Be Best

President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump with students in the Oval Office at the announcement of the initiative

Be Best was a public-awareness campaign promoted by former First Lady Melania Trump, which focused on well-being for youth and advocating against cyberbullying.[1]

Background

Five days before the 2016 election, Melania told a crowd of supporters in Pennsylvania: "Our culture has gotten too mean and too rough, especially to children and teenagers. It is never okay when a 12-year-old girl or boy is mocked, bullied, or attacked. It is terrible when that happens on the playground. And it is absolutely unacceptable when it is done by someone with no name hiding on the Internet".[2] Regarding the contrast of her platform with her husband's use of social media during his campaign, Melania said shortly after the election that she had rebuked him "all the time", but that "he will do what he wants to do in the end".[3]

On March 13, 2018, Trump scheduled a March 20, 2018 meeting with policy executives from technology companies — including Amazon, Facebook, Google, Snap, and Twitter — to address online harassment and Internet safety, with a particular focus on how those issues affect children.[4] Trump's office avoided the use of the term "cyberbullying",[4] and she came under criticism for championing Internet civility while her husband's Internet behavior had been noted as uncivil.[4][5] Trump attended the roundtable event, focusing on how children are affected by modern technology. Trump said: "I am well aware that people are skeptical of me discussing this topic", but "that will not stop me from doing what I know is right".[6]

Campaign

Be Best official launch video and announcement (17 minutes)

Melania Trump made the initiative and came up with the name "Be Best". Trump said she was prepared for criticism.[7][8]

On May 7, 2018, Trump formally started the Be Best public awareness campaign, which focused on well-being for youth and advocated against cyberbullying and opioid abuse.[9][10] She made the announcement in the White House Rose Garden, a space more typically used for major political announcements from the president.[11] Instead of creating new programs like previous first ladies' projects, Be Best promoted existing initiatives and organizations that worked toward the cause. Public awareness of the initiative remained low, and it was often regarded solely as an anti-cyberbullying campaign.[12]

She formally introduced the campaign on May 7, 2018. Following her speech in the White House Rose Garden, President Donald Trump signed a proclamation declaring May 7 "Be Best" day.[13][14][15] Unlike policy initiatives by previous first ladies (such as Michelle Obama's Let's Move! campaign against childhood obesity, or Nancy Reagan's Just Say No to drugs campaign), Be Best is broad in scope. The initiative focuses on physical and emotional well-being, and also advocates against cyberbullying and opioid abuse.[16]

The initiative began with a very slow start, as Trump underwent kidney surgery one week after the campaign was launched. She made no public appearances for the next several weeks.[17] On July 24, 2018, she visited the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tennessee and talked about children with neonatal withdrawal.[18] On August 6, 2018, she tweeted: "It's #Backtoschool for many youth this month. As you begin a new year, how will you be the best you? #BeBest".[19] She spoke at a cyberbullying summit outside Washington, D.C., on August 20, 2018.[20]

During the initiative's first year, she also promoted Be Best in-person at events in Oklahoma, Washington state, and Nevada. She also promoted Be Best abroad in trips to Ghana, Malawi, Kenya, and Egypt.[21]

In 2020, when scholars and historians were asked during the Siena College Research Institute's first ladies study to assess the signature initiatives of the then most-recent ten first ladies (those from Lady Bird Johnson onward), "Be Best" was ranked as the worst.[22]

Criticism

"Be Best" logo

The slogan "Be Best" has faced criticism for having an apparent grammatical error, as it is missing a definite article, and should read as, "Be the Best."[23][24][25][26][11] The Guardian noted Mrs. Trump's native language, Slovenian, does not use definite articles, and speculated whether the name constituted one-upmanship after Michelle Obama's call to "Be Better".[27] Mrs. Trump's senior advisor, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, called the slogan "illiterate" and pushed for an alternative slogan, "Children First", which the First Lady rejected due to the similarities with her husband's "America First" branding.[28] She commented to her staff that "at least they won't say I plagiarized it".[10]

Trump faced accusations of plagiarization of a Michelle Obama speech when, as part of her "Be Best" campaign in 2018, she gave a speech that appeared to closely echo remarks by Michelle Obama in 2016 and also distributed a written pamphlet that was nearly identical to one published under the Obama administration in 2014.[29][30]

