President Donald Trump, along with first lady Melania Trump, traveled to Central Texas on Friday, one week after sudden catastrophic flooding swept through multiple counties, killing at least 121 people and destroying homes and businesses.
The president and first lady flew into San Antonio and then <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1943722271979221181">boarded</a> Marine One, which took them 60 miles northwest to Kerrville, Texas, the small town that took the brunt of the flooding last week. Of the 120 people who have been reported dead throughout the state, 96 of them — including 36 children — were killed in Kerr County, where Kerrville is the county seat.
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.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/FLOTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FLOTUS</a> arrive at Kelly Field in San Antonio, Texas <a href="https://t.co/bqv0xsvGTX">pic.twitter.com/bqv0xsvGTX</a>
&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1943720900508950614?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 11, 2025</a></blockquote>
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More than 170 people are still missing in the region as search teams comb the devastated area. Responders are still searching for five young girls who were attending Camp Mystic and one counselor, CBS News <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/texas-floods-missing-people-death-toll-climbs/">reported</a>.
&#8220;As a nation, we mourn for every single life that was swept away in the flood, and we pray for the families that are left behind,&#8221; Trump said at a press conference with emergency responders in Kerville, alongside Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott. &#8220;It&#8217;s amazing, the incredible spirit from those families. I don&#8217;t even know they do it.&#8221;
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.<a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>: &quot;As a nation, we mourn for every single life that was swept away in the flood and we pray for the families that were left behind.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/SCN4YvuPDh">pic.twitter.com/SCN4YvuPDh</a>
&mdash; Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1943761609114935592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 11, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The president said that before the press conference, he and the first lady &#8220;spent a lot of time with&#8221; the families of victims. Trump also praised the first responders who saved hundreds of lives in the flood.
Over the weekend, Trump <a href="https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20250706/president-donald-j-trump-approves-major-disaster-declaration-texas">declared</a> a major disaster in Texas, allowing federal assistance to flow to the state.
“Nobody ever saw a thing like this coming,” Trump <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/trump-plans-tour-texas-flood-damage-scope-disaster-123666823">told</a> NBC News on Thursday. &#8220;This is a once-in-every-200-year deal.”
Floodwaters rose over 30 feet in an hour in some areas along the Guadaloupe River, giving many people staying near the river over the July Fourth holiday weekend little to no chance to evacuate before the water overtook them. At Camp Mystic, a Christian girls&#8217; summer camp in Kerr County, the devastation was unfathomable, with 27 campers and counselors dying in the flooding.
In the aftermath of the flooding, the Trump administration has faced criticism for cuts to the National Weather Service (NWS), with some Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), questioning whether an understaffed NWS sent flood warnings too late for many people in the path of the disaster. The White House <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/white-house-pushes-back-nws-criticism-texas-flooding/story?id=123544699">shot back</a> at such criticism. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said earlier this week, &#8220;Blaming President Trump for these floods is a depraved lie, and it serves no purpose during this time of national mourning.&#8221;
The National Weather Service Employees Organization, which represents NWS employees, also pushed back against allegations that Trump&#8217;s staffing cuts hindered the service&#8217;s ability to issue timely warnings.
“The WFOs [weather forecasting offices] had adequate staffing and resources as they issued timely forecasts and warnings leading up to the storm,” <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/national-weather-service-nws-staff-cuts-trump-budget-texas-floods-rcna217139">said</a> Tom Fahy, the president of the NWS Employee Organization.
In a statement to <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/white-house-pushes-back-nws-criticism-texas-flooding/story?id=123544699">ABC News</a>, the National Weather Service added, &#8220;Flash Flood Warnings were issued on the night of July 3 and in the early morning of July 4, giving preliminary lead times of more than three hours before warning criteria were met.&#8221;

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump

Trump Tours Texas Flood Zone As Death Toll Reaches 121

Disasters

Donald Trump

Executive

Floods

Melania Trump

Severe Weather

Texas

U.S.

President Donald Trump plans to travel to Texas on Friday to meet with victims of the devastating Fourth of July weekend flooding that led to at least 110 deaths. 
The president will be joined by first lady Melania Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, he confirmed during a Tuesday cabinet meeting. Parts of the Texas Hill Country along the Guadalupe River were hit with sudden flash floods and more than 170 people are still missing. 
&#8220;I&#8217;ll be going down on Friday with the first lady and we will be taking a trip. And we don&#8217;t want to get in anyone&#8217;s way because, you know, it&#8217;s what happens. The president goes, and everyone&#8217;s around focused. I don&#8217;t want anyone to focus on us,&#8221; Trump said. 
First responders are still searching for potential survivors as Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott said Tuesday that 161 people were missing in Kerr County and another 12 throughout other impacted areas. Emergency responders have rescued at least 850 people. 
&#8220;They could have somebody saved still,” Trump said. “And, you know, probably unlikely at this point, but that could be. I mean, they&#8217;re thinking there could be the possibility, but, what a tragic situation.”
Trump also stated that the relationship between federal responders and Texas first responders was very good, noting that numerous federal helicopters were deployed to assist local rescuers.  
Earlier this week, Trump approved a major disaster declaration for Texas, and top administration officials have moved to offer federal help to the region.
 Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. declared a public health emergency on Tuesday to surge healthcare resources to the region. The Department of Housing and Urban Development also announced a 90-day foreclosure moratorium on Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-insured single-family mortgages in Kerr County.
Dozens of children attending Camp Mystic, a Christian girls&#8217; camp in Kerr County, died in the flooding. Five girls and one counselor are still missing, according to an update provided on Tuesday. Flood victims included 8-year-old campers Renee Smajstrla and Eloise Peck, 19-year-old camp counselor Chloe Childress, and the camp’s 74-year-old director, Dick Eastland.
Other young victims include twin sisters Blaire and Brooke Harber, who were <a href="https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/article/sisters-found-hands-locked-together-following-20630269.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener">found</a> 15 miles from where the flood waters washed them away from their grandparents&#8217; cabin near the Guadalupe River. Their grandparents remain missing.

