President Trump wanted the first lady to focus her platform on a topic other than anti-bullying, according to a new report.
Trump suggested to his wife, Melania, that she choose another subject, warning her that she could face criticism over his use of social media to attack his critics, people familiar with the conversations told the New York Times. The first lady ignored and her husband’s advice, officially rolling out her “Be Best” platform that promotes positive habits on social media and the well-being of children in May.
[Also read: The connection between youth depression and social media is complicated]
She has publicly acknowledged she’s aware of scrutiny brought on by the president’s use of Twitter and whether it contradicts her initiative. She’s said the skepticism won’t stop her from tackling issues such as cyberbullying.
On Monday, she’s slated to address a cyberbullying summit in Maryland and appear on a panel discussion with representatives from several social media platforms.
The president using social media to vent has frustrated the first lady, the Times report said. During the 2016 presidential campaign, she said she wished her husband would stop tweeting.
