First lady Melania Trump said Monday she was “heartened” by student activists who are speaking out in the aftermath of the Parkland, Fla., school shooting.
Speaking in the Blue Room of the White House to the spouses of the nation’s governors, Trump said the students deserve to be heard.
“I have been heartened to see children across this country using their voices to speak out and try to create change. They’re our future and they deserve a voice,” she said.
Melania Trump on Florida school shooting: “I have been heartened to see children across this country using their voices to speak out and try to create change. They're our future and they deserve a voice.” pic.twitter.com/MudQqABqoU— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) February 26, 2018
In the wake of the shooting that left 17 people dead, students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School have appeared on cable news TV and in major newspapers advocating for stricter regulations on guns. The students are also planning a “March for Our Lives” rally in Washington, D.C., in March.
A survivor of the shooting called out Trump last week, asking her to have a conversation with President Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., about “liking” conspiracy theories on Twitter about the shooting. The student, Lauren Hogg, said Trump Jr.’s actions have made other people believe that it’s acceptable to call Hogg and her family “horrific things that constantly re-victimizes us and our community.”
Conspiracy theorists have accused Hogg’s brother, David, of being “coached” by his father, a former FBI agent, to call for stricter gun regulations. David Hogg has also been accused of being a paid “crisis actor.”
The first lady addressed cyberbullying in her speech Monday, calling on adults to encourage positive social media habits among children and teens.
“It is important that as adults, we take the lead and the responsibility in helping our children manage the many issues they are facing today,” Trump said. “This means encouraging positive habits with social media and technology, even limiting time online and understanding the content they are exposed to on a daily basis.”
She later added: “I’m asking you all to join me today and commit to promoting values such as encouragement, kindness, compassion and respect in our children. With those values as a solid foundation, our kids will be better equipped to deal with many of the evils in our world today, such as drug abuse and addiction and negative social media interactions.”
