First Lady Melania Trump Criticizes Democrats' Absence at Revenge Porn Bill Meeting

At a Capitol Hill roundtable meeting on Monday about the bipartisan "Take It Down Act," First Lady Melania Trump voiced frustration and surprise at the lack of Democratic participation. The event was intended to discuss a significant legislative effort aimed at criminalizing the nonconsensual sharing of intimate images over the internet—commonly known as "revenge porn."

The legislation specifically targets situations where individuals' intimate or private photos are shared online without their permission. Additionally, in light of increasingly sophisticated artificial intelligence technology, the bill seeks to outlaw the nonconsensual creation and sharing of AI-generated intimate images, also known as deepfakes. Senator Ted Cruz, who attended the event, indicated that the legislation had been partly inspired by a young woman named Elliston Berry, who spent a year battling to have a nonconsensual AI-generated image removed from Snapchat.

Melania Trump's criticism was not aimed at the specifics of the proposed legislation, but rather at the noticeable absence of prominent Democrats, particularly given that the legislation had enjoyed bipartisan support. The First Lady referenced a Senate effort co-led by Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar and Republican Senator Ted Cruz and expressed her expectation that more Democratic leaders would prioritize attending the roundtable discussion.

Responding to this matter, Senator Klobuchar indicated her strong support for the legislation, despite not personally attending the event. Klobuchar emphasized the importance of providing legal protections for victims of online abuse, particularly given the emerging risks posed by advanced digital technologies such as deepfakes. She also expressed appreciation for the First Lady's advocacy on this critical issue.

Highlighting the necessity of protecting the well-being of youth online, Melania Trump underscored the need for young individuals to have access to safe digital environments free from fear of exploitation or harm. Prior to the roundtable, she had publicly urged Congress on social media to enact the bill to ensure better protections against digital victimization for American teenagers and young women.

The "Take It Down Act" has already garnered unanimous support in the Senate, passing 100-0. Senator Cruz prominently voiced his backing for the legislation, emphasizing that its passage would safeguard all Americans and urging prompt action to finalize the bill.