Melania Trump Supports New Act Targeting Nonconsensual Image Sharing Issues

First Lady Melania Trump returns to public advocacy with a critical mission to protect America’s youth from digital exploitation, urging immediate bipartisan support for the Take It Down Act while pointedly noting Democratic absences from critical discussions.

Quick Takes

First Lady Melania Trump is advocating for the “Take It Down Act” to combat non-consensual sharing of intimate images, including AI-generated deepfakes.
The bipartisan bill would make sharing intimate images without consent a federal crime and require platforms to remove such content within 48 hours.
While the legislation has passed the Senate with sponsors including Ted Cruz and Amy Klobuchar, it still awaits House approval.
Melania Trump expressed disappointment over limited Democratic participation in the roundtable discussion, emphasizing children’s safety should transcend partisan politics.
Major tech companies including Meta (parent of Facebook and Instagram) have voiced support for the legislation.

Protecting America’s Youth in the Digital Age

First Lady Melania Trump made her first solo public appearance since resuming her role on January 20, hosting a roundtable on Capitol Hill to advocate for the Take It Down Act. This bipartisan legislation aims to criminalize the posting of intimate imagery online without consent and would require social media platforms to remove such content within 48 hours of a victim’s request. The bill specifically targets both real and AI-generated images, addressing the growing concern of technology being used to create fake but realistic compromising photos of individuals.

During her address, the First Lady emphasized the particular vulnerability of teenagers, especially young girls, to this form of digital exploitation. The legislation has already passed in the Senate under the sponsorship of Republican Senator Ted Cruz and Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar, but still requires approval from the Republican-controlled House. Melania’s involvement could prove influential in moving the legislation forward, building on her previous “Be Best” initiative during her first term as First Lady, which focused on children’s well-being and online safety.

Melania's day at the Capital – supporting a bill to protect women from deepfake explicit images 🖤 pic.twitter.com/X8vUoxSFLv

— Keeping Up With The Trumps (@KUWTTRUMPS) March 3, 2025

Bipartisan Support and Democratic Absence

While the Take It Down Act has garnered bipartisan support in the Senate, the First Lady expressed disappointment at the lack of Democratic leadership present at the roundtable discussion. In her remarks, she directly addressed this absence, suggesting that children’s safety should transcend political divisions. The bill has gained notable momentum following a case involving a nonconsensual AI-generated image shared on Snapchat, highlighting the real-world implications of insufficient protections against digital exploitation.

Senator Ted Cruz, a co-sponsor of the bill, has been vocal about its importance, stating during the discussions that “No one should have to experience the pain, humiliation, and trauma that so many Americans have at the hands of AI deepfakes.” The legislation has also received support from tech industry leaders, with Meta spokesperson Andy Stone expressing the company’s commitment to preventing the sharing of intimate images without consent, whether real or AI-generated.

Existing Protections and Federal Implementation

Some states have already enacted similar protections. In Florida, for example, non-consensual pornography is classified as a serious offense carrying penalties of up to five years in prison. The federal bill, however, faces potential challenges regarding jurisdiction. Attorney Spencer Kuvin noted that for federal courts to uphold such legislation, there would need to be a clear connection to interstate commerce, as this provides the constitutional basis for federal regulation in this area.

The First Lady’s advocacy marks a significant step in addressing the evolving challenges of the digital landscape, particularly as AI technology makes it increasingly difficult to distinguish between authentic and manufactured content. By focusing on this issue, Melania Trump is continuing her work on digital safety for young Americans while establishing a distinct policy focus for her second term as First Lady. As technology continues to advance, legislation like the Take It Down Act represents an important effort to ensure that legal protections keep pace with potential avenues for exploitation.