Latest news with #FLOTUS
USA Today
6 days ago
- Politics
- USA Today
No, Barron Trump was not rejected from Harvard, FLOTUS says amid university battle
No, Barron Trump was not rejected from Harvard, FLOTUS says amid university battle Show Caption Hide Caption Harvard suing Trump administration over international enrollment ban Harvard is suing the Trump administration in response to its international student enrollment ban. Barron Trump did not apply to or get rejected from Harvard, according to the first lady's office. Trump is in an ongoing fued with Harvard after it refused to comply with federal directives. Trump's administration has targeted several elite universities, alleging they are not doing enough to protect Jewish students. President Donald Trump is escalating his ongoing battle with Harvard University. Harvard is one of several universities that have been targeted by the Trump administration, which alleges schools aren't doing enough to protect Jewish students. Harvard has defied the administration's orders and filed multiple lawsuits to fight the blowback. On May 27, the New York Times and CNN reported that the Trump administration is poised to cancel the remaining federal contracts with Harvard, worth an estimated $100 million in total. The fierce fight has led to questions about Trump's personal history with the university. For example, some have wondered whether Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump's son Barron Trump, 19, was rejected from the university. Here is what we know: What did Trump do on Memorial Day? Arlington speech, golf course visit, 'scum' social media post Did Barron Trump get rejected from Harvard? No. According to the first lady's office, he didn't even apply. "Barron did not apply to Harvard, and any assertion that he, or that anyone on his behalf, applied is completely false," Nick Clemens, spokesperson for the Office of the First Lady, said in an emailed statement. Harvard University did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In the months leading up to the 2024 presidential election, the president's youngest son attended a Florida rally, and then-candidate Donald Trump confirmed Barron Trump's plan to go to college. "He's now going to college, got into every college he wanted to," Donald Trump said at the July 9, 2024, rally in Doral, Florida. "He made his choice and he is a very good guy." Why is Trump fighting with Harvard? Trump has threatened to withhold funding from several universities in the U.S. if they do not follow federal directives, all under the banner of fighting antisemitism. He has alleged the institutions did not do enough to combat antisemitism during the protests against the war in Gaza, which brought allegations of both antisemitism and Islamaphobia. Harvard, however, had refused the administration's orders, which included ending all diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs within the school, hiring an external auditor to review the school's groups to ensure diverse ideological viewpoints, and update admissions processes to prevent admitting students "hostile to the American values and institutions inscribed in the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence." Defying the orders has put billions of dollars worth of federal funding and its tax-exempt status at risk. The Trump administration also recently attempted to prohibit the school from enrolling international students, which was blocked by a federal judge. Where is Barron Trump going to college? Barron Trump recently finished his freshman year at New York University's Stern School of Business. He's projected to graduate in class of 2028 from NYU. Where did President Donald Trump go to college? President Donald Trump graduated from the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce at the University of Pennsylvania in May 1968 with a degree in economics. Contributing: Jennifer Sangalang, Antonio Fins, Zachary Schermele, Savannah Kuchar, USA TODAY Network Kinsey Crowley is the Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at kcrowley@ Follow her on X and TikTok @kinseycrowley or Bluesky at @
Indian Express
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Trump signs ‘Take it Down Act' to combat deepfakes and online exploitation: Here are its key aspects
