Melania Trump Leads White House Celebration as Take It Down Act Becomes Law
Washington, D.C. — May 19, 2025 President Donald J. Trump, joined by First Lady Melania Trump, signed the landmark Take It Down Act into law during a Rose Garden ceremony Monday, marking a significant victory in the fight against online exploitation and digital abuse. The new law, a central initiative of the First Lady, targets the nonconsensual sharing of sexually explicit images—including AI-generated deepfakes—and imposes strict requirements on tech platforms to swiftly remove such content.
Key Provisions of the Take It Down Act
- Mandatory Removal: Major social media platforms and websites must remove nonconsensual sexually explicit content, including deepfakes, within 48 hours of notification by a victim.
- Criminal Penalties: Individuals found guilty of knowingly publishing or threatening to publish such images without consent face federal criminal charges and potential prison time.
- Federal Oversight: The Federal Trade Commission is empowered to enforce the law, ensuring compliance by online platforms.
First Lady’s Advocacy and Bipartisan Support
First Lady Melania Trump, who has made child safety and digital privacy a cornerstone of her renewed Be Best initiative, played a pivotal role in championing the bill. In her remarks at the ceremony, she called the legislation a “national victory” and emphasized its importance for protecting children and empowering families:
“Today, through the ‘Take It Down’ Act, we affirm that the well-being of our children is central to the future of our families and America. I am proud to say that the values of BE BEST will be reflected in the law of the land.”
The First Lady’s efforts included hosting a Capitol Hill roundtable with survivors and advocates, and lobbying lawmakers from both parties. Her leadership drew praise from President Trump, who credited her with fostering the rare spirit of bipartisanship that propelled the bill through Congress. The act passed the House by a 409–2 vote after unanimous approval in the Senate.
Addressing the Dangers of AI and Online Abuse
The Take It Down Act arrives amid mounting concerns over the misuse of artificial intelligence to create realistic, fabricated sexual content—often targeting women and minors. The law’s swift passage reflects growing alarm over the psychological and reputational harm caused by such abuse.
Melania Trump highlighted these dangers in her speech:
“Artificial Intelligence and social media are the digital candy of the next generation—sweet, addictive, and engineered to have an impact on the cognitive development of our children. But unlike sugar, these new technologies can be weaponized, shape beliefs, and sadly, affect emotions and even be deadly.”
Implementation and Impact
Effective immediately, the law requires online platforms to set up request-and-removal systems for victims. Survivors and their families, some of whom attended the signing, expressed hope that the new protections will prevent others from experiencing similar trauma.
The Take It Down Act stands as the first federal law to comprehensively address nonconsensual intimate imagery and AI-generated deepfakes, setting a new standard for digital safety and privacy in the United States.
Broad Praise and Next Steps
The signing ceremony drew bipartisan praise from lawmakers, survivors, and advocacy groups. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who co-sponsored the bill, attended the event, underscoring the broad coalition behind the legislation.
With the Take It Down Act now in force, victims of image-based sexual abuse have a new, powerful tool to reclaim their privacy and seek justice.
Reporting by Perplexity News Service