First Lady Melania Trump made her first solo public appearance since her husband’s return to office, paying a visit to Capitol Hill on Monday to advocate for the “Take It Down” Act during a Congressional roundtable. The bipartisan legislation, sponsored by Senators Ted Cruz and Amy Klobuchar, aims to make it a federal crime to post non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII)—aka “revenge porn”—online and requires tech companies to remove such content swiftly.
The First Lady expressed concern over the impact of online exploitation on young people, emphasizing the need for a safe digital environment.
“Addressing this issue is essential for fostering a safe and supportive environment for our young people,” Trump said during the panel discussion, which included victims of NCII. “I hope today’s roundtable builds awareness of the harm caused by non-consensual intimate imagery and eventually the approval of the ‘Take it Down Act’ in Congress.”
“In today’s AI-driven world, the threat of privacy breaches is alarmingly high. As organizations harness the power of our data, the risk of unauthorized access and misuse of personal information escalates,” she continued. “We must prioritize robust security measures and uphold strict ethical standards to protect individual privacy.”
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Trump went on to praise Senators Cruz and Klobuchar for their bipartisan collaboration, but she also criticized other members of the Democratic Party for failing to attend the event.
“I was heartened to learn that Sen. Cruz and Sen. Klobuchar unified to prioritize this fundamental matter,” she said. “I must admit, however, 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.”
First Lady @FLOTUS @MELANIATRUMP on 'Take it Down Act': "I must admit, however, 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." pic.twitter.com/0j9MIRv3cu
— CSPAN (@cspan) March 3, 2025
The Take It Down Act passed the Republican-led Senate last month by a unanimous vote, but it has yet to be put up for a vote in the House. Nevertheless, the bill has garnered support from both parties, with 11 of its 21 co-sponsors being Democrats. It is expected to pass the House as well, with Speaker Mike Johnson throwing his full support behind the initiative.
“If you’re a victim of revenge porn or AI-generated explicit imagery, your life changes forever,” Senator Cruz said during the event. “Most likely you’ve been targeted by someone you know, and you’re likely struggling to have that material removed from the internet. Disturbingly, many of these victims are teenagers at American high schools who are facing a surge in AI-generated sexual images. Hundreds of teens, often targeted by their own classmates, are enduring senseless psychological harm.”
“The Take It Down Act empowers victims across the entire United States,” he added. “It makes it a felony for these deviants to publish any nonconsensual intimate images, including fake, lifelike pornographic images of real people.”
If the act is passed, sharing NCII material, whether real or AI-generated, could carry a prison sentence of up to three years, with additional time added for threat offenses against minors.
The First Lady’s involvement could be crucial in advancing the bill through the Republican-controlled House and to President Trump’s desk for potential enactment. She has previously led initiatives focusing on youth online safety and aims to revive these efforts.
Connor Walcott is the lead writer for Valuetainment.com. Follow Connor on X and look for him on VT’s “The Unusual Suspects.”
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