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First Lady Melania Trump's #BeBest campaign is, according to the White House, meant to "champion the many successful well-being programs that provide children with the tools and skills required for emotional, social, and physical health."
Despite those well-meaning words, the Trump administration's history of protecting young children isn't exactly stellar, and now the First Lady is being criticized for tone-deafness.
Over the weekend, Mrs. Trump wrote that #BeBest's work would continue with concentrations in "online safety, fighting opioid abuse & supporting the well-being of children everywhere!"
Our work in the East wing continues into 2019 with online safety, fighting opioid abuse & supporting the well-being… https://t.co/3IBWDy3SxJ— Melania Trump (@Melania Trump) 1548465315.0
It was the bit about "children everywhere" that got people riled up. The Trump administration's "zero tolerance" family separation policy has been blamed for kicking off a humanitarian crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border and the White House's response has been criticized as both cruel and ineffectual.
People have long memories where this policy is concerned.
@FLOTUS Except for the brown ones at the border, right? Those, we cage. #BeBest— Renee P (@Renee P) 1548507721.0
@FLOTUS This is like a slaughterhouse declaring they will continue supporting the well-being of cows. You and your… https://t.co/XzdPHWAY0I— John Pavlovitz (@John Pavlovitz) 1548614697.0
@FLOTUS Locking them up in cages is how you "support the well-being of children"? You should consider a new platform.— Trick Carel (@Trick Carel) 1548508993.0
@FLOTUS What “work” are you specifically talking about? I see children separated from parents; I see children in ca… https://t.co/1ovAQ3sVQk— FRD (@FRD) 1548572396.0
@FLOTUS Well where is the fight for children dying in ICE custody?— Kayrabs99 (@Kayrabs99) 1548494355.0
Last year, shortly after the "zero tolerance" policy went into effect, the First Lady made unsavory headlines when she wore a military jacket with the words "I really don't care, do u?" while she boarded a plane to visit a detention center for immigrant children in McAllen, Texas.
The First Lady's spokespeople soon pushed back against suggestions that the photo was doctored.
"It's a jacket," Stephanie Grisham, a spokesperson for Mrs. Trump, said at the time. "There was no hidden message. After today's important visit to Texas, I hope this isn't what the media is going to choose to focus on."
JUST IN: First Lady's spokeswoman knocks reports about Melania's "I really don't care do u?" jacket: "It's just a… https://t.co/nM8UI1Bcne— Peter Alexander (@Peter Alexander) 1529607123.0
Some recalled this in their replies as well.
@FLOTUS The goverment takes a month off while Donnie and Mel are hard at work making us great. Keep those little ha… https://t.co/Y1UBsJKPAN— ahardrain (@ahardrain) 1548578641.0
@FLOTUS https://t.co/LVlGiPpi2k— Tony Mtz (@Tony Mtz) 1548657052.0
@FLOTUS You really don’t care, do you— Christopher Zunner (@Christopher Zunner) 1548640659.0
President Donald Trump admitted that his administration's policy of separating families was a negotiating tool to get Democrats to cave to his demands, which include tougher border security as well as a wall erected along the nation's southern border.
Perhaps, if the First Lady wants to lessen a climate of bullying and boorish behavior, maybe she should start with her husband? Just a thought.