Home WebMail Friday, November 1, 2024, 04:37 AM | Calgary | -3.2°C | Regions Advertise Login | Our platform is in maintenance mode. Some URLs may not be available. |
Posted: 2018-11-16T00:37:52Z | Updated: 2018-11-16T00:37:52Z

Melania Trump acknowledged the irony that she is advocating against bullying while married to President Donald Trump , and shes OK with it.

While speaking at an anti-cyberbullying conference on Thursday, the first lady said she was committed to promoting kinder behavior online despite the criticism.

As I have said before, it is not news or surprising to me that critics and the media have chosen to ridicule me for speaking out on this issue, and thats OK, Melania Trump said at the Family Online Safety Institutes annual conference.

And I hope that, like I do, you will consider using their negative words as motivation to do all you can to bring awareness and understanding about responsible behavior, she added.

The first ladys comments follow an especially contentious week for her husband, who recently berated several black female journalists, describing one womans questions as stupid while calling another nasty and a loser.

\"It is not news or surprising to me that critics in the media have chosen to ridicule me for speaking out on this issue, and that's okay,\" first lady Melania Trump says while speaking about \"responsible online behavior\" and her \"Be Best\" campaign. https://t.co/20NWyrahhT pic.twitter.com/yBxk9xl0v3

ABC News (@ABC) November 15, 2018","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"ABC News","author_url":"https://twitter.com/ABC","cache_age":86400,"description":"\"It is not news or surprising to me that critics in the media have chosen to ridicule me for speaking out on this issue, and that's okay,\" first lady Melania Trump says while speaking about \"responsible online behavior\" and her \"Be Best\" campaign. https://t.co/20NWyrahhT pic.twitter.com/yBxk9xl0v3 ABC News (@ABC) November 15, 2018\n\n","provider_name":"Twitter","thumbnail_height":675,"thumbnail_url":"https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DsEuAHXU8AAYF0S.jpg","thumbnail_width":1200,"title":"ABC News on Twitter","type":"rich","url":"https://twitter.com/ABC/status/1063181575884402688","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"news","device":"mobile","editionInfo":{"id":"us","name":"U.S.","link":"https://action.news","locale":"en_US"},"originalEdition":"us","isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isEntry":true,"isMt":false,"entryId":"5bede64ee4b0c19de3fe04a5","entryPermalink":"https://action.news/entry/melania-trump-irony-anti-bullying_n_5bede64ee4b0c19de3fe04a5","entryTagsList":"melania-trump,anti-bullying,be-best,@health_depression,@health_erectile,@health_gad,@health_ibs,@health_models","sectionSlug":"politics","deptSlug":"politics-news","sectionRedirectUrl":null,"subcategories":"","isWide":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"us.politics","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc111dcf87c2cd2f5d8bf","overrides":{"front_page_top_videos":{"desktop":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","mobileweb":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d"},"top_media":{"desktop":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","mobile":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"anthology":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"content":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"}},"playerUpdates":{"5668ae6ee4b0b5e26955d6a6":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","56aa41bae4b091744c0440d8":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81","5841b2b5cc52c716ec6e5a7f":"60b8e355cdd90620331ba185","58b5e2b8d85a10302feee895":"60b64316b171b7444beafdb2","58b74698f78ced31417819ae":"60b8e5bec5449357a7ad9b52","58b74ccecebcea57e2c3a3d1":"60b8e5eac5449357a7ad9ca5","58cff690d85a100b9992bc39":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","58cffb3fb6d9b972a49a3c9d":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","58cffdd74d96935d7d6ec180":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","58d03a84f78ced6518eb2fa7":"60b643c82e76be41f112735c","592edf20e0fa177b0c26f7fd":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","5b35266b158f855373e28256":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","5c116f29f79c4171d82b7c2a":"60b64440b171b7444beb040b","5c1170fc600c9a697bf0c6b9":"60b646102e76be41f1127ffc","5c47791afa1b317df8ae0c4f":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","5c477987a6b48b35f164773d":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","5c4779ee943c3c2a64f28371":"60b8e747cdd90620331bb861","5c477a26fcd67b26879bc7c2":"60b8e788c5449357a7ada67b","5d8921a78c3ae845f366c9b6":"60ae7be5f3a7c13a30417ff9","58b98b00ba82aa39a6534321":"60d0de7c9340d7032ad1146c","58b9d14cb6d9b96c9ec32af3":"60d0dec19340d7032ad115a0","58cff8eccebcea42931e0436":"60d0e005b627221e9d819d44","592edf5de0fa177b0c26f95b":"60d0e38fb627221e9d81adcf","58cff72fd85a100b9992c112":"60d0e447b627221e9d81b0da","56b4d34fe4b022697697c400":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","60b8e4c0c5449357a7ad957d":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"ff7fdddc-5441-4253-abc4-f12a33fad58b","clickToPlayPlayer":"d014396e-b366-4c17-aeac-3ce906fa3fd0","videoPagePlayer":"f010447b-d244-4111-a314-7b4542ae4145","verticalPlayer":"e58cb05a-0bc8-4210-9108-fea82726c065","stickyPlayerControl":"52ea1755-d601-4ad1-bccc-d8cce3f0e5da","stickyPlayerON":"8055e9e5-3bda-4933-8d45-9ad814fb6e22"},"topConnatixThumnbailSrc":"https://img.connatix.com/ef701c8e-f0a0-4465-99cf-b1723da21ff9/1_th.jpg?crop=480:270,smart&width=480&height=270&format=jpeg&quality=60&fit=crop","customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":4},"blog_summary":{"count":0},"before_you_go_content":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":1},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"5bede64ee4b0c19de3fe04a5","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"mobile","page_edition":"en-us"},"tags":[{"name":"melania trump","slug":"melania-trump","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/melania-trump","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/melania-trump","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/melania-trump"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Melania Trump","slug":"melania-trump","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/melania-trump"},{"name":"anti-bullying","slug":"anti-bullying","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/anti-bullying","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/anti-bullying","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/anti-bullying"},"department":{"name":"Voices","slug":"voices"},"section":{"title":"Queer Voices","slug":"queer-voices"},"topic":{"title":"Acceptance & Inclusion","slug":"acceptance-inclusion","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/voices/topic/acceptance-inclusion"},{"name":"be best","slug":"be-best","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/be-best","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/be-best","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/be-best"},"url":"https://action.news/topic/be-best"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["
\r\n\r\n","
\r\n\r\n","
\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false,"enhancements":{}}">

