First Lady Melania Trump, who is addressing cyberbullying as part of her signature “Be Best Initiative,” says in an upcoming television interview that she’s “the most bullied person” in the world — a claim that was immediately pilloried on social media
The famously private first lady made the comments to ABC News during her recent trip to four African countries. In excerpts of the interview aired Thursday on the network’s “Good Morning America” program, Mrs. Trump said her own experience as the target of bullies helped shape the Be Best campaign.
The interview, “Being Melania – The First Lady,” airs on ABC at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Friday.
The first lady’s decision to champion online civility is notable in part because President Trump often uses Twitter to attack his critics. The juxtaposition was especially stark in August, when Mrs. Trump spoke at a cyberbullying prevention summit as her husband lashed out on Twitter at his political enemies.
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Besides cyberbullying, the Be Best Initiative also aims to curb opioid abuse and focuses on other childhood well-being issues— themes Mrs. Trump promoted during the tour through Ghana, Malawi, Kenya and Egypt.
“You’re really the most bullied person in the world?” ABC News’ Chief National Affairs Correspondent Tom Llamas pressed the first lady during the interview
“One of them — if you really see what people are saying about me,” she replied.
“That’s why Be Best is focusing on online behavior and social media,” she added. “We need to educate the children [about] social, emotional behavior.”
Vilified, But Is It Bullying?
Mrs. Trump may, in fact, be remembered as one of the most vilified, scorned and mocked first ladies in history. Her dignity has certainly been injured in scandals that even Hillary Clinton — who as first lady was publicly embarrassed by the Bill Clinton-Monica Lewinsky political sex scandal — was able to rise above.
Mrs. Trump has been humiliated by scurrilous claims that her husband had an affair with porn star Stormy Daniels shortly after the birth of their son, Barron, as well as his lewd claims about grabbing women’s genitals in a 2005 “Access Hollywood” tape that surfaced during the 2016 presidential campaign.
Tell Us: Do you think America bullies First Lady Melania Trump? Or is criticism just a part of being a high profile celebrity?
Some of the first lady’s wounds are without doubt self-inflicted, however. For example, she was eviscerated on social media last summer when she wore a jacket with “I really don’t care. Do u” printed in thick white lettering on the back during a visit to a Texas detention center for immigrant children.
Mrs. Trump’s claim that she’s a victim of bullying landed with a thud on social media, where she was mercilessly mocked.
“@FLOTUS I’m sad you feel bullied. But, take a step back & realize you are telling sexual assault victims they need proof & shouldn’t always be believed,” a user who goes by Chrissy GotFam wrote, pointing to Mrs. Trump’s comments in the same ABC interview that while she supports the #MeToo movement, but said women must back up their accusations with evidence.
“You need to have really hard evidence, that if you accuse (someone) of something, show the evidence,” she said, clarifying, “I do stand with women, but we need to show the evidence. You cannot just say to somebody, ‘I was sexually assaulted,’ or ‘You did that to me,’ ’cause sometimes the media goes too far, and the way they portray some stories, it’s not correct. It’s not right.”
Chrissy GoFam went further in her criticism of the first lady.
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“You also wore a ‘I don’t really care’ jacket while visiting CAGED children,” Chrissy GoFam continued. “You can see how people find that frustrating right?”
Twitter user Tisha Guy tweeted that Melania Trump is “married to the biggest bully in the world.” User Mr. D expressed skepticism about her claim, but said the Trumps “undoubtedly have to be the most self-centered family in the world.”
“We are being bullied, devalued and belittled EVERY SINGLE DAY by her husband,” Twitter user dmtimney wrote. “Where’s her compassion for the majority of Americans? For children in [internment] tents? For babies lost to parents? Expectations are high if you want the job. Clean her own home first before she speaks.”
But is the harsh treatment Mrs. Trump often receives on social media the same as bullying?
Jessica Huseman, a national political reporter for ProPublica, tweeted that she’s “actually confident that people say horrendous, offensive things about her.”
“That’s terrible, and they shouldn’t,” Huseman wrote. “She is also incredibly powerful, which is not the case for most who are bullied, and what makes this pretty tone deaf.”
Image: U.S. first lady Melania Trump talks to media as she visits the ancient statue of Sphinx, with the body of a lion and a human head, at the historic Giza Pyramids site near Cairo, Egypt on Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018. Trump’s interview with ABC News on her first solo international trip will be broadcast Friday. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Through the end of the 2018, Patch will continue its in-depth look at society’s roles and responsibilities in bullying, which can lead to a child’s unthinkable decision to end their own life, in hopes we might offer solutions that save lives.
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