A spokesperson for first lady Melania Trump tore into the media on Tuesday after several outlets claimed the online safety campaign she launched this week closely resembled a program enacted by the Obama administration.
“Yesterday, First Lady Melania Trump unveiled Be Best, her initiative meant to support children and the many issues they are facing today. The focus from the opposition media has been on an educational booklet, ‘Taking with Kids About Being Online,’ produced by the Federal Trade Commission in 2009,” communications director Stephanie Grisham said in a statement.
White House officials distributed the pamphlets at the unveiling of Trump’s initiative on Monday, along with materials that were intended to provide reporters with background information about the “Be Best” program. Some in the media noted that the graphics and text used in the booklets were nearly identical to an earlier edition that was released under President Barack Obama.
“Melania Trump’s New ‘Be Best’ Booklet Basically Copies an Obama FTC Pamphlet,” read a headline in The Cut on Tuesday morning.
A BBC article said Trump was facing “new plagiarism [accusations] over cyber safety booklet,” likening the situation to her remarks at the 2016 Republican National Convention, when she was accused of lifting quotes from a speech previously delivered by former first lady Michelle Obama.
But Grisham said those comments were “baseless” and meant to distract from Melania Trump’s message.
“Despite providing countless outlets with ample background, information, and on-the-record comments from the FTC, some media have chosen to take a day meant to promote kindness and positive efforts on behalf of children, to instead lob baseless accusations towards the First Lady and her new initiatives,” Grisham said.
“Our office will continue to focus on helping children and I encourage members of the media to attempt to Be Best in their own professions,” she continued.
The White House acknowledged that prior to her announcement on Monday, Trump agreed “to add Be best branding” to the FTC booklet and to distribute it “to amplify the positive message within.”
“We were excited that Mrs. Trump distributed this important information about staying safe online,” Nathanial Wood, the FTC’s associate director for consumer and business education, said in a statement issued by the White House. “We look forward to continuing to work with [Trump] and others to help parents and children use the Internet safely and responsibly.”