President Trump Holds Cabinet Meeting

Trump Confirms Plans To Visit Flood-Stricken Texas As 170+ People Still Missing

flooding

Kristi Noem

Natural Disaster

Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) tried to trash First Lady Melania Trump&#8217;s &#8220;Einstein visa&#8221; — without realizing the New York Times disproved her argument seven years ago.
Melania received an EB-1 visa, or &#8220;Einstein visa,&#8221; in 2001, when she was a model. The visa is meant for immigrants &#8220;with extraordinary ability.&#8221;
&#8220;You&#8217;re supposed to have some sort of significant achievement, like being awarded a Nobel Peace Prize or a Pulitzer, being an Olympic medalist or having sustained other extraordinary abilities and success in sciences, art, education, business, or athletics,&#8221; Crockett said. &#8220;Last time I checked, the first lady had none of those accolades under her belt.&#8221;
&#8220;It doesn&#8217;t take an Einstein to see that the math ain&#8217;t mathing here,&#8221; Crockett added.
Crockett accused Republicans of hypocrisy, as the federal government is <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/new-state-dept-measures-unveiled-how-foreign-students-will-be-screened-for-u-s-entry">reevaluating</a> visa programs.
&#8220;Since we&#8217;re talking about integrity, I&#8217;m confused as to why my Republican colleagues aren&#8217;t talking about the lack of integrity when it comes to the president&#8217;s family&#8217;s visas,&#8221; Crockett said.
But Crockett ignored a New York Times article debunking doubts about Melania justifying the visa.
&#8220;Petitioners for the EB-1, which was created as part of the Immigration Act of 1990, face a two-part test,&#8221; the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/04/us/melania-trump-einstein-visa.html">Times</a> wrote in 2018. &#8220;The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services first must determine whether a candidate has presented evidence to satisfy three out of 10 <a class="css-yywogo" title="" href="https://www.uscis.gov/working-united-states/permanent-workers/employment-based-immigration-first-preference-eb-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">criteria</a>, such as publishing material in professional publications or other major media, appearing in artistic exhibitions or commanding a high salary.&#8221;
Melania — who had featured in British GQ and Sports Illustrated, among other magazines — satisfied that requirement.
&#8220;Once those are met, the decision comes down to a vague and undefined &#8216;final merits determination&#8217; by the immigration agency,&#8221; the Times continued.
Although they admitted the approval process is inconsistent, the Times&#8217; sources agreed Melania deserved the visa.
&#8220;The notion that you somehow have to be a genius or Einstein is utter fiction,&#8221; Chris Wright, a lawyer based in Los Angeles, told the Times. &#8220;We have succeeded with models no more accomplished than Melania Trump.&#8221;
Even Albert Einstein might have been declined a visa. In one experiment, immigration lawyers examined some of Einstein&#8217;s early work — without knowing it was his — and concluded &#8220;it would be very challenging&#8221; for him to get an EB-1, the Times reported.
Still, the seven-year-old fact check did not stop Crockett from using Melania to criticize Republicans.
&#8220;Nevertheless, what Republicans are doing with this reconciliation process, the travel bans and revoking visas, jeopardizes our national security,&#8221; Crockett said.

Delivering On Government Efficiency Subcommittee Holds Hearing On Foreign Aid

Jasmine Crockett Tries To Trash Melania. The New York Times Says She’s Wrong.

