On February 17, Melania Trump, an advocate for anti-bullying, urged her followers on Twitter to embrace their philanthropic side and commemorate "Random Acts of Kindness Day."
"I encourage everyone to test the power of kindness on Random Acts of Kindness Day. It's an opportunity to teach our children the importance of taking care of one another," she tweeted. While her intentions were lovely, the reception to her tweet was icy because of her association with someone who many identify as a notorious bully.
I encourage everyone to test the power of kindness on #RandomActsofKindnessDay. It’s an opportunity to teach our c… https://t.co/tJMG5QsUmI— Melania Trump (@Melania Trump) 1518885766.0
Melania's primary agenda as FLOTUS is to stop anti-bullying among America's youth and launched a campaign in October telling the United Nations, "We need to step up, come together, and ensure that our children's future is bright."
But people are having a problem taking her seriously.
@FLOTUS https://t.co/MbESqmu9Yi— DanYelle (@DanYelle) 1518908837.0
People saw that her empowering words couldn't be more applicable to anyone other than her own husband, who's quick to lay blame, denigrate, and disrespect people based on contrasting beliefs and ideals.
Twitter echoed her own sentiment back to her.
Would he know a thing or two about bullying, though?
@FLOTUS It begins with your husband, speak to him about your anti-bullying campaign— ƉɅNIEL WRIGHŦ (@ƉɅNIEL WRIGHŦ) 1518885836.0
It might be a case of not being to teach an old dog new tricks.
@FLOTUS If only your husband had a clue about random acts of kindness. Clearly he's uneducable on the topic.— Toby Simon (@Toby Simon) 1518888754.0
She was met with similar backlash in October after she spoke about social isolation and inclusion to Michigan middle school students as part of her campaign.
I always believe that you need to treat each other with respect and kindness and compassion, but also stay true to yourself. Just listen to your heart, but be yourself.
Ask them what they like, what their hobbies are, so nobody becomes sad or stressed and everybody feels included. I think it's important that we choose kindness and compassion.
On social media, people took the opportunity to remind her of Trump's penchant for name-calling – a classic case of bullying.
One Twitter user admonished 45 for being a prime example of a bully.
Melania Trump on TV advising school kids about bullying?! Her husband, USA's #1 bully has emboldened hate in schools! First family disgrace.
Melania Trump on TV advising school kids about bullying?! Her husband, USA's #1 bully has emboldened hate in schools! First family disgrace.— Glinda Goodwitch (@Glinda Goodwitch) 1508774832.0
Still, she's not the bully, and her benevolence didn't go completely unnoticed.
@FLOTUS Thank you for the positive motivation. God Bless you ❤️— Carrie YourVoice™ America (@Carrie YourVoice™ America) 1518885818.0
@FLOTUS You are an amazing person Melania, thank you for encouraging this!— PRESIDENT Lil Trump (@PRESIDENT Lil Trump) 1518885793.0
Still, the impassioned pleas from a demographic wanting change eclipsed the number of approving tweets.
@FLOTUS Start with teaching your husband to give up his NRA money and start doing something about gun control. That… https://t.co/jKHfgWlyTy— Marjie Cunningham (@Marjie Cunningham) 1518900628.0
@FLOTUS Can you take the phone away from your husband so he can’t Tweet hateful BS? Thx!— Linda Childers (@Linda Childers) 1518911247.0
@FLOTUS Act of kindness? Is Melania for real?hello?McFly.. @FLOTUS -Melania, you are married to the most vengeful b… https://t.co/aP3zvNWkSE— L west (@L west) 1518930400.0
@FLOTUS Tell your husband to show kindness to our kids by passing sensible gun law to prevent shooting at schools - #dosomethingaboutgunnow#— Amos Okafor (@Amos Okafor) 1518934091.0
Unfortunately for Melania, her message for America didn't go as planned.
@FLOTUS I encourage you to talk w/your cheating #AlternativeFacts spewing husband about treating people of differen… https://t.co/ZrBJWL4WUU— RickyAppleseed ☮🍎 (@RickyAppleseed ☮🍎) 1518907185.0
And her loyalty to Donald Trump made this user question her judge of character.
@USAneedsTRUMP @FLOTUS Do you know her personally? I have to disagree. She married Trumpturd for money and is stil… https://t.co/H9WafvtzSo— MPF (@MPF) 1518965778.0
H/T - Twitter, HuffingtonPost, AOL