump delivered her remarks on Monday at a cyberbullying prevention summit in Maryland, stressing the “responsible” use of social media platforms. “I know many of you are here representing social media companies, federal agencies, educational organizations, youth programs, and law enforcement,” she said. “I also know we share one goal—to pave a smooth way forward for our children, our next generation. I launched my Be Best campaign in May, with a focus on the many issues facing children today—one of them being the safe and responsible use of social media.”
She continued with what proved to be one the most discussed lines of her brief speech, especially since Donald Trump’s presidency has been riddled daily with Twitter attacks posted from his official account: “In today’s global society, social media is an inevitable part of our children’s daily lives. It can be used in many positive ways, but can also be destructive and harmful when used incorrectly. That is why Be Best chooses to focus on the importance of teaching our next generation how to conduct themselves safely and in a positive manner in an online setting.”
As if on cue (and in yet another seemingly public contradiction) President Trump spent part of his morning tweeting insults at Robert Mueller and former CIA Director John Brennan, using language like “disgraced,” “discredited,” “hack,” and “worst CIA Director in our country’s history.”
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1031503298967363586
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https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1031544711717302272
The First Lady has been taking heat for her cyberbullying platform since she first spoke about it during the 2016 campaign—and it certainly isn’t going to go away when Donald Trump’s tweets keep presenting the couple at opposite sides of the issue’s spectrum.
It didn’t take long for people on social media to call out this latest round of contradictions—and for the First Lady’s spokeswoman to fire back. “Rather than dissecting her remarks, let’s focus on the countless children who struggle w bullying & online safety each day,” Stephanie Grisham tweeted in response to criticism.
https://twitter.com/StephGrisham45/status/1031541441745616896
The White House pool reporters traveling with the First Lady asked why she continues to be engaged in the cyberbullying issue when the President uses Twitter to insult his detractors (and then some). Grisham replied: “The First Lady’s presence at events such as today’s cyberbullying summit elevates an issue that is important to children and families across this country. She is aware of the criticism but it will not deter her from doing what she feels is right. The President is proud of her commitment to children and encourages her in all that she does.”
Still, it’s hard not to question if the First Lady is again publicly contradicting her husband, or if she just doesn’t see the initiative as irony.
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