Congress

Jasmine Crockett

New York Times

Politics

President Donald Trump signed the bipartisan &#8220;Take It Down Act&#8221; into law on Monday, surrounded by First Lady Melania Trump and lawmakers who helped advance the bill.
The &#8220;<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/can-you-help-me-why-the-take-it-down-act-is-a-lifeline-for-victims" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Take It Down Act</a>&#8221; makes publishing non-consensual intimate imagery, real or AI-generated, a federal crime. It requires social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, X, and Facebook to remove content that features explicit images or videos of minors, known as “child sexual abuse material,” or CSAM, or “revenge porn,” within 48 hours of the content being flagged.
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President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump in the Rose Garden for the signing of the Take It Down Act. 🌹🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/lHYAVO5xTS">pic.twitter.com/lHYAVO5xTS</a>
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1924546236234744254?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 19, 2025</a></blockquote>
Mrs. Trump has been a fierce advocate for the &#8220;Take It Down Act,&#8221; encouraging lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to push the legislation forward. FLOTUS opened the signing with remarks about the bipartisan effort to protect Americans, especially children, before introducing President Trump.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/FLOTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FLOTUS</a> gives remarks prior to the signing of the &#8216;Take It Down Act&#8217; to protect children from online exploitation: &#8220;This legislation is a powerful step forward in our efforts to ensure that every American, especially young people, can feel better protected from their image or… <a href="https://t.co/EJFVHppTi1">pic.twitter.com/EJFVHppTi1</a>
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/1924546390560068037?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 19, 2025</a></blockquote>
Republican South Carolina Rep. Brandon Guffey, who was thanked by President Trump on Monday, worked with Texas Sen. Ted Cruz (R) on the legislation. Cruz and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat, were the sponsors of the bill.
Tragically, Guffey&#8217;s 17-year-old son Gavin Guffey took his own life three years ago after he was the victim of an online sexual extortion scam &#8212; <a href="https://www.ic3.gov/PSA/2025/PSA250306">a growing trend</a> the FBI has recently warned parents about.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
I have posted before about the passing of TAKE IT DOWN and the roundtable with FLOTUS. On Friday, I received an invite to go to the White House for the signing on the bill and as I made plans, I found out that the other members of the original “Porch Caucus” will be in DC Monday… <a href="https://t.co/Qr4518YEKu">pic.twitter.com/Qr4518YEKu</a>
— Brandon Guffey (@brandonguffeysc) <a href="https://twitter.com/brandonguffeysc/status/1922142423880204581?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 13, 2025</a></blockquote>
Guffey told The Daily Wire on Monday that the law &#8220;will save so many teens from feeling the shame that my son faced.&#8221;
&#8220;In addition to having the tool to have the images taken down within 48 hours, the person posting can also face up to 3 years in prison,&#8221; the lawmaker continued. &#8220;With the evolution of criminals using AI and morphed images/videos, this will be the first bill to my knowledge to address Artificial Intelligence.&#8221;
&#8220;I’m so thankful for all of the coalitions behind this and the advocacy of the FLOTUS,&#8221; Guffey added. &#8220;The bravery of young teens such as <a href="https://19thnews.org/2025/05/take-it-down-act-signing-explicit-images/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Elliston and Francesca</a> can’t be commended enough.&#8221;
<div id="attachment_905661" style="width: 867px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-905661" class="wp-image-905661 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-1968507123-857x576.jpg" alt="South Carolina state Rep. Brandon Guffey, holds a picture of his son Gavin Guffey, 17, who died by suicide after being entrapped in a sexual extortion scam on Instagram, during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing titled &quot;Big Tech and the Online Child Sexual Exploitation Crisis,&quot; in Dirksen building on Wednesday, January 31, 2024." width="857" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-1968507123-857x576.jpg 857w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-1968507123-300x202.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-1968507123-768x516.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-1968507123.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 857px) 100vw, 857px" />Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images</div>
Guffey <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/podcasts/morning-wire/the-sextortion-crisis-claiming-the-lives-of-teen-boys-4-12-25" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told The Daily Wire</a> last month that he wants social media companies to have protections stripped from them over their lack of action concerning CSAM material.
“I think the number one thing that we have to do is to remove Section 230, or revisit Section 230, which was written in 1996,” he told The Daily Wire. “It gives these companies — who are the richest companies since the inception of man — it absolves them from being sued. So we can sue them, but things get thrown out before discovery because they just say, ‘We’re not responsible for anything online because this is a public forum.’”
Guffey is currently suing Meta, the parent company of Instagram, over his son’s death. “I filed a suit directly on my own, not demanding money, but demanding change.”
Trump&#8217;s <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/how-country-star-john-rich-teamed-up-with-kristi-noem-to-combat-child-sextortion?author=Amanda+Prestigiacomo&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=How+Country+Star+John+Rich+Teamed+Up+With+Kristi+Noem+To+Combat+Child+Sextortion" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Department of Homeland Security</a> is currently taking on the uptick in sexual extortion, or &#8220;sextortion,&#8221; cases against minors with its initiative <a href="https://www.dhs.gov/know2protect" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Know2Protect</a>. Recently, country star <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/how-country-star-john-rich-teamed-up-with-kristi-noem-to-combat-child-sextortion?author=Amanda+Prestigiacomo&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=How+Country+Star+John+Rich+Teamed+Up+With+Kristi+Noem+To+Combat+Child+Sextortion" target="_blank" rel="noopener">John Rich</a> teamed up with the department to educate parents and teens about the issue.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/dozens-of-teen-boys-take-their-own-lives-as-online-sextortion-cases-spike" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dozens Of Teen Boys Take Their Own Lives As Online Sextortion Cases Spike</a>

Easter Egg Roll 2025

Trump Signs Bill To Protect Young People From Sextortion And Revenge Porn

Child Abuse

Crime

President Donald Trump shared his thoughts on Sunday after learning that his predecessor, former President Joe Biden, had been diagnosed with an &#8220;aggressive&#8221; form of prostate cancer that had already metastasized to his bones.
Trump responded to the sad news in a post on his Truth Social platform that was also shared by the White House&#8217;s official X account, saying that he and First Lady Melania Trump wished Biden and his family the best and hoped his treatment and recovery would be quick.
&#8220;Melania and I are saddened to hear about Joe Biden’s recent medical diagnosis. We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery,&#8221; he posted.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
&#8220;Melania and I are saddened to hear about <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeBiden?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JoeBiden</a>’s recent medical diagnosis. We extend our warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family, and we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery.&#8221; –President Donald J. Trump 🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/6HjermTGK7">pic.twitter.com/6HjermTGK7</a>
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a href="https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1924226781118443643?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The news of Biden&#8217;s diagnosis broke on Sunday, just five days after it was reported that his doctors had discovered a &#8220;nodule&#8221; on his prostate and were conducting a more thorough examination.
&#8220;Last week, President Joe Biden was seen for a new finding of a prostate nodule after experiencing increasing urinary symptoms. On Friday, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, characterized by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis to the bone,&#8221; Biden&#8217;s team said in a statement. &#8220;While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management. The President and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians.&#8221;
Former Vice President Kamala Harris also shared her thoughts on the news in a post to X, saying, &#8220;Doug and I are saddened to learn of President Biden’s prostate cancer diagnosis. We are keeping him, Dr. Biden, and their entire family in our hearts and prayers during this time. Joe is a fighter — and I know he will face this challenge with the same strength, resilience, and optimism that have always defined his life and leadership. We are hopeful for a full and speedy recovery.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Doug and I are saddened to learn of President Biden’s prostate cancer diagnosis. We are keeping him, Dr. Biden, and their entire family in our hearts and prayers during this time. Joe is a fighter — and I know he will face this challenge with the same strength, resilience, and… <a href="https://t.co/gG5nB0GMPp">pic.twitter.com/gG5nB0GMPp</a>
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) <a href="https://twitter.com/KamalaHarris/status/1924219372819673156?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 18, 2025</a></blockquote>
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President Donald Trump

