‘Take It Down Act’. What's the anti-revenge porn bill that Melania Trump is urging Congress to pass?

US First Lady Melania Trump made her first solo public appearance on Capitol Hill on Monday.

But what was the reason for her visit?

Melania wanted to urge lawmakers at a roundtable discussion to support the ‘Take It Down’ bill.

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In her first major solo engagement of US President **Donald Trump’s second term** , she attended a congressional committee hearing to express her backing for the bill.

The bill secured bipartisan support in the Senate during the previous congressional session and again in February, but it is still waiting to be passed in the House.

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What does this bill propose? What did Melania tell the lawmakers during the roundtable discussion?

We will answer these questions.

What is ‘Take it Down Act’?

Simply put, this bill seeks to classify “revenge porn” as a federal offence and provide protection against **deepfake pornography** .

It aims to strengthen protection for victims of non-consensual sharing of sexual images, including those created using artificial intelligence, known as deepfake pornography.

Under the bill, posting “intimate images” online, whether real or AI-generated, without consent would be illegal. It would also require technology companies to remove such content within 48 hours.

Senator Ted Cruz of Texas introduced the bill, which received approval in the Senate last month.

According to Cruz’s office, the bill “would criminalise the publication of non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII), including AI-generated NCII (or ‘deepfake pornography’), and require social media and similar websites to have in place procedures to remove such content upon notification from a victim.”

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Over the past year, AI-generated, non-consensual pornographic images have targeted various individuals, from high-profile figures like **Taylor Swift** and Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to schoolgirls, including 15-year-old Elliston Berry from Texas, who joined the first lady on Capitol Hill.

“They superimposed her (Berry’s) face into pornographic content without her consent, solely to humiliate her. And although Elliston’s family contacted the social media companies for help, their efforts fell upon deaf ears. Ultimately, the fake images circulated worldwide,” the first lady said.

The bill would establish a federal offence for knowingly publishing or threatening to publish intimate images online without consent, including identifiable, realistic, computer-generated images.

Social media companies would be required to remove such images within 48 hours and take measures to prevent their reappearance after a victim’s request.

During Donald Trump’s first term, **the first lady** focused on online safety through her “Be Best” campaign, which promoted child welfare and digital responsibility. The Take It Down bill appears to align with Trump’s efforts to continue that initiative.

What is revenge pornography?

WebMD describes revenge porn as a form of digital abuse where nude or sexually explicit photos and videos are shared without the consent of those depicted. Also known as non-consensual pornography, it is closely linked to sexual abuse.

A current or former partner may distribute such images as an act of “revenge” or use them as a form of blackmail.

Where do these images come from? They may have been privately shared with a partner or taken under pressure, potentially as a means of control or humiliation.

Meanwhile, **deepfake revenge porn** is becoming increasingly common. By using artificial intelligence, perpetrators can manipulate images to superimpose a person’s face onto an explicit body, creating highly realistic yet damaging content.

Carrie Goldberg, a lawyer specialising in digital harassment and sex crimes, told CNN, “They look real. But I think, like, if we look closely enough at an image, we can see that, you know, there is a sixth finger on a hand or something like that. So there’s ways to tell. But, you know, it’s almost like you can’t unsee them.”

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What did Melania Trump tell the conference?

Melania described it as “heartbreaking” to witness the struggles teenagers, particularly girls, face after becoming victims of those who distribute such content.

“This toxic environment can be severely damaging. We must prioritise their well-being by equipping them with the support and tools necessary to navigate this hostile digital landscape,” she said during the discussion.

WATCH: First Lady Melania Trump is now hosting a roundtable with members of Congress to push the passage of the Take It Down Act, which will criminalize the publishing of nonconsensual sexual images & AI videos.

"The widespread presence of abusive behavior in the digital domain… pic.twitter.com/orb59diF9g

— George (@BehizyTweets) March 3, 2025

“Every young person deserves a safe online space to express themself freely, without the looming threat of exploitation or harm,” she added.

Senator Ted Cruz, who hosted the discussion in the Capitol’s Mansfield Room, told the first lady that her leadership “is incredibly important and I’m confident it’s going to play a critical role in accelerating the passage of this bill and getting it passed into law.”

He said that the move was inspired by Elliston Berry and her mother, who approached his office after Snapchat took nearly a year to remove an AI-generated non-consensual graphic image of the then 14-year-old. On Monday, Elliston and other victims shared their experiences.

Notably, Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has expressed support for the bill.

Melania also **criticised Democrats** , saying she had expected more of them to participate in the discussion.

California Representative Ro Khanna was the only Democrat present, The Hill reported. While not a co-lead on the House bill, he has previously supported the measure.

“I must admit, however, I expected to see more Democrