*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
What You Need to Know About Democrats' Billionaire Tax Plan
As negotiations drag on in Washington, DC over President Biden's social spending bills, Senate Democrats have introduced a new idea to fund Biden's plans: taxing the unrealized capital gains held by billionaires. Barron's reporter Sabrina Escobar joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell, where she explains what's in the billionaire tax proposal, who it will impact, and why it's on the table.
Texas State Rep on Supporting Trans Youth After Gov. Abbott Signs Sports Restriction Law
Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, signed a bill into law on Tuesday that restricts transgender students from playing on sports teams that correspond with their gender identity. Democratic State Representative Mary E. Gonzalez joined Cheddar to discuss the ramifications for transgender youth the new law represents. She also disputed the bill's proponents who argue that the measure is a matter of fairness for girls in sports, noting that various medical groups have affirmed that transgender athletes do not inherently hold an advantage over cisgender ones.
Setting the Scene for COP 26; Xi, Putin Not Expected to Attend
COP26 been dealt a blow as Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose countries are responsible for a third of the world's annual greenhouse gas emissions, will not be in attendance. Bertrand Piccard, Chairman and Founder of the Solar Impulse Foundation, joins Cheddar Climate, where he discusses what he expects to see when the summit commences in Glasgow.
Congress Grills TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube Amid Facebook Scrutiny Over Child Safety
Social media platforms TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube are facing questions in DC about consumer protections, data security, and product safety for young users. Emily Birnbaum, tech lobbying and influence reporter at Politico, joined Cheddar to provide some background into what led to the congressional hearing and the potential outcome. Birnbaum noted that social media platforms have been attempting to distance themselves from Facebook and the ongoing bad press it garnered in recent months.
Load More