Trump Reacts To Joe Biden’s Cancer Diagnosis

Trump Reacts To Joe Biden's Cancer Diagnosis

Cancer

Joe Biden

First lady Melania Trump on Thursday unveiled a new U.S. Postal Service stamp honoring former first lady Barbara Bush.
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NEW: <a href="https://twitter.com/FLOTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FLOTUS</a> attends the unveiling of the U.S. Postal Service stamp honoring Former First Lady Barbara Bush. <a href="https://t.co/wAmIeIBfMi">pic.twitter.com/wAmIeIBfMi</a>
— Mary Margaret Olohan (@MaryMargOlohan) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaryMargOlohan/status/1920574184175849866?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
Trump revealed the new stamp during an event in the White House’s East Room alongside members of the Bush family. Attendees included Alice Yates, CEO of the George and Barbara Bush Foundation, and Bush’s daughter, Doro.
Doro delivered an address honoring her late mother, who died in 2018 at the age of 92.
“Barbara Bush, known to many as Mom, Gammy, Silver Fox, or most famously in our family, the Enforcer, will forever be remembered for her strength, abounding love for family, quick wit, and deep commitment to literacy,” she began.
“At just 16 years old, Mom met the only man she would ever kiss,” she continued until she had to choke back tears.
“I watched Susan Ford and I saw her burst into tears when her mother&#8217;s stamp was unveiled. I said, ‘I&#8217;m not gonna do that,”’ Doro added, regaining her composure.
“OK, the only man she would ever kiss at a school dance. Two years later, she was engaged to George H.W. Bush, beginning a partnership that would span decades and help shape history,” she said.
The Barbara Bush stamp is based on a 2005 White House portrait and will be sold in panes of 20, according to the <a href="https://about.usps.com/newsroom/national-releases/2025/0508-usps-unveils-barbara-bush-stamp.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">U.S. Postal Service</a>.
One notable absentee from the ceremony was Bush’s son, former President George W. Bush. The former president has long kept a distance from the Trumps amid reports of the former president’s dislike of President Donald Trump.
Barbara Bush was born in 1925. She met her future husband, former President George H.W. Bush, at a Christmas dance in Connecticut. The two were engaged 18 months later. They had six children: George W. in 1946; Robin, who died of leukemia at age 3, in 1949; Jeb in 1953, Neil in 1955, Marvin in 1956, and Dorothy, known as Doro, in 1959.
Barbara loyally followed her husband through his many career changes before serving as the first lady of the United States from 1989 to 1993. In addition to her love for family, she was known for her tough attitude, witty comebacks, and her dogs.

Barbara Bush

Melania Trump Unveils New Postal Stamp Honoring Former First Lady

General

George H.W. Bush

White House

Right now, there is a bill headed to President Trump’s desk that will protect Americans from deepfake and revenge pornography. This is an incredible win for Americans, and something I have been fighting for my entire career. 
Over decades in the cybersecurity field, I’ve helped solve a lot of crises for government agencies, major corporations and more. But there’s a certain kind of call that I still dread getting. It starts with a trembling voice on the other end of the line: “Can you help me?” As they tell their tale, my heart sinks. A lump forms in my throat. This is another life shattered by explicit images strewn across the digital public square, each notification on their phone another dagger into their sense of safety as the image spreads.
For years, my team and I have made a point to fight for these survivors. We make calls, write letters, beg social media giants to remove the content – real photos stolen from private moments or deepfakes conjured by AI’s dark alchemy. This crime is indiscriminate. It targets the socialites, the professionals, rising stars, the rich and the poor. One professional athlete, a courageous woman I helped, saw her stolen images resurface dozens of times over several years. She told me it made her want to stop leaving her house. Even Scarlett Johansson — a global icon with every possible resource at her fingertips — can’t banish her deepfakes for good. If she’s powerless, what chance do everyday victims have? They have to watch their trauma go viral, reliving it with every view. Some, in desperation, have taken their own lives.
There are different ways to refer to this phenomenon. Terms like “revenge porn” and “deepfake” are often used interchangeably. “Deepfake” describes a specific kind of AI-produced image that usually uses a reproduction of a real person’s face. I reject “revenge porn” because while it may sound edgy in headlines, it re-victimizes the victim. People take intimate images of themselves for all kinds of reasons, from self-confidence to sharing with someone they trust. That may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it doesn’t make it okay to share those peoples’ images without their consent in ways for which they weren’t intended. That’s why I refer to these pictures or videos as non-consensual intimate images, or NCII.
It wasn’t that long ago that pornography hid behind brown wrappers and clerks who checked IDs before you bought it. Now, anyone can steal an image, fabricate a lie, and blast it worldwide at lightning speed. The Cyber Civil Rights Initiative estimates over 15 million Americans – that’s 1 out of every 23 of us – have faced NCII sharing, a number that continues to balloon as AI fuels the carnage. Deepfakes — 98% pornographic, 99% targeting women — number in the hundreds of thousands, with just 16 sites known for hosting them racking up 200 million visits in a six-month period last year.
Social media companies can do better. It’s the right thing to do, and they have the technology to do it. If their algorithm can figure out my favorite shoe color and relentlessly sell them to me, they should be able to address this plague across their platforms. They are making some efforts. Meta removed 1.2 million NCII items in 2024’s first half, but gaps persist. And it’s not entirely the fault of the platforms themselves. 