The Be Best campaign drew criticism over perceived hypocrisy for its goal of challenging cyberbullying as her husband Donald Trump was well known for attacking people online.[31] The comparison was noted upon by Donald Trump prior to his campaign's launch that the contrast could provoke criticism.[12] She acknowledged the discrepancy but insisted that she would continue because she felt it was a good cause.[31] On December 12, 2019, Melania Trump's 'Be Best' hashtag trended on Twitter after the President sent a critical tweet directed to then 16-year-old climate activist Greta Thunberg.[32][33][34][35][36] Several media outlets noted that Melania Trump criticized legal expert Pamela Karlan the previous week after Karlan mentioned the Trumps' teenage son, Barron, during testimony as part of the then ongoing impeachment inquiry.[32] The first lady's office responded that spouses can communicate differently and that Barron was not "an activist who travels the globe giving speeches".[37]

Notes

  1. ^ "Melania Trump | Biography & Facts". Encyclopedia Britannica. Archived from the original on 2021-10-21. Retrieved 2021-06-24.
  2. ^ Zorthian, Julia (November 3, 2016). "Read Melania Trump's Campaign Speech Addressing Cyberbullying". Time. New York City. Archived from the original on November 10, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
  3. ^ Flores, Reena (November 13, 2016). "Melania Trump rebukes her husband 'all the time' for Twitter use". CBS News. Archived from the original on November 14, 2016. Retrieved November 14, 2016.
  4. ^ a b c Romm, Tony (March 13, 2018). "Melania Trump will meet with tech giants including Facebook and Google to talk cyberbullying". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on March 15, 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  5. ^ "Kimmel: Melania Trump emerges after 'Winter Stormy Daniels' to renew cyberbullying crusade". Archived from the original on March 15, 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
  6. ^ Bennett, Kate. "Melania Trump addresses critics head-on". CNN. Archived from the original on April 24, 2018. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  7. ^ Rogers, Katie; Davis, Julie Hirschfeld; Haberman, Maggie (August 17, 2018). "Melania Trump, a Mysterious First Lady, Weathers a Chaotic White House". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 20, 2018. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  8. ^ Wise, Justin (August 17, 2018). "Trump tried to dissuade Melania from 'Be Best' anti-bullying campaign: report". The Hill. Archived from the original on February 17, 2019. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  9. ^ Caroli 2019, p. 345.
  10. ^ a b Jordan 2020, p. 247.
  11. ^ a b Bennett 2019, p. 216.
  12. ^ a b Bennett 2019, p. 158.
  13. ^ "Melania Trump unveils 'Be Best' campaign for children". BBC News. May 7, 2018. Archived from the original on May 10, 2018. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  14. ^ Rocha, Veronica; Wagner, Meg (May 7, 2018). "Melania Trump speaks: Live updates". CNN. Archived from the original on September 28, 2019. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  15. ^ Pappas, Alex (May 7, 2018). "Melania Trump unveils 'Be Best' initiative to help kids". Fox News. Archived from the original on January 15, 2019. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  16. ^ McCammon, Sarah (May 7, 2018). "First Lady Melania Trump Unveils 'Be Best' Campaign, Focusing On Children". NPR. Archived from the original on May 10, 2018. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
  17. ^ McCammon, Sarah (June 7, 2018). "One Month Later, What's Become Of Melania Trump's 'Be Best' Campaign?". NPR. Archived from the original on February 12, 2019. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
  18. ^ Bennett, Kate (July 24, 2018). "Melania Trump pushes 'Be Best' initiative with trip to Nashville". CNN. Archived from the original on August 10, 2018. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  19. ^ Stewart, Chelsea (August 8, 2018). "Melania Trump's Tweet About "Be Best" Back-To-School Tips Totally Backfired". Elite Daily. Archived from the original on August 9, 2018. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  20. ^ Phelps, Jordyn (August 20, 2018). "First lady Melania Trump speaks out against cyberbullying". ABC News. Archived from the original on August 25, 2018. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  21. ^ "Melania Trump marked one year of 'Be Best.' What is it, and what has it accomplished?". Archived from the original on 2021-03-23. Retrieved 2021-01-21.
  22. ^ "Eleanor Roosevelt America's Top First Lady for 6th Consecutive Time Abigail Adams Finishes a Close Second; Michelle Obama Moves to Third First Lady Initiatives – Lady Bird Johnson (Environmental Protection) Did Most to Raise Awareness and Address the Issue; Obama (Childhood Obesity), Betty Ford (Women's Rights), and Barbara Bush (Literacy) Made Major Contributions Jackie Kennedy - 4th but First on Being a White House Steward & Public Image" (PDF). scri.siena.edu. Siena Research Institute. December 9, 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 March 2024. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
  23. ^ Schwedel, Heather (May 7, 2018). ""Be Best" Has to Be Bad on Purpose, Right?". Slate. Archived from the original on November 6, 2021. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
  24. ^ Kwong, Jessica (May 7, 2018). "What does 'Be Best' mean? Melania Trump unveils a new initiative aimed at helping children". Newsweek. Archived from the original on March 12, 2019. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
  25. ^ Waldman, Katy (May 8, 2018). "The Childlike Strangeness of Melania Trump's "Be Best" Campaign". The New Yorker. Archived from the original on May 10, 2018. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  26. ^ "Melania Trump's new initiative needs a new name". San Francisco Chronicle. May 8, 2018. Archived from the original on April 2, 2019. Retrieved December 14, 2018.
  27. ^ Hill, Tim (May 8, 2018). "'Be Best': does Melania Trump's oddly named initiative break the laws of grammar?". The Guardian. Archived from the original on June 8, 2018. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
  28. ^ Fox, Emily Jane (February 7, 2019). ""I Am Disgusted": Behind The Scenes of Trump's Increasingly Scrutinized $107 Million Inauguration". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on February 11, 2019. Retrieved February 8, 2019.
  29. ^ Michelle Ruiz (May 8, 2018). "Did Melania Trump Plagiarize the Obamas... Again?". Vogue. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  30. ^ Ashley Hoffman (May 7, 2018). "People Have a Lot of Feelings About Melania Trump's New Cyberbullying Initiative". Time. Archived from the original on June 10, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  31. ^ a b Jordan 2020, pp. 247–248.
  32. ^ a b Gstalter, Morgan (2019-12-12). "Melania Trump's 'Be Best' hashtag trends after president goes after Greta Thunberg". The Hill. Archived from the original on 2021-10-19. Retrieved 2019-12-13.
  33. ^ Virtudazo, Nica (2019-12-12). "Melania Trump Humiliation: FLOTUS Criticized After Donald Called Greta Thunberg's New Milestone 'So Ridiculous'". International Business Times. Archived from the original on 2021-10-19. Retrieved 2019-12-13.
  34. ^ Silva, Christianna. "#BeBest Who? Trump Just Bullied 16-Year-Old Climate Activist Greta Thunberg On Twitter". MTV News. Archived from the original on 2021-10-19. Retrieved 2019-12-13.
  35. ^ Fink, Jenni. "People share Melania Trump's anti-bullying "Be Best" slogan after president mocks teenager Greta Thunberg". Newsweek. Archived from the original on 2020-11-12. Retrieved 2019-12-13.
  36. ^ "Chris Cuomo: GOP protected Barron Trump, why not Greta Thunberg?Video". CNN. Archived from the original on 2021-06-02. Retrieved 2019-12-13.
  37. ^ Jordan 2020, pp. 271–272.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Be Best.

