Melania Trump Addresses Congress on Revenge Porn and Deepfakes, Urges Passage of "Take It Down Act"
Former First Lady Melania Trump made her first public appearance on Capitol Hill since leaving the White House, participating in a roundtable discussion with lawmakers and victims of revenge porn and AI-generated deepfakes. The event underscored the growing urgency in Congress to address the pervasive issue of online abuse involving non-consensual, explicit imagery. Trump emphasized the importance of protecting young people from the harmful effects of such content, calling for the swift passage of the "Take It Down Act."
"I am here with you today with a common goal – to protect our youth from online harm," Trump stated, highlighting the widespread presence of abusive behavior in the digital domain and its impact on children, families, and communities. She stressed that addressing this issue is essential for fostering a safe and supportive environment for young people.
The "Take It Down Act," a bipartisan bill introduced by Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), seeks to make it a federal crime to publish or threaten to publish non-consensual intimate imagery, including digital forgeries crafted by artificial intelligence. The bill, which unanimously passed the Senate earlier in 2025, aims to combat the rise of revenge porn and deepfakes, which have become increasingly prevalent in recent years.
Cruz expressed confidence that the bill will be passed by the House and signed into law, emphasizing the need to protect victims of these crimes. The proposed legislation would impose penalties of up to three years in prison for sharing non-consensual intimate images – whether authentic or AI-generated – involving minors, and two years in prison for those images involving adults. Threat offenses involving minors would carry a penalty of up to two and a half years in prison, while threats involving adults would result in a one and a half-year prison sentence.
Trump was joined at the roundtable by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, including Representative Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.), House Republican Conference Chair Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), and Representatives Maria Salazar (R-Fla.), Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.), and Kevin Hern (R-Okla.). Salazar and Representative Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.) introduced the House version of the legislation in January, which is currently under consideration in the House Energy and Commerce Committees.
A key provision of the "Take It Down Act" would require social media companies such as Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram to remove such content within 48 hours of receiving notice from the victim. Salazar emphasized that the bill sends a clear message to Big Tech that they must take down these images, whether authentic or fake, within the specified timeframe. She warned that if social media platforms fail to comply, they would be held just as guilty as the aggressors.
AI-generated images, known as "deepfakes," often involve editing videos or photos of people to make them look like someone else using artificial intelligence. These deepfakes gained notoriety in 2017 when a Reddit user posted realistic-looking pornography of celebrities, leading to a surge in the use of AI to create convincing and widely shared images.
Trump highlighted the alarming threat to privacy in today’s AI-driven world, noting the escalating risk of unauthorized access and misuse of personal information. She called for prioritizing robust security measures and upholding strict ethical standards to protect individual privacy.
Cruz lamented the devastating impact of revenge porn and AI-generated explicit images, particularly on young girls. He stressed that victims often struggle to have the material removed from the internet and that many of these victims are teenagers facing a surge in AI-generated sexual images.
Trump was joined by a 15-year-old girl named Elliston Berry, whose high school peers used AI to create non-consensual imagery of her and spread it across social media. Trump expressed heartbreak over the challenges faced by young teens dealing with malicious online content like deepfakes, emphasizing the need to provide them with the support and tools necessary to navigate this hostile digital landscape.
Berry recounted that she was just 14 years old when she discovered a past Instagram photo with a nude body and her face attached, created using AI, circulating on social media. She described feeling fear, shock, and disgust, and blamed herself despite doing nothing wrong. She called for holding Big Tech accountable and fighting for the freedom of survivors affected by image-based sexual abuse.
Another young girl, Francesca Mani, shared her experience of finding deepfake images of herself and her peers online. She emphasized that teenagers know when something is wrong and called on schools to take immediate and serious action against AI exploitation, harassment, and deepfake abuse.
The roundtable also heard from a woman named Breeze Liu, who recounted the devastation of discovering AI-generated images of herself on a pornography site. She described feeling humiliated and working tirelessly to have the images removed.
Republican South Carolina State Representative Brandon Guffey shared the tragic story of his 17-year-old son, who committed suicide after being caught up in a sextortion scam. He emphasized the urgent need to address this issue and prevent further tragedies.
Speaker Johnson thanked the "extraordinary witnesses" for their articulate testimonies. He acknowledged that as technology advances, the laws must keep up with the emerging evils and expressed eagerness to bring the bill to the House floor and have it signed into law by President Trump.
Trump reiterated her commitment to online safety through her "Be Best" initiative, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding children from mean-spirited and hurtful online behavior in an era where digital interactions are integral to daily life. She also highlighted her previous work with Congress on legislation that secured funding for grants to support youth and young adults in or formerly in foster care.
While acknowledging the bipartisan support of Senators Klobuchar and Cruz, Trump expressed disappointment over the lack of additional support from Democratic leaders. She urged Congress to prioritize the passage of the "Take It Down Act," emphasizing its importance for addressing online safety concerns, protecting individual rights, and promoting a healthier digital environment.
Representative Lisa McClain thanked Representative Ro Khanna for his participation in the roundtable, underscoring the importance of bipartisan collaboration on this issue.
Trump concluded her remarks by calling on Congress to pass the bill, describing it as a "powerful step toward justice, healing, and unity." She emphasized that the "Take It Down Act" represents an important step toward ensuring accountability and fostering responsible online behavior.