United States President Donald Trump, on Monday (May 19), signed a landmark law making it illegal to share explicit images of individuals without their consent. The legislation, called the 'Take It Down Act', targets revenge porn and aims to combat the distribution of non-consensual sexual images on the internet, including the fake images created using artificial intelligence (AI). 'With the rise of AI image generation, countless women have been harassed with deepfakes and other explicit images distributed against their will,' Trump said at a signing ceremony in the Rose Garden of the White House. 'And today we're making it totally illegal,' the US president said. 'Anyone who intentionally distributes explicit images without the subject's consent will face up to three years in prison.' One of the key aspects of the law is that it holds online platforms accountable for removing harmful content. Under this, tech companies must remove explicit images within 48 hours of notification, and if the websites fail to do so, they could face legal penalties. The bill received strong bipartisan support and was publicly backed by First Lady Melania Trump. Aimed at safeguarding the victims of revenge porn and non-consensual image sharing, the ones who put out such content without consent can face prison time. 'This will be the first-ever federal law to combat the distribution of explicit imagery posted without subjects' consent,' Trump said. 'We will not tolerate online sexual exploitation,' he added. 'Today, through the 'TAKE IT DOWN' Act, we affirm that the well-being of our children is central to the future of our families and America. I am proud to say that the values of BE BEST will be reflected in the law of the land.' – FLOTUS — First Lady Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) May 19, 2025 'National victory' After signing the bill, Trump passed it to his wife, Melania, to sign it, 'C'mon, sign it anyway,' the US president told the first lady. 'She deserves to sign it.' Calling the law a 'national victory', Melania said that it will help families and parents to safeguard their children from 'online exploitation.' The first lady endorsed the bill in her first solo engagement after her husband's return to the White House. 'AI and social media are the digital candy for the next generation, sweet addictive and engineered to have an impact on the cognitive development of our children,' she said at the signing ceremony. 'But unlike sugar, these new technologies can be weaponized, shape beliefs and, sadly, affect emotions and even be deadly.' Earlier in March, Melania convened a roundtable discussion on Capitol Hill, highlighting that it was extremely 'heartbreaking to witness young teens, especially girls, grappling with the overwhelming challenges posed by malicious online content.' Key aspects of Take It Down Act – Mandatory 48-hour takedown: The online platforms must remove content reported by the victim within 48 hours of receiving a complaint. The tech companies are also required to take 'reasonable steps' to ensure that the same image is not reappearing elsewhere on their service. – Scope The law covers both real and digitally-created explicit images, including those generated or manipulated by artificial intelligence. – Criminalisation The Take It Down Act makes it a crime to knowingly publish or threaten to publish explicit images of someone without their consent. – Platform Accountability Online platforms are required to remove non-consensual intimate images promptly. Failure to comply may result in enforcement actions from the Federal Trade Commission.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Melania Trump Sports Prada Suit for Take It Down Act Signing
Melania Trump appeared to be all business to join President Trump for Monday's signing of the Take It Down Act. Wearing a double-breasted gray Prada skirt suit, the first lady not only spoke at the podium about the legislation, but she cosigned it after President Trump did. The first lady had lobbied for the bipartisan bill that is meant to curb online exploitation and the nonconsensual sharing of sexually explicit videos and photos on Capitol Hill earlier this year. The legislation includes artificial intelligence-generated fakes. More from WWD US Footwear Manufacturers Tell Trump Tariffs Should Fund Onshoring Resurgence Italian Trade Agency Transforms Headquarters Into a Luxurious Home FDRA, AAFA, NRF, RILA: U.S.-China Tariff Pause A Welcome Start, But More Needs To Be Done The first lady's signature was not standard procedure for Rose Garden signings. The Prada ensemble was not a new purchase, but a suit that Trump wore last year for a European magazine photo shoot and another event that was not open to the press, according to her stylist Hervé Pierre. The designer suit, which is in a feint plaid, was said to have been purchased at Prada's Madison Avenue store in New York City. Coincidentally, Infusion de Rose Eau de Parfum is a fragrance by Prada Beauty. Menswear is a major spring trend, thanks largely to the Costume Institute's 'Superfine: Tailoring Black Style' at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. FLOTUS wore a tank pantsuit, white shirt and dark necktie for her trip to Capitol Hill in March with Sen. Ted Cruz, a cosponsor of the Take It Down Act. During President Trump's remarks at the Monday afternoon signing, he spoke of his two-hour phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who reportedly said among other things that 'they like Melania better' than Trump. Asked about FLOTUS' look, Deirdre Clemente, a historian and curator