A tangle of laws and regulations used to combat NCII sharing makes the process slower and more difficult. A 2024 study found that X (formerly Twitter) left 25 reported deepfakes up for weeks, while removing copyright violations in hours – a stark sign that today’s laws prioritize property over people. YouTube and TikTok axe millions of videos over copyright claims, yet billions of views on deepfake sites reveal a glaring chasm. Victims currently have to navigate a maze of rules, pleading to faceless systems with no human to hear their pain and no guarantees the images will come down.
That’s why their haunting words echo in my mind: “Can you help me?” Yes, I can. But my team can’t chase resurgent ghosts across the internet forever.
Thankfully, Washington has woken up to the crisis. The &#8216;Take It Down Act&#8221; makes publishing non-consensual intimate imagery — real or AI-crafted — a federal crime and requires platforms to remove it within 48 hours of a victim’s plea. The bill’s sponsors are Sen. Ted Cruz and Sen. Amy Klobuchar – both outspoken, prominent members of their parties who have run for president in recent years. They have very little in common politically – although they are both parents of daughters. But they worked together to secure an astounding unanimous vote to pass the bill in the Senate. And this week, thankfully, it received an overwhelming victory in the House and is now headed to President Trump’s desk.
Critics, many from the libertarian tech crowd, claim the &#8220;Take It Down Act&#8221; stifles free speech, but protecting victims from abuse isn’t censorship — it’s justice. It helps the rule of law catch up with the pace of technology. It’s not about politics, it’s about people. By one estimate, over 4 million American children have been scarred by AI porn fakes of themselves or peers. The NCII porn pirates don’t care who you vote for – they will strike your family, your friends, your coworkers. The sensible updates to our laws included in the &#8220;Take It Down Act&#8221; will help us protect ourselves and each other. This is a victory worth celebrating.
* * *
Theresa Payton is the CEO of Fortalice Solutions. She was the first female White House chief information officer, serving under President George W. Bush.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Daily Wire.

Senators Cruz And Lummis Hold Press Conference To Discuss Deepfakes

‘Can You Help Me?’ Why The ‘Take It Down Act’ Is A Lifeline For Victims

'Can You Help Me?' Why The 'Take It Down Act' Is A Lifeline For Victims

Artificial Intelligence

Deepfake

Pornography

President Trump

Scarlett Johansson

Social Media

Technology

Women

On Monday, the GOP-led House overwhelmingly passed a bill championed by First Lady Melania Trump to protect victims of non-consensual intimate imagery, including <a href="https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sen-cruz-leads-colleagues-in-unveiling-landmark-bill-to-protect-victims-of-deepfake-revenge-porn" target="_blank" rel="noopener">revenge porn</a> using AI-generated deepfakes.
The <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/146/text" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bill</a>, called the &#8220;Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks (TAKE IT DOWN) Act,&#8221; <a href="https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2025104" target="_blank" rel="noopener">received</a> the support of 207 Republicans and 202 Democrats.
Once signed into law, the legislation would prohibit the non-consensual online publication of intimate visual depictions, including digital forgeries, imposing fines, imprisonment, and mandatory restitution for violations, particularly when intended to harm adults or exploit minors. The bill also requires online platforms hosting user-generated content to remove such depictions within 48 hours of a removal request, with the Federal Trade Commission enforcing compliance.
The Senate <a href="https://www.commerce.senate.gov/index.php/2025/2/cruz-klobuchar-bill-to-protect-teenagers-from-deepfake-revenge-porn-unanimously-passes-the-senate" target="_blank" rel="noopener">unanimously</a> passed the bill, authored by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), in February. In the weeks that followed, Melania Trump encouraged the House to pass the bill during a roundtable discussion with Cruz, other lawmakers, survivors of non-consensual intimate imagery, and online safety advocates, according to the <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/2025/03/readout-from-first-lady-melania-trumps-roundtable-discussion-on-online-protection-and-the-take-it-down-act/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">White House</a>. During her remarks, the first lady <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Yr6AvaDnXo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">spoke</a> about protecting young people, especially girls, from &#8220;malicious online content&#8221; such as deepfakes.
&#8220;This toxic environment can be severely damaging. We must prioritize their well-being by equipping them with the support and tools necessary to navigate this hostile digital landscape,” she said. &#8220;Every young person deserves a safe online space to express themself freely, without the looming threat of exploitation or harm.&#8221;
Having passed both chambers, the bill now awaits President Donald Trump’s signature.
&#8220;Today, the House took a critical step to combat the growing online publication of real and deepfake nonconsensual intimate images with the passage of the Take It Down Act. I want to thank First Lady Melania Trump for championing this important legislation that empowers and provides protections to victims of online sexual exploitation,&#8221; Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said in a statement. “It also criminalizes the publication of nonconsensual intimate images and mandates their removal from online platforms once reported. The First Lady’s leadership has been instrumental in the bill’s passage, and we look forward to seeing this signed into law.&#8221;
Melania Trump also released a statement, mentioning her &#8220;Be Best&#8221; initiative.
&#8220;Today’s bipartisan passage of the Take It Down Act is a powerful statement that we stand united in protecting the dignity, privacy, and safety of our children,&#8221; she said. &#8220;I am thankful to the Members of Congress — both in the House and Senate — who voted to protect the well-being of our youth. Through this critical legislation and our continued focus with ‘Be Best,’ we are building a future where every child can thrive and achieve their full potential.&#8221;
Just two members, Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Eric Burlison (R-MO), voted against it.
Before the House vote, Massie <a href="https://x.com/RepThomasMassie/status/1916984817767579966" target="_blank" rel="noopener">posted</a> on X screenshots of a Washington Post <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/04/08/take-it-down-act-deepfakes-ncii-flaws/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">analysis</a> that highlighted how critics said the deepfake bill is &#8220;flawed.&#8221; The Kentucky Republican said: &#8220;Tonight we’re voting on the &#8216;TAKE IT DOWN Act,&#8217; a bill that would impose federal criminal and civil penalties for publishing unauthorized intimate pictures generated with AI. I’m voting NO because I feel this is a slippery slope, ripe for abuse, with unintended consequences.&#8221;