"It is not news or surprising to me that critics in the media have chosen to ridicule me for speaking out on this issue, and that's okay," first lady Melania Trump says while speaking about "responsible online behavior" and her "Be Best" campaign. https://t.co/20NWyrahhT pic.twitter.com/yBxk9xl0v3

ABC News (@ABC) November 15, 2018

In her role as the first lady, Trump has taken up an anti-bullying agenda and launched a Be Best campaign aimed at encouraging better behavior online.

On Thursday, she discussed the dangers of online bullying and ways to prevent it with a panel of students.

Todays technology provides people with a digital shield to hide behind, she said at the conference. And being anonymous often takes the place of being caring and responsible, which can lead to children and adults feeling empowered to be unkind and, at times, cruel.

Trump said her decision to embrace anti-bullying efforts was partially motivated by the bullying she faced. During an interview with ABC last month, she said she was the most bullied person in the world.

But people are quick to point out the irony in her advocacy, considering President Trumps aggressive rhetoric and constant Twitter feuds with his political opponents.

On top of his recent attacks on journalists, the president called his alleged former lover Stormy Daniels a horseface in a tweet, celebrated Republican Rep. Greg Gianfortes (R-Mont.) assault on a reporter and repeatedly called Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) Pocahontas, all just in the month of October.

@FLOTUS Im sad you feel bullied. But, take a step back & realize you are telling sexual assault victims they need proof & shouldnt always be believed. You also wore a I dont really care jacket while visiting CAGED children. You can see how people find that frustrating right?

