Melania Trump Just Announced Plans To Fight Cyberbullying And Drug Addiction

Kevin Lamarque / Reuters

First lady Melania Trump on Monday unveiled a broad initiative to promote children's health, in part, by combating bullying.

"As a mother and as first lady, it concerns me that in today's fast-paced and ever-connected world, children can be less prepared to express or manage their emotions and oftentimes turn to forms of destructive or addictive behavior such as bullying, drug addiction or even suicide," she said at the White House Rose Garden.

Called "Be Best," the initiative will focus on three main areas: well-being, social media use, and opioid abuse. She also urged parents to talk to their children about healthy ways to act on the internet in a press release issued after her speech.

While she did not provide details of how she plans implement Be Best, Trump highlighted things people, especially children, are already doing to illustrate her goals: a "buddy bench" at one school to ease loneliness, one teenager's viral video about her bullies, and organizations that help parents and children with opioid and other addictions.

Trump said she has already started working on Be Best's goals and plans to continue speaking with leaders in the technology industry about children's online habits, raising awareness around the importance of positive behavior, and working with those who are fighting drug addiction.

"Most importantly, I will continue to travel and speak to children directly about both their victories and difficulty realities that they face," she said.

Critics, however, have expressed skepticism over the the first lady's commitment and ability to combat cyber bullying given that her husband's history of being combative on Twitter.

When asked about the apparent dichotomy of what Melania Trump was trying to do and what her husband does every day on social media, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said cyber bullying had been a problem for children "over the last decade."

"The idea that you are trying to blame cyber bullying on the president is kind of ridiculous," she told reporters.

Following his wife's speech, President Trump congratulated her for being an inspiration.

"Melania, your care and compassion for our nation's children, and I have to say this and I say to all the time, inspires us all," he said.

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