First Lady Melania Trump

House Passes Melania-Backed Bill To Fight Deepfake Revenge Porn

Online porn

Ted Cruz

U.S. House of Representatives

WASHINGTON—First Lady Melania Trump and President Donald Trump partook in one of the oldest White House traditions on Monday morning as they hosted the annual White House Easter Egg Roll. 
The president and first lady greeted their guests from the Blue Room Balcony overlooking the South Lawn, where staff had prepared games and activities for the brightly colored families in attendance. An estimated 30,000 people attended Monday&#8217;s event, according to a member of the First Lady&#8217;s team.
The Daily Wire spotted a number of high-profile Trump administration attendees, including White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, dressed in a long blue lace dress, and accompanied by her husband and her infant son. Stephen Miller and his wife and children also attended the event, as did National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his wife, FBI Director Kash Patel, and others.
&#8220;We&#8217;re honoring Jesus Christ and we&#8217;re going to honor Jesus Christ very powerfully throughout our lives,&#8221; promised Trump, as he spoke from the Blue Room Balcony. &#8220;Not just now, all throughout our lives. We&#8217;re bringing religion back in America.&#8221;
Trump also said that he signed an executive order ordering the flags of the United States at half-mast in honor of Pope Francis, who passed away on Monday morning. &#8220;He was a good man, worked hard. He loved the world. And it&#8217;s an honor to do that.&#8221;
<div id="attachment_910517" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-and-melania-play-color-with-kids-at-white-house-easter-egg-roll/president-and-mrs-trump-host-annual-white-house-easter-egg-roll" rel="attachment wp-att-910517"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-910517" class="wp-image-910517 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2211298698-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2211298698-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2211298698-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2211298698-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2211298698.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" /></a>President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and the Easter Bunny greet guests during the White House Egg Roll (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)</div>
The day&#8217;s festivities included the famous egg roll, a relay race where the children roll eggs across the lawn; a &#8220;Be Best Military Card Writing Station&#8221; that included coloring; a &#8220;Be Best Hopscotch,&#8221; and the Reading Nook, where Melania Trump read aloud to a large group from the children&#8217;s book &#8220;Bunny With A Big Heart.&#8221;
The president took questions from the media as he entered the event, joking about the 2022 event where the Easter Bunny appeared to lead President Joe Biden to his appropriate spot as the president looked confused and lost.
“Remember when the bunny took Joe Biden out?&#8221; asked Trump, leaning close to the Easter Bunny as he added, &#8220;He’s not taking Trump out!&#8221;
&#8220;That was a beautiful moment,&#8221; he added. &#8220;When the bunny saved Joe Biden.”
His wife laughed and smiled, and moved on to interact with the children, who gathered around her and chatted with the First Lady. She focused on the activities and the children throughout the course of her time at the Easter Egg roll, only interacting with the media once to express condolences over Pope Francis&#8217;s death.
Trump, meanwhile, spoke with reporters several times in between coloring with the children, high-fiving youngsters, and complimenting his wife: &#8220;You know who she is?&#8221; he asked the children. &#8220;First Lady of the United States of America!”
The president joined a table full of youngsters coloring, focusing on coloring his own picture. He looked up and said emphatically, &#8220;I&#8217;m really into this!&#8221; to the delight of those around him.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
President <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> coloring with the kids at the White House Easter Egg Roll!
“I’m really into this!” <a href="https://t.co/VKOK0h2Jcm">pic.twitter.com/VKOK0h2Jcm</a>
— Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) <a href="https://twitter.com/MargoMartin47/status/1914344862683476252?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
&#8220;Religion, I said bring religion back,&#8221; he told Real America&#8217;s Voice&#8217;s Brian Glenn, discussing his opening remarks about Easter and the death of Pope Francis. &#8220;Religion keeps you together. It&#8217;s such a great thing.&#8221;
Many of the activities are part of Melania Trump&#8217;s &#8220;Be Best&#8221; campaign, focused on the importance of social, emotional, and physical health of children. Mrs. Trump started this campaign during the first Trump administration and continues to focus her energy on the project. The Hopscotch at the event, for example, was decorated with eggs that read &#8220;brave,&#8221; &#8220;caring,&#8221; &#8220;smart,&#8221; or &#8220;kind.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Melania Trump’s “Be Best” Hopscotch: <a href="https://t.co/4tc0Se03DN">pic.twitter.com/4tc0Se03DN</a>
— Mary Margaret Olohan (@MaryMargOlohan) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaryMargOlohan/status/1914355396292092344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
<div dir="auto">The First Lady joined the children and encouraged them as they jumped through the hopscotch eggs, chatting with them and with the Easter Bunny, who had followed her to the station. She then proceeded to the Reading Nook, where she read &#8220;Bunny with a Big Heart&#8221; as the children and their parents listened.</div>
<div dir="auto"></div>
<div dir="auto">“Happy Easter! What a beautiful crowd!” she said with a smile as she sat down. After reading the book, she asked the children what they learned, and then listened as they responded.</div>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
FLOTUS reads to children at the “Reading Nook.” The book: “Bunny with a Big Heart,” about a bunny who is rude and forgetful until he twists his ankle, and learns to be kind and thoughtful. <a href="https://t.co/WHANcBWpzF">pic.twitter.com/WHANcBWpzF</a>
— Mary Margaret Olohan (@MaryMargOlohan) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaryMargOlohan/status/1914347379144216869?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
<div dir="auto">“Yes, we need to make friends and take care of them as well,” she told one child, adding, &#8220;Kindness, yes,&#8221; to another.</div>
<div dir="auto"></div>
<div dir="auto">&#8220;I hope to see you next year!&#8221; she said, as she concluded her book reading.</div>

