Former First Lady Melania Trump celebrated the fifth anniversary of her #BeBest initiative on Sunday, with a social media post touting the program's “incredible impact.”
#BeBest was launched during her four years in the White House, and aimed to encourage children to pursue their individual paths while emphasizing "social, emotional, and physical health."
Since leaving office, Melania has sold NFTs and Christmas ornaments with the promise that some of the funds would go towards achieving the initiative’s goals, although she has not specified the amount.
In her post, Melania claimed that the initiative had helped fund university scholarships for two children raised in foster care.
She wrote:
“Today, on the 5th anniversary of my Be Best initiative, we are reminded of the incredible impact that can be achieved when we come together to support our next generation."
"The fact that two individuals from the foster care community have received university-level scholarships brings me great joy. Many thanks to my team and the community for ongoing support."
You can see her tweet below.
\u201cToday, on the 5th anniversary of my Be Best initiative, we are reminded of the incredible impact that can be achieved when we come together to support our next generation. \nThe fact that two individuals from the foster care community have received university-level scholarships\u2026\u201d— MELANIA TRUMP (@MELANIA TRUMP) 1683474110
While it’s certainly commendable to fund scholarships for foster children, many people have expressed surprise at the modest achievements of #BeBest and the size of the scholarships is also unknown.
Many have criticized the former First Lady and accused her of running a bogus initative.
\u201c@MELANIATRUMP 'Be Best'? At what? \n\nWhat was it about? Specifically? Which specific areas? What was the focus?\n\nWhat specific causes/charities/non profits did it help?\n\nIt's all v unclear to me.\u201d— MELANIA TRUMP (@MELANIA TRUMP) 1683474110
\u201c@MELANIATRUMP I'm sure your staff worked very hard on this while you were at the spa.\u201d— MELANIA TRUMP (@MELANIA TRUMP) 1683474110
\u201c@MELANIATRUMP Is that the "best" you can do? Two scholarships for children in foster care. \ud83e\udd26\ud83c\udffc\u200d\u2642\ufe0f\u201d— MELANIA TRUMP (@MELANIA TRUMP) 1683474110
\u201c@MELANIATRUMP \u201cTwo\u201d um aren\u2019t you a billionaire?\u201d— MELANIA TRUMP (@MELANIA TRUMP) 1683474110
\u201c@MELANIATRUMP LOL! Are they getting scholarships like you got an Einstein Visa?\u201d— MELANIA TRUMP (@MELANIA TRUMP) 1683474110
\u201c@MELANIATRUMP There is nothing best about you, nor your initiative.\u201d— MELANIA TRUMP (@MELANIA TRUMP) 1683474110
\u201c@MELANIATRUMP I really don\u2019t care, do you?\u201d— MELANIA TRUMP (@MELANIA TRUMP) 1683474110
According to Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, a former friend and advisor who recently recalled her time at the White House, she had told the First Lady at the time that the name "Be Best" was not a great choice for an initiative promoting educational goals.
Winston Wolkoff claimed that the phrase sounded "illiterate." She recalled Melania designed the logo herself, drawing the two-word phrase with block letters and saying, "I drew it myself, so no one can say I plagiarized it."
\u201c@theanthonydavis Melania loves a SHARPIE just as much as Donald does.\ud83e\udd23\u201d— Anthony Davis \ud83d\udca5 (@Anthony Davis \ud83d\udca5) 1678711429
The former First Lady criticized her former friend and aide last September, more than two years after a secret recording was released in which she complained she doesn't "give a f**k about Christmas" and resented having to decorate the White House for Christmas festivities.
At the time, Melania claimed Wolkoff deliberately exposed her "malicious intent" by releasing a recording she said made her seem callous.
She added Winston Wolkoff had her contract with the First Lady’s Office "terminated in February 2018" and "she was later charged with violating the confidentiality clause of her White House Employment Agreement."
Melania's claims angered Winston Wolkoff, who said the former First Lady's statements were little more than an attempt to rehabilitate her image now she’s launched a new line of Christmas ornaments and corresponding NFTs.
