House OKs Melania Trump TAKE IT DOWN Act, Sends to President

29 Apr at 12:56 pm

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House OKs Melania Trump TAKE IT DOWN Act, Sends to President/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The House overwhelmingly passed the TAKE IT DOWN Act, a bill championed by First Lady Melania Trump to combat revenge porn and AI-generated deepfakes. Approved by a 409-2 vote, the legislation now heads to President Donald Trump’s desk. The bill mandates swift removal of non-consensual intimate images and enforces strict criminal penalties.

First lady Melania Trump arrived to Capitol Hill to urge the passage of the Take It Down Act by Senate to protects victims of real and deepfake “revenge pornography” by criminalizing their publication on March 3, 2025.

Melania Trump’s TAKE IT DOWN Act: Quick Looks

House passed the bill 409-2, sending it to President Trump.
The TAKE IT DOWN Act targets revenge porn and AI deepfakes.
Platforms must remove flagged images within 48 hours.
Violators face prison time, fines, and mandatory restitution.
Bill sponsored by Sen. Ted Cruz and Rep. Maria Salazar.
Melania Trump praised for leadership alongside bipartisan supporters.
Critics, including Reps. Thomas Massie and Eric Burlison, opposed over potential abuse concerns.
Legislation builds on Melania Trump’s broader #BeBest initiatives.

House OKs Melania Trump TAKE IT DOWN Act, Sends to President

Deep Look

Melania Trump Celebrates Landmark House Passage of TAKE IT DOWN Act to Combat Revenge Porn

WASHINGTON — In a resounding 409-2 vote, the House of Representatives on Monday passed the TAKE IT DOWN Act, a sweeping anti-revenge porn measure backed by First Lady Melania Trump. The legislation now heads to President Donald Trump’s desk for his signature.

The Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks — or TAKE IT DOWN Act — criminalizes the nonconsensual online publication of intimate images, including deepfake content created by artificial intelligence. The bill mandates that online platforms must remove such images within 48 hours once notified.

First Lady Melania Trump, who returned to her public-facing role in January, has been a key advocate for the bill. “Advancing this legislation has been a key focus since I returned to my role as First Lady,” she wrote on X (formerly Twitter), celebrating the bill’s passage. “By safeguarding children from hurtful online behavior today, we take a vital step in nurturing our leaders of tomorrow. #BeBest.”

A Bipartisan Push for Victims’ Rights

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who introduced the bill in January, emphasized the legislation’s significance in protecting victims from ongoing trauma. “This victory belongs first and foremost to the heroic survivors who shared their stories and the advocates who never gave up,” Cruz wrote on X.

Cruz also thanked Democratic allies, including Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.), along with Melania Trump and Rep. Maria Salazar (R-Fla.), who introduced the bill in the House.

House Republicans hailed the act as “crucial legislation” in safeguarding Americans from online exploitation. During Monday’s vote, lawmakers praised the first lady’s leadership in pushing the measure forward, noting it would create a safer digital landscape for both children and adults.

Details of the TAKE IT DOWN Act

According to the bill summary:

It prohibits the online publication of non-consensual intimate images, both real and AI-generated.
Platforms must establish systems allowing victims to notify them of violations.
Online platforms then have 48 hours to remove the flagged content.
Violators face mandatory restitution, prison time, fines, or a combination of penalties.
Threats to publish such material are similarly criminalized.

The bill covers adults with a reasonable expectation of privacy and minors, explicitly protecting against abuse, harassment, and exploitation.

Opposition Concerns

Despite overwhelming bipartisan support, two Republicans — Reps. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Eric Burlison (R-Mo.) — voted against the legislation. Massie warned that while the intent of the bill is laudable, it could lead to unintended consequences and misuse. “I feel this is a slippery slope, ripe for abuse,” he posted on X.

Building on BE BEST

The legislation aligns with Melania Trump’s broader advocacy through her “Be Best” initiative, which launched during her husband’s first term. Be Best focused on children’s well-being, online safety, and support for families. The first lady also established “Fostering the Future,” providing scholarships to youth aging out of the foster care system.

On Capitol Hill, Melania Trump made a rare public appearance in March to personally lobby for the TAKE IT DOWN Act, walking side-by-side with Sen. Cruz to urge passage.

The bill’s approval marks a significant milestone in the first lady’s renewed mission to combat online abuse and protect vulnerable populations from digital exploitation.