Chrissy Got (@mygotfam) October 11, 2018","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"Chrissy Got","author_url":"https://twitter.com/mygotfam","cache_age":86400,"description":"@FLOTUS Im sad you feel bullied. But, take a step back & realize you are telling sexual assault victims they need proof & shouldnt always be believed. You also wore a I dont really care jacket while visiting CAGED children. You can see how people find that frustrating right? Chrissy Got (@mygotfam) October 11, 2018\n\n","provider_name":"Twitter","title":"Chrissy Got on Twitter","type":"rich","url":"https://twitter.com/mygotfam/status/1050415088463577089","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"news","device":"mobile","editionInfo":{"id":"us","name":"U.S.","link":"https://action.news","locale":"en_US"},"originalEdition":"us","isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isEntry":true,"isMt":false,"entryId":"5bede64ee4b0c19de3fe04a5","entryPermalink":"https://action.news/entry/melania-trump-irony-anti-bullying_n_5bede64ee4b0c19de3fe04a5","entryTagsList":"melania-trump,anti-bullying,be-best,@health_depression,@health_erectile,@health_gad,@health_ibs,@health_models","sectionSlug":"politics","deptSlug":"politics-news","sectionRedirectUrl":null,"subcategories":"","isWide":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"us.politics","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc111dcf87c2cd2f5d8bf","overrides":{"front_page_top_videos":{"desktop":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","mobileweb":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d"},"top_media":{"desktop":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","mobile":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"anthology":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"content":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"}},"playerUpdates":{"5668ae6ee4b0b5e26955d6a6":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","56aa41bae4b091744c0440d8":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81","5841b2b5cc52c716ec6e5a7f":"60b8e355cdd90620331ba185","58b5e2b8d85a10302feee895":"60b64316b171b7444beafdb2","58b74698f78ced31417819ae":"60b8e5bec5449357a7ad9b52","58b74ccecebcea57e2c3a3d1":"60b8e5eac5449357a7ad9ca5","58cff690d85a100b9992bc39":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","58cffb3fb6d9b972a49a3c9d":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","58cffdd74d96935d7d6ec180":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","58d03a84f78ced6518eb2fa7":"60b643c82e76be41f112735c","592edf20e0fa177b0c26f7fd":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","5b35266b158f855373e28256":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","5c116f29f79c4171d82b7c2a":"60b64440b171b7444beb040b","5c1170fc600c9a697bf0c6b9":"60b646102e76be41f1127ffc","5c47791afa1b317df8ae0c4f":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","5c477987a6b48b35f164773d":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","5c4779ee943c3c2a64f28371":"60b8e747cdd90620331bb861","5c477a26fcd67b26879bc7c2":"60b8e788c5449357a7ada67b","5d8921a78c3ae845f366c9b6":"60ae7be5f3a7c13a30417ff9","58b98b00ba82aa39a6534321":"60d0de7c9340d7032ad1146c","58b9d14cb6d9b96c9ec32af3":"60d0dec19340d7032ad115a0","58cff8eccebcea42931e0436":"60d0e005b627221e9d819d44","592edf5de0fa177b0c26f95b":"60d0e38fb627221e9d81adcf","58cff72fd85a100b9992c112":"60d0e447b627221e9d81b0da","56b4d34fe4b022697697c400":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","60b8e4c0c5449357a7ad957d":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"ff7fdddc-5441-4253-abc4-f12a33fad58b","clickToPlayPlayer":"d014396e-b366-4c17-aeac-3ce906fa3fd0","videoPagePlayer":"f010447b-d244-4111-a314-7b4542ae4145","verticalPlayer":"e58cb05a-0bc8-4210-9108-fea82726c065","stickyPlayerControl":"52ea1755-d601-4ad1-bccc-d8cce3f0e5da","stickyPlayerON":"8055e9e5-3bda-4933-8d45-9ad814fb6e22"},"topConnatixThumnbailSrc":"https://img.connatix.com/ef701c8e-f0a0-4465-99cf-b1723da21ff9/1_th.jpg?crop=480:270,smart&width=480&height=270&format=jpeg&quality=60&fit=crop","customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":4},"blog_summary":{"count":0},"before_you_go_content":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":1},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"5bede64ee4b0c19de3fe04a5","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"mobile","page_edition":"en-us"},"tags":[{"name":"melania trump","slug":"melania-trump","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/melania-trump","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/melania-trump","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/melania-trump"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Melania Trump","slug":"melania-trump","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/melania-trump"},{"name":"anti-bullying","slug":"anti-bullying","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/anti-bullying","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/anti-bullying","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/anti-bullying"},"department":{"name":"Voices","slug":"voices"},"section":{"title":"Queer Voices","slug":"queer-voices"},"topic":{"title":"Acceptance & Inclusion","slug":"acceptance-inclusion","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/voices/topic/acceptance-inclusion"},{"name":"be best","slug":"be-best","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/be-best","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/be-best","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/be-best"},"url":"https://action.news/topic/be-best"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["
\r\n\r\n","
\r\n\r\n","
\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false,"enhancements":{}}">

@FLOTUS Im sad you feel bullied. But, take a step back & realize you are telling sexual assault victims they need proof & shouldnt always be believed. You also wore a I dont really care jacket while visiting CAGED children. You can see how people find that frustrating right?

Chrissy Got (@mygotfam) October 11, 2018

Earlier this week, Melania Trump called for the firing of deputy national security adviser Mira Ricardel after the two reportedly clashed during a trip to Africa last month. The first lady said through an aides Twitter message that Ricardel no longer deserved the honor of serving in this White House. One day later, Ricardel was dismissed from her role.