Melania Trump OK with criticism over anti-bullying

First Lady Melania Trump lashed out at unnamed ‘critics in the media’ Thursday for failing to take seriously her decision to speak out on cyberbullying – on a day when her husband once again used Twitter to insult rivals. 

The first lady defended the initiative as part of her ‘Be Best’ campaign at an event held at the U.S. Institute of Peace for a conference on Family Online Safety Institute’s annual conference.

The event was about ‘Creating a culture of responsibility online.’ 

‘As I have said before, it is not news or surprising to me that critics in the media have chosen to ridicule me for speaking on this issue, and that’s okay,’ she told the audience. ‘I remain committed to tackling this topic because it will provide a better world for our children.’

 

First lady Melania Trump speaks at the Family Online Safety Institute annual conference in Washington, Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018

She was referring to  criticism that has reflected her husband’s use of Twitter to insult and ridicule rivals, as once again did hours before his wife’s comments.

In an early morning rant, the president wrote online that the ‘inner workings of the Mueller investigation are a total mess.’

He continued: ‘They have found no collusion and have gone absolutely nuts. They are screaming and shouting at people, horribly threatening them to come up with the answers they want. They are a disgrace.’

He called the career FBI investigators ‘Angry People, including the highly conflicted Bob Mueller, who worked for Obama for 8 years,’ in reference to the non-partisan post with a 10-year job that President George W. Bush appointed Mueller to serve. He also referred to Mueller’s team as a ‘gang of Democrat thugs.’

'As I have said before, it is not news or surprising to me that critics in the media have chosen to ridicule me for speaking on this issue,' Melania Trump said

‘As I have said before, it is not news or surprising to me that critics in the media have chosen to ridicule me for speaking on this issue,’ Melania Trump said

The first lady spoke at a conference at the Institute of Peace

The first lady spoke at a conference at the Institute of Peace

The first lady's comments came on a day when the president once again mocked critics and perceived rivals on Twitter

The first lady’s comments came on a day when the president once again mocked critics and perceived rivals on Twitter

Hours earlier, Trump called a Florida county election official a ‘disgrace’ and a ‘disaster.’

Emerging in public following reports that she demanding the firing of a White House national security aide after a dispute over staffing her trip to Africa, Melania spoke in broad strokes about the need for children to be positive online as part of the ‘tools of success’ they need.

‘Teaching children the importance of being safe and positive online is crucial to creating a better future for the next generation,’ said the first lady, reading from prepared remarks.

‘We just give children the tools needed for success at very young age,’ the former Slovenian model continued.

ANALOG: President Donald Trump points at CNN's Jim Acosta and accuses him of "fake news" while taking questions during a news conference following Tuesday's midterm congressional elections at the White House in Washington, U.S., November 7, 2018

ANALOG: President Donald Trump points at CNN’s Jim Acosta and accuses him of “fake news” while taking questions during a news conference following Tuesday’s midterm congressional elections at the White House in Washington, U.S., November 7, 2018

'Teaching children the importance of being safe and positive online is crucial to creating a better future for the next generation,'  the first lady said in prepared remarks.

‘Teaching children the importance of being safe and positive online is crucial to creating a better future for the next generation,’ the first lady said in prepared remarks.

Trump said investigators in the Mueller probe have gone 'absolutely nuts' 

Trump said investigators in the Mueller probe have gone ‘absolutely nuts’ 

Trump called Mueller 'highly conflicted' and said he 'worked for Obama' when he was appointed by President George W. Bush 

Trump called Mueller ‘highly conflicted’ and said he ‘worked for Obama’ when he was appointed by President George W. Bush 

‘And this includes helping them grasp online responsibility and the importance of their overall well-being in the online world.’Do all you can to bring about awareness and understanding about responsible online behavior. 

She spoke Thursday at an annual conference in Washington on the issue of online safety.

She said she hopes attendees will consider using ‘negative words’ directed at them as motivation to help raise awareness about responsible online behavior.

She recently said she considers herself one of the most bullied people in the world.

The first lady unveiled a child well-being initiative called Be Best earlier this year. The program aims to teach children to behave responsibly online and to avoid drugs. 

Melania won a White House battle to decide the fate of Deputy National Security Advisor Mira Ricardel on Wednesday night after an all-out pitched battle that pitted the West and East Wings against each other.

Ricardel was fired following a rare public rebuke from the first lady’s office.

Some of her enemies in the White House had accused her of leaking, and she reportedly tried to undermine Melania’s recent trip to Africa.

 

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