Read other articles:

Hanceville, Alabama

Hanceville, AlabamakotaNegaraAmerika SerikatNegara bagianAlabamacountyCullmanLuas • Total4,1 sq mi (10,6 km2) • Luas daratan4,1 sq mi (10,6 km2) • Luas perairan0 sq mi (0 km2)Ketinggian541 ft (165 m)Populasi (2000) • Total2.951 • Kepadatan719,8/sq mi (278,4/km2)Zona waktuUTC-6 (Central (CST)) • Musim panas (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)Kode pos35077Kode area telepon256 Ha...

 

Sungai lompatan begu

Artikel ini memiliki beberapa masalah. Tolong bantu memperbaikinya atau diskusikan masalah-masalah ini di halaman pembicaraannya. (Pelajari bagaimana dan kapan saat yang tepat untuk menghapus templat pesan ini) artikel ini perlu dirapikan agar memenuhi standar Wikipedia. Tidak ada alasan yang diberikan. Silakan kembangkan artikel ini semampu Anda. Merapikan artikel dapat dilakukan dengan wikifikasi atau membagi artikel ke paragraf-paragraf. Jika sudah dirapikan, silakan hapus templat ini. (Pe...

 

Bandar Udara Regional County Eagle

Eagle County Regional AirportIATA: EGEICAO: KEGE EGELocation of the Airport in ColoradoFAA LID: EGEInformasiJenisPublicPemilikEagle CountyMelayaniEagle, ColoradoLokasiGypsum, ColoradoKetinggian dpl1,993,5 mdplKoordinat39°38′33″N 106°55′04″W / 39.64250°N 106.91778°W / 39.64250; -106.91778Koordinat: 39°38′33″N 106°55′04″W / 39.64250°N 106.91778°W / 39.64250; -106.91778Situs webwww.flyvail.comLandasan pacu Arah Pan...

