Politics - News Analysis
Melania Trump Told to Cancel #BeBest After Going Silent While Her Husband Attacks a 16-Year-Old Child with Aspergers
First lady Melania Trump was dragged into the social media frenzy over Donald Trump’s jab at climate change activist Greta Thunberg as people reminded the president of his wife’s Be Best platform.
On Wednesday, Time announced that Thunberg was its person of the year for her activism that has commanded the world’s attention. While some applauded the magazine’s selection, the president, who’s had a few tiffs with the 16-year-old, wasn’t on board with the decision.
“So ridiculous. Greta must work on her Anger Management problem, then go to a good old fashioned movie with a friend! Chill Greta, Chill!” Donald wrote in a Thursday morning tweet.
So ridiculous. Greta must work on her Anger Management problem, then go to a good old fashioned movie with a friend! Chill Greta, Chill! https://t.co/M8ZtS8okzE
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 12, 2019
That tweet caught social media users’ attention, as his Twitter activity tends to do, and several users asked Melania to chime in and condemn her husband’s words, given that it broke with her Be Best initiative.
Seriously @FLOTUS if you don’t call out the President right now delete the #Bebest movement. https://t.co/HLeXOQAsvx
— David Weissman (@davidmweissman) December 12, 2019
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Some on social media juxtaposed the president’s tweet about Thunberg with Melania’s response to law professor Pamela Karlan bringing up first son Barron Trump during the recent House impeachment hearings.
“Dear @FLOTUS, the next time you want to call out others for the way they speak to children, including your son, please remember this tweet from your husband,” tweeted gun rights activist Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter, Jaime, was killed in the 2018 Parkland, Florida, school shooting. “You may want to speak to your husband NOW to let him know this was not OK!!! You may want to tell him to Be Best!!!”
Dear @FLOTUS, the next time you want to call out others for the way they speak to children, including your son, please remember this tweet from your husband. You may want to speak to your husband NOW to let him know this was not OK!!! You may want to tell him to Be Best!!! https://t.co/QBjZNBXZ01
— Fred Guttenberg (@fred_guttenberg) December 12, 2019
During Karlan’s testimony before the House Judiciary Committee on December 4, she said the Constitution prohibited nobility. Therefore, the president could name his son Barron, but he couldn’t “make him a baron,” she noted.
Melania, who has shown she won’t tolerate her son being dragged into politics, tweeted that Karlan should be ashamed of using a child to engage in “very angry and obviously biased public pandering.” Karlan apologized after the first lady posted her tweet, admitting she was wrong but adding that she wished the president would apologize for the wrong things he’s done.
In May 2018, the first lady announced her Be Best campaign, aimed at helping children live meaningful, healthy lives. One of the campaign’s three pillars is online safety and teaching children to “choose their words wisely and speak with respect and compassion,” both verbally and through social media, according to the website.
Since the announcement, the first lady has encountered criticism for the initiative. Critics claim it’s hypocritical to advocate for children engaging in respectful online discourse when her husband regularly uses social media to disparage his opponents.
Still waiting for Melania to demand an apology from an adult who attacked a minor in a politically charged rant.
Still waiting.#BeBest
— Tony Posnanski (@tonyposnanski) December 12, 2019
Where is the faux “first lady’s” outrage about #BeBest as her husband taunts 16 year old @GretaThunberg Time Magazine’s Person of the Year? She was so worked up when Professor Karlan used Barron’s name as an example about monarchy. But it’s okay for Trump to trash tweet Greta? pic.twitter.com/W3DmWJxZKQ
— Barbara Malmet (@B52Malmet) December 12, 2019
It takes a certain kind of person like Trump to bully a 16-year-old activist with Aspergers whose only mission is to save our planet as we know it. #BeBest right Melania?
— Angela Belcamino (@AngelaBelcamino) December 12, 2019
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