*By Christian Smith* The Office of the First Lady fired back at news media reports Tuesday that Melania Trump's "Be Best" campaign was plagiarized from materials produced by the Federal Trade Commission during the Obama administration. As part of her flagship program to focus on childhood well-being in America, Trump's office released a [pamphlet with advice] (https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Talking-with-kids-about-being-online-_2018.pdf) for parents about educating their children on cyber bullying. [News reports](https://www.buzzfeed.com/blakemontgomery/melania-trump-cyberbullying-pamphlet?utm_term=.leE5ryNQl#.htvJ4qbQr) were quick to note that the pamphlet contains content from a 2009 FTC pamphlet on the same topic. The First Lady's communications director, Stephanie Grisham, released a [statement Tuesday] (https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/statement-communications-director/) slamming the "opposition media" for turning attention away from the children the First Lady is trying to help. "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 in the statement. This isn't the first time that First Lady Trump has been accused of copying her predecessor. In her speech at the 2016 Republican National Convention, Trump reused parts of a speech that Michelle Obama gave in 2008 at the Democratic National Convention. Trump launched her "Be Best" initiative in the Rose Garden on Monday with the goal of improving the lives of children across the country. She said her office will focus on mental health, opioid abuse, and negativity on social media. How she plans to address these issues is slightly less concrete. Erin Delmore, the senior political correspondent at Bustle, said it's a question that she's been asking Trump's office repeatedly. "We've seen her put out a brochure, a pamphlet that's talking to parents about how to educate their children when it comes to cyberbullying, and we've also seen this quest to really go to neo-natal units to work on young babies who are born with opioid addiction, but we are looking, waiting to see what those critical steps are going to be," Delmore said in an interview Tueday with Cheddar. Many reports have focused on the fact that the First Lady's announcement comes almost 16 months into her husband's presidency. Other recent first ladies have launched initiatives earlier in their husbands' terms. Laura Bush, for example, initiated her literacy campaign six months into President George W. Bush's first term. Michelle Obama, however, announced her "Let's Move" campaign to fight childhood obesity in February 2010, about 13 months after her husband took office. Delmore said Trump is different from her immediate predecessors because she's new to politics. "She didn't come from a corporate background, and she hasn't been the wife of somebody active in politics, and being a political spouse is a totally different ball game," Delmore said. For the full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/melania-trump-launches-new-child-focused-initiative-be-best).

Share:
More In Politics
McCarthy Struggles for Debt Bill Votes, Makes Late Changes
House Republicans made post-midnight changes to their sweeping debt ceiling package to win over holdouts, as Speaker Kevin McCarthy pushed ahead Wednesday with plans to launch debate and round up support from his slim majority for a vote this week.
Biden Thanks 'Tennessee Three' for 'Standing Up' for Gun Control
Three Tennessee lawmakers who became Democratic heroes for facing expulsion after participating in gun control protests visited the White House on Monday, describing themselves as “representatives of a movement" that is demanding greater restrictions on firearms to save lives.
Speaker McCarthy Faces Big Test as Debt Bill Heads for Vote
Speaker Kevin McCarthy is hurtling toward one of the most consequential weeks of the new House Republican majority as he labors to pass a partisan package that would raise the nation's debt limit by $1.5 trillion in exchange for steep cuts that some in his own party oppose.
Biden Announces 2024 Reelection Bid: 'Let’s Finish This Job'
President Joe Biden on Tuesday formally announced that he is running for reelection in 2024, asking voters to give him more time to “finish this job” he began when he was sworn into office and to set aside their concerns about extending the run of America’s oldest president for another four years.
Load More