Dlingo, Mojosongo, Boyolali

Artikel ini tidak memiliki referensi atau sumber tepercaya sehingga isinya tidak bisa dipastikan. Tolong bantu perbaiki artikel ini dengan menambahkan referensi yang layak. Tulisan tanpa sumber dapat dipertanyakan dan dihapus sewaktu-waktu.Cari sumber: Dlingo, Mojosongo, Boyolali – berita · surat kabar · buku · cendekiawan · JSTOR DlingoDesaKantor Desa DlingoNegara IndonesiaProvinsiJawa TengahKabupatenBoyolaliKecamatanMojosongoKode pos57322Kode Ke...

 

Observasi dan penjelajahan Venus

Venus dalam pencobaan pencitraan seperti yang terlihat dengan mata telanjang Venus selalu lebih terang daripada bintang paling terang di luar Tata Surya, seperti yang dapat dilihat dalam gambar tersebut di Samudra Pasifik Fase Venus dan evolusi diameter semunya Observasi dari planet Venus meliputi dari orang-orang zaman kuno, pengamatan teleskopik, dan dari pesawat ruang angkasa yang mengunjungi. Pesawat ruang angkasa telah melakukan berbagai penerbangan lintas, orbit, dan pendaratan di Venus...

 

1890 Colorado gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1890 United States gubernatorial elections. 1890 Colorado gubernatorial election ← 1888 November 4, 1890 1892 →   Nominee John Long Routt Caldwell Yeaman John G. Coy Party Republican Democratic Labor Popular vote 41,827 35,359 5,199 Percentage 50.11% 42.36% 6.23% County results Routt:     30–40%      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% ...

Pagerwesi

Artikel ini tidak memiliki referensi atau sumber tepercaya sehingga isinya tidak bisa dipastikan. Tolong bantu perbaiki artikel ini dengan menambahkan referensi yang layak. Tulisan tanpa sumber dapat dipertanyakan dan dihapus sewaktu-waktu.Cari sumber: Pagerwesi – berita · surat kabar · buku · cendekiawan · JSTOR Artikel ini perlu dikembangkan agar dapat memenuhi kriteria sebagai entri Wikipedia.Bantulah untuk mengembangkan artikel ini. Jika tidak dike...

 

Guangzhou International Women's Open 2008

Guangzhou International Women's Open 2008 Sport Tennis Data 15 settembre – 21 settembre Edizione 5a Superficie Cemento Campioni Singolare Vera Zvonarëva Doppio Marija Korytceva / Tat'jana Puček 2007 2009 Il Guangzhou International Women's Open 2008 (conosciuto anche come TOE Life Ceramics Guangzhou International Women's Open per motivi sponsorizzazione) è stato un torneo di tennis giocato sul cemento. È stata la 5ª edizione del Guangzhou International Women's Open, che fa parte della ...

 

Apice

ApiceKomuneComune di ApiceLokasi Apice di Provinsi BeneventoNegaraItaliaWilayah CampaniaProvinsiBenevento (BN)Luas[1] • Total49,04 km2 (18,93 sq mi)Ketinggian[2]225 m (738 ft)Populasi (2016)[3] • Total6.245 • Kepadatan130/km2 (330/sq mi)Zona waktuUTC+1 (CET) • Musim panas (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)Kode pos82021Kode area telepon0824Situs webhttp://www.comune.apice.bn.it Apice adalah sebuah kota da...

Chris Thompson (English musician)

This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately from the article and its talk page, especially if potentially libelous.Find sources: Chris Thompson English musician – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (April 2012) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Chris...

 

Palau at the Olympics

Sporting event delegationPalau at theOlympicsIOC codePLWNOCPalau National Olympic CommitteeWebsitewww.oceaniasport.com/palauMedals Gold 0 Silver 0 Bronze 0 Total 0 Summer appearances2000200420082012201620202024 NOC symbol of Palau Palau had its debut at the Summer Olympic Games in 2000 in Sydney. Palau has not yet participated in any Winter Olympic Games. Palau sent two sprinters and a swimmer at the London 2012 Olympics.[1] To date, no athlete from Palau has ever won an Olympic medal...