of 20th-century American material culture at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, said, 'Affiliated with board rooms and office attire, gray suits mean business. The first lady's new taste for them is delivering a cultural message. She has abandoned her more feminine attire to dress like the people in power: men.' Trump previously left her mark on the Rose Garden in other ways, having reconfigured it in 2020. Gone were 10 crab apple trees that the late horticulturist's Bunny Mellon had included in her transformation of the Rose Garden under former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy's watchful eyes, which prompted much criticism. A good number of plants and flowers also got the heave-ho, and the irrigation system was replaced with a new one. Although more than 112 years ago there had been a rose garden under glass where the official Rose Garden now rests, it was former President Woodrow Wilson's first wife Ellen Axson Wilson who set up the first open-air rose garden at the White House. Her creation 'reflected the sophisticated gardening taste of a woman familiar with the modern Beaux-Arts ideas that gardens served architecture,' according to the White House Historical Association. Axson Wilson also set up her own take on a grand entrance, by creating a lengthy privet-bordered walkway 'to give the president a handsome approach from the White House to the West Wing.' She dubbed that gateway the 'president's walk.' Other attendees at Monday's signing turned up in more flowery shades like chief of staff Susie Wiles' pale green suit and blouse and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's ultralight ecru ensemble. Earlier in the day the pastel-leaning White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt wore a butter yellow pantsuit and top for a briefing at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Trump's front woman is known to work with the designer Christopher Cuozzo, who runs a 'Custom Menswear Fit Lab' and has a phone number that ends with four letters in lieu of numbers — 'SUIT.' Cuozzo did not respond immediately to a media request Monday. Best of WWD The Strategic Rise of Models at the Cannes Film Festival: Glamour, Fashion Brands and Media Millions Cannes Film Festival's Sheer Dresses on the Red Carpet Through the Years: Sophia Loren, Bella Hadid & More [PHOTOS] Celebrities Wearing Zara: From Melania Trump's Controversial Coat to Kate Middleton's Blazer Collection [PHOTOS]
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
What is ‘Take it Down Act'? Donald Trump signs landmark law backed by Melania to combat revenge porn and AI deepfakes
Donald Trump and FLOTUS Melania Trump sign landmark bill US President Donald Trump on Monday signed a new law that makes it illegal to share explicit images of people without their permission, including fake images made using AI. The legislation is called the 'Take It Down Act,' and aims to protect victims of revenge porn and stop the spread of non-consensual sexual images online. The bill had strong bipartisan support and was backed publicly by first lady Melania Trump. The measure passed the Senate in February and the House then March, before reaching the president's desk. 'This will be the first-ever federal law to combat the distribution of explicit, imagery posted without subjects' consent,' Trump said during a signing ceremony at the White House. 'We will not tolerate online sexual exploitation," he added. After signing the bill, Trump handed it to Melania to add her signature as well. The law requires social media companies and websites to remove explicit photos and videos, including those manipulated by artificial intelligence, within 48 hours of a victim's request. Those who knowingly share such images without permission can face prison time. Melania Trump called the law a 'national victory that will help parents and families protect children from online exploitation.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Tukarkan Bitcoin dan Ethereum - Tanpa Dompet Diperlukan! IC Markets MULAI SEKARANG Undo Speaking at the bill's introduction in March, she pointed out the dangers faced by youth: 'It's heartbreaking to witness young teens, especially girls, grappling with the overwhelming challenges posed by malicious online content like deep fakes. This toxic environment can be severely damaging.' She also warned about the impact of new technologies, saying, 'Artificial intelligence and social media are the digital candy for the next generation — sweet, addictive and engineered to have an impact on the cognitive development of our children.' She added that these technologies 'can be weaponised, shape beliefs and, sadly, affect emotions and even be deadly.' The Take It Down Act represents one of the first federal laws directly addressing harms caused by AI-generated content. While laws protecting children from AI-manipulated images existed before, there was no nationwide protection