Trump And Melania Play, Color With Kids At White House Easter Egg Roll

Easter

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he will attend the funeral of Pope Francis, which will likely take place in Rome this month.
&#8220;Melania and I will be going to the funeral of Pope Francis, in Rome,&#8221; the president shared in a Truth Social post on Monday afternoon. &#8220;We look forward to being there!&#8221;
It&#8217;s not immediately clear when the funeral will be: a pope is typically <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/pope-francis-dies-at-the-age-of-88?topStoryPosition=undefined&amp;author=Hank+Berrien&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=1&amp;rowHeadline=Top+Stories&amp;rowType=Top+Stories&amp;title=Pope+Francis+Is+Dead+At+88">mourned for nine days</a> while the College of Cardinals comes together to pray. After the pope&#8217;s funeral takes place, the conclave of cardinals will elect a new pope.
His announcement came after he ordered federal and state flags to fly at half-staff in memory of Pope Francis.
<div id="attachment_910531" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/president-trump-to-attend-funeral-of-pope-francis-in-rome/trump-orders-flags-to-fly-at-half-staff-to-honor-pope-francis" rel="attachment wp-att-910531"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-910531" class="wp-image-910531 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2211326600-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2211326600-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2211326600-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2211326600-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2211326600.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" /></a>The U.S. flag flies at half staff near the Washington Monument on the National Mall in honor of Pope Francis on April 21, 2025 in Washington, DC.  (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)</div>
“As a mark of respect for the memory of His Holiness Pope Francis, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, on the day of interment,” Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114376655236734018">wrote in a separate post</a>.
He added: “I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.”
The president spoke of the pope at the White House Easter Egg roll, where he told attendees of Pope Francis: &#8220;He was a good man, worked hard. He loved the world.”
Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, announced on Monday that the pope had died at 7:35 that morning, stating: &#8220;His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and of His Church. He taught us to live the values of the Gospel with fidelity, courage, and universal love, especially in favor of the poorest and most marginalized.”
The pope&#8217;s body will be transferred to St. Peter&#8217;s Basilica on Wednesday morning, the Vatican said Monday, so that &#8220;the faithful may pray before his mortal remains.&#8221;
&#8220;The translation of the Holy Father&#8217;s mortal remains to the Vatican Basilica, for the veneration of all the faithful, may take place on the morning of Wednesday, April 23, 2025, according to the arrangements that shall be determined and communicated tomorrow, following the first Congregation of the Cardinals,&#8221; <a href="https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-04/pope-francis-ascertainment-death-cardinal-kevin-farrell.html">said the director of the Holy See Press Office</a>, Matteo Bruni.