 

Universitas Utah

Universitas Utahbahasa Latin: Universitas UtahensisNama sebelumnyaUniversitas Deseret (1850–1892)[1]MotoBayangkan, lalu Lakukan (bahasa Inggris: Imagine, then Do)[2]JenisUniversitas riset negeriDidirikan28 Februari 1850; 174 tahun lalu (1850-02-28)[1]Lembaga indukSistem Pendidikan Tinggi UtahAfiliasi akademikAAU[3]ORAUSpace-grantDana abadi$1,07 miliar (2020)[4]Anggaran$4,83 miliar (2019)[5]PresidenTaylor R. Randall[6]Provo...

Henry III of England

King of England from 1216 to 1272 Henry IIIHenry III depicted in a manuscript from the 13th centuryKing of England (more...) Reign28 October 1216 – 16 November 1272Coronation28 October 1216 Gloucester Abbey17 May 1220 Westminster AbbeyPredecessorJohnSuccessorEdward IRegents See list William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke (1216–1219)Hubert de Burgh (1219–1227) Born1 October 1207Winchester Castle, Hampshire, EnglandDied16 November 1272 (aged 65)Westminster, London, EnglandBurialWestmi...

 

Ōei Invasion

1419 Joseon invasion of Tsushima This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: Ōei Invasion – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (February 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Ōei InvasionDateJune 20, 1419 – July 3, 1419(1 week and 6 days)LocationTsushima Island, JapanRe...

 

My Kinda Groove

1965 studio album by Herbie MannMy Kinda GrooveStudio album by Herbie MannReleased1965RecordedApril 6 and May 6, 7 & 8, 1964 New York CityGenreJazzLabelAtlanticSD 1433ProducerNesuhi ErtegunHerbie Mann chronology Latin Fever(1964) My Kinda Groove(1965) Herbie Mann Plays The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd(1965) My Kinda Groove is an album by American jazz flautist Herbie Mann recorded for the Atlantic label and released in 1965.[1] Reception Professional ...

Ada (programming language)

High-level programming language first released in 1980 AdaParadigmMulti-paradigm: structured, imperative, object-oriented, aspect-oriented,[1] concurrent, array, distributed, generic, procedural, metaFamilyPascalDesigned by MIL-STD-1815, Ada 83: Jean Ichbiah Ada 95: Tucker Taft Ada 2005: Tucker Taft Ada 2012: Tucker Taft First appearedFebruary 1980; 44 years ago (1980-02)Stable releaseAda 2022 / May 2023 Typing disciplinestatic, strong, safe, nominalOS...

 

دار الكداري

دار الڭداري - مدينة و بلدية -   تقسيم إداري البلد  المغرب[1] الجهة الإقتصادية الغرب شراردة بني حسين المسؤولون الإقليم إقليم سيدي قاسم الدائرة الإدارية ؟؟؟ القيادة الإدارية ؟؟؟؟ خصائص جغرافية إحداثيات 34°25′00″N 6°05′00″W / 34.41666667°N 6.08333333°W / 34.41666667; -6.08333333 ...

 

Washington, D.C.

 Nota: Distrito de Colúmbia redireciona para este artigo. Para zona histórica de comércio de peles, veja Distrito de Colúmbia (América do Norte Britânica). Para outros significados, veja Washington (desambiguação). Este artigo cita fontes, mas que não cobrem todo o conteúdo. Ajude a inserir referências (Encontre fontes: ABW  • CAPES  • Google (N • L • A)). (Dezembro de 2023) Washington, D.C.District of Colum...

John Jabez Edwin Mayall

English photographer (1813–1901) For the English blues musician, see John Mayall. John Jabez Edwin MayallSelf-portrait of Mayall (daguerreotype, c. 1844)Born(1813-09-17)September 17, 1813Oldham, United KingdomDiedMarch 6, 1901(1901-03-06) (aged 87)Southwick, United KingdomOccupationPhotographerYears active1841−1888 John Jabez Edwin Paisley Mayall (17 September 1813 near Oldham, Lancashire – 6 March 1901 in Southwick, West Sussex) was an English photographer who in 1860 took ...

 

Emmanuelle Riva

Questa voce sull'argomento attori francesi è solo un abbozzo. Contribuisci a migliorarla secondo le convenzioni di Wikipedia. Segui i suggerimenti del progetto di riferimento. Emmanuelle Riva nel 1962 Emmanuelle Riva, pseudonimo di Paulette Germaine Riva (Cheniménil, 24 febbraio 1927 – Parigi, 27 gennaio 2017), è stata un'attrice cinematografica francese.[1] Il suo nome è indissolubilmente legato al capolavoro cinematografico Hiroshima mon amour del 1959, diretto dal celeb...