for adults until now. The law also holds tech companies accountable for removing harmful content. Major platforms like Meta, TikTok, and Snapchat have expressed support for the bill. Despite this, some digital rights groups have raised concerns that the law could lead to the removal of legal content and lacks safeguards against bad-faith takedown requests. The bill's passage followed numerous high-profile cases where celebrities such as Taylor Swift and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, as well as ordinary teenage girls, were victims of AI-created explicit images. The law signals a stronger societal stand against intimate image abuse. The Take It Down Act was first introduced last year by Senators Ted Cruz and Amy Klobuchar and passed nearly unanimously.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Happy Mother's Day from Melania Trump. President posts sizzle reel and Christmas-like greeting
Whatever the first family did to celebrate Mother's Day, they did it out of the public eye. The White House indicated to reporters Sunday morning that there would be no news coming from them all day (though the president's Truth Social delivered plenty of news on May 11). But First Lady Melania Trump posted a video from her social media accounts, showing snippets from a May 8 event when she celebrated military mothers. It was one of only a handful of public appearances she has made as first lady since Inauguration Day. "I urge you to prioritize your well-being. Nurture yourself, for your strength is the bedrock of a brighter future for our children," the post from FLOTUS stated. "By caring for ourselves, we empower the next generation to thrive. Together, let's build a legacy of resilience and hope. Your journey matters. Embrace it!' Who's who in the maternal family tree? Happy Mother's Day to these Trump family mothers President Donald Trump reposted Melania Trump's video on social media. Shortly after midnight at the top of Mother's Day, the president seemed to harken back to a popular Christmas story in a Truth Social post: "HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOODNIGHT!!!" The president also touched on the holiday in an official proclamation. "America's mothers are the heart of our families, the light in our homes, and the stewards of our Nation's future," the May 9 proclamation stated. " From infancy to adulthood, our mothers shape our characters and form our consciences — and play a crucial role in raising the next generation of proud Americans." On May 8, First Lady Melania Trump spoke at the White House in a celebration of military mothers. "Motherhood: The life-changing event that makes women invincible and exposed at the same time," she said in her remarks, included in the edited video she posted on Mother's Day. "The sacred strength of women is a profound force. With unwavering love and nurturing wisdom, we have the ability to inspire, uplift, and shape the future hearts of our children." The event was one of two she spoke at that day, and one of only a handful of appearances she has made as first lady within the president's first 100 days of his second presidency. President Donald Trump's first daughter Ivanka Trump posted a tribute to her late mother Ivana Trump, the president's first wife, on Instagram as an Instagram Story and Instagram album post. "I'm holding close the beautiful memories of my mother, Ivana — her strength, humor, and love continue to guide me every day," the post stated. "I feel her presence in so many moments, especially as I raise my own children." Ivanka Trump has three children with Jared Kushner. Donald Trump's second wife Marla Maples also wished her social media followers a happy Mother's Day. Maples was married to Donald Trump from 1993 to 1999. They have one daughter together, Tiffany Trump, who is expecting a baby "any day now," according to the first daughter's social media posts. "I'm super excited because my beautiful daughter is so so close to having her own baby, so this is a Mother's Day like none before," Maples said in the video. Ivana and Donald Trump, married from 1977 to 1992, have three kids together. Donald Trump Jr. (He has five children with his ex-wife Vanessa Trump.) Ivanka Trump (She is married to Jared Kushner with three kids.) Eric Trump (He is married to Lara Trump, and they have two kids.) Marla Maples and Donald Trump were married from 1993 until 1999. Their daughter Tiffany Trump, married to Michael Boulos, is pregnant with her first child. Melania Trump and Donald Trump were married in 2005. Barron Trump, 19, is Donald and Melania Trump's only child together. Contributing: Jennifer Sangalang, Cheryl McCloud, USA TODAY Network Kinsey Crowley is the Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at kcrowley@ Follow her on X and TikTok @kinseycrowley or Bluesky at @ This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Trump's Mother's Day message to Melania, mother of Barron Trump