VATICAN-POPE-AUDIENCE-US-DIPLOMACY

President Trump To Attend Funeral Of Pope Francis In Rome

Catholic

Pope Francis

Religion

Rome

World

WASHINGTON—First Lady Melania Trump honored female recipients with the &#8220;International Women of Courage Awards&#8221; on Tuesday afternoon, sharing that these awardees &#8220;prove that love can inspire extraordinary valor even in the face of vulnerability.&#8221;
The First Lady co-hosted the annual International Women of Courage Awards ceremony at the State Department with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Dressed in a long, leopard print trench coat, Melania focused on the unique capability of these female advocates, activists, and leaders to act in the name of love.
&#8220;Today, we celebrate courage —a strength that is based in love,&#8221; she said.&#8221;This truth is illustrated through our honorees, who prove that love can inspire extraordinary valor even in the face of vulnerability.&#8221;
&#8220;Their remarkable stories are a testament to the power of love in practice — for family, community, and our world,&#8221; she continued. &#8220;This is especially evident in places where their passion defies convention and when it has been shown at great personal risk of stigma, persecution, or harm.&#8221;
This is the fifth year that Melania Trump has attended the event. Her predecessor, Jill Biden, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-admin-gives-international-women-of-courage-award-to-a-biological-man">previously gave</a> an International Women of Courage award to a man who identifies as a woman named Alba Rueda, Argentina’s Special Envoy for Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and the first trans-identifying politician to hold a senior governmental position. Rueda had made a name for himself pushing pro-transgender policies in Argentina.
<div id="attachment_901335" style="width: 871px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/melania-celebrates-women-at-state-department-awards-ceremony-strength-that-is-based-in-love/us-politics-diplomacy-women-2" rel="attachment wp-att-901335"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-901335" class="wp-image-901335 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2207477418-861x576.jpg" alt="" width="861" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2207477418-861x576.jpg 861w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2207477418-300x201.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2207477418-768x514.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2207477418.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 861px) 100vw, 861px" /></a>Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images</div>
Awardees at Tuesday&#8217;s event included human rights defender Henriette Da; Hamas hostage survivor Amit Soussana; womens&#8217; rights activist Major Velena Iga; Phillippines &#8220;Mama Ranger&#8221; Angelique Songco; human rights advocate Georgiana Pascu; women&#8217;s rights leader Zabib Musa Loro Bakhit; journalist Namini Wijedasa; and Yemeni advocate Amat Al-Salam Abdullah Abdo al-Hajj.
Additionally, the Madeleine Albright Honorary Group Award was given to the “Women Student Protest Leaders of Bangladesh.&#8221;
The First Lady described these awardees as &#8220;brave women&#8221; who have &#8220;refused to let fear or hardship define them.&#8221; She specifically singled out Pascu, saying that she &#8220;exemplifies love in action.&#8221;
&#8220;Georgiana is a &#8216;watchdog&#8217; who defends the dignity of Romanians whose voices cannot be heard,&#8221; Melania explained.
&#8220;She fearlessly enters facilities designated as &#8216;care centers&#8217; to rescue people with disabilities who are unwittingly held captive. In fact, Georgiana usually shows up unannounced and discovers the unimaginable — helpless adults and children bound, sedated, starving, and in extreme cases, dying. Thanks to Georgiana’s brave work, dozens of offenders have been charged with human trafficking, exploitation, and even organized crime.&#8221;
The First Lady also extended a message to women across the world who advocate on behalf of others.
<div id="attachment_901337" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/melania-celebrates-women-at-state-department-awards-ceremony-strength-that-is-based-in-love/state-department-hosts-19th-annual-international-women-of-courage-award-ceremony" rel="attachment wp-att-901337"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-901337" class="wp-image-901337 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2207993780-864x576.jpg" alt="" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2207993780-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2207993780-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2207993780-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/04/GettyImages-2207993780.jpg 1024w" sizes="(max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" /></a>Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images</div>
&#8220;Let us also take a moment to acknowledge those who persist in their struggles,&#8221; she said. &#8220;For each of them, love serves as a powerful catalyst, instilling a profound sense of purpose in their endeavors. To the women who are driven to speak out for justice, even though their voices are trembling. To the women who are motivated to rise up for their community, when all others remain indifferent.To the women who feel compelled to heal wounds caused by hatred – and cherish peace.&#8221;
&#8220;These extraordinary women illuminate the transformative power of love in shaping our world,&#8221; she added. &#8220;Their journeys remind us that true courage is born from a deep commitment to others, showing that love fuels the call for justice. Through their brave actions, they inspire us to embrace our own potential for change, teaching us that while courage drives us forward, it is love that lays the groundwork for lasting impact. Let their stories motivate us to take courageous steps, knowing that each act of love can spark a ripple of transformation.&#8221;

US-POLITICS-DIPLOMACY-WOMEN

Melania Celebrates Women At State Department Awards Ceremony: ‘Strength That Is Based In Love’

Jill Biden

State Department

President Donald Trump on Monday reacted to the news that the first seven seasons of his hit reality TV series &#8220;The Apprentice&#8221; will be streaming on Amazon Prime starting March 10.
“I look forward to watching this show myself — such great memories, and so much fun, but most importantly, it was a learning experience for all of us!” Trump said in a statement to the <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/03/10/entertainment/trump-reacts-to-the-apprentice-streaming-on-amazon-prime-video/?utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_campaign=nypost&amp;utm_medium=social">New York Post</a>.
The show launched Trump as a reality TV star, and it&#8217;s where his famous catchphrase, “You’re fired,” came from, which he used on the series and on the campaign trail as recently as during his 2024 presidential run.
Originally airing on NBC in 2004, the non-celebrity versions of &#8220;The Apprentice&#8221; rolled out on Monday for Amazon viewers in the United States only, The <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/donald-trump-the-apprentice-streaming-amazon-1236159298/">Hollywood Reporter</a> noted.
“The Apprentice is one of the best shows that I ever produced. The charismatic onscreen presence of President Donald J. Trump made it a bona fide hit,” producer Mark Burnett said in a statement to THR. “Now, thanks to Prime Video, a whole new audience will experience a new season every Monday.”
“This show is a love letter to New York City! ‘Survivor’ grew an entirely new massive audience as result of old seasons being binged during the pandemic,” he added. “On Monday, March 10, this same phenomenon will begin again… with ‘The Apprentice.’”
While it is unclear how much Trump will be paid, he was an executive producer on the hit show and will likely receive some kind of compensation, THR noted.
News of the re-airing of the Trump series comes following reports that the streaming site, headed by Amazon executive Jeff Bezos, is working on a documentary with first lady Melania Trump. The documentary has reportedly already started shooting in several locations, including at the White House, as previously reported.
<a href="https://variety.com/2025/film/news/melania-trump-documentary-amazon-brett-ratner-directing-1236265670/">Variety</a> previously reported that Melania was working on a documentary for Amazon Prime Video that she is executive producing with Fernando Sulichin. The documentary will be directed by Brett Ratner.
Ahead of Trump’s second inauguration, the Wall Street Journal reported that the president received large donations from two of the top tech leaders in the country for his inaugural fund, as they looked to curry favor with him, Bezos and Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
Zuckerberg — whose company owns Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and more — gave a $1 million donation to the fund, The Wall Street Journal <a href="https://www.wsj.com/tech/mark-zuckerbergs-meta-donates-1-million-to-trumps-inaugural-fund-32a999c1">reported</a>.
The Journal separately <a href="https://www.wsj.com/politics/elections/jeff-bezos-amazon-plans-to-donate-1-million-to-trumps-inauguration-dc3705ac?mod=breakingnews">reported</a> that Amazon.com was also planning to donate $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/melania-trumps-plans-as-first-lady-second-time-around-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Melania Trump’s Plans As First Lady Second Time Around: Report</a>

‘So Much Fun’: Trump Reacts To ‘The Apprentice’ Reruns Coming To Streaming

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