Melania Trump Vows to Expand Her Failed 'Be Best' Initiative in Second Term, Saying 'I Didn't Have Much Support' Before

Mar. 15, 2025

Melania Trump speaks during a “Be Best” initiative event in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Monday, May 7, 2018.Photo:Yuri Gripas/Bloomberg via Getty

Yuri Gripas/Bloomberg via Getty

Melania Trumpplans to bring backher “Be Best” initiativewhen she returns to the White House as first lady.

The wife of President-electDonald Trump, 54, opened up about reentering the political sphere in an interview withFox & Friendsthat aired on Monday, Jan. 13.

When asked if she felt different about stepping into her role than she did during Donald’s first presidency from 2017 to 2021, she said, “I feel I was always me the first time as well. I just feel that people didn’t accept me maybe, they didn’t understand me the way they maybe do now. I didn’t have much support.”

The lack of support, Melania claimed, held back her “Be Best” initiative, which she launched in May 2018 as an “awareness campaign” to help kids combat online bullying and the opioid epidemic.

“I will continue with ‘Be Best’ and also I will expand ‘Be Best,’ ” she told Fox News’Ainsley Earhardt. “I started in the first administration. I didn’t have much support from anyone. I invited all of the streaming platforms to the White House, I had the roundtable, and I didn’t have much support from them.”

She continued to say, “Imagine what we could do in those years if they will rally behind me and teach the children and protect them about social media and their mental health.”

Looking ahead, Melania said, “It will be an exciting four years. We have a lot to do.”

First lady Melania Trump speaks about her new Be Best program and initiatives during an event in the Rose Garden of the White House on Monday, May 7, 2018 in Washington, DC.Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty

Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty

At the March 2018 roundtable, Melania addressed the naysayers head-on, as many believed she wasn’t qualified to adopt an anti-bullying platform because of her husband’s infamous usage of name-calling to harass his critics and fellow leaders online.

“I am well aware that people are skeptical of me discussing the topic,” she said. “I have been criticized for my commitment to tackling this issue and I know that will continue, but it will not stop me from doing what I know is right. I am here with one goal: helping children and our next generation.”

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Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump (L) and former US First Lady Melania Trump attend the 79th Annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner at the Hilton Midtown in New York, Oct. 17, 2024.TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty

TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty

In November of that year, Melania said at the Family Online Safety Institute’s annual conference thatshe’s “okay” with people criticizing herover her initiative.

“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 that’s okay,” she said. “I remain committed to tackling this topic because it will provide a better world for our children. 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 online behavior.”

After Melania left the White House,CNN reportedthat sheplanned to start an officein Palm Beach, Fla., in part to “maintain ‘Be Best.’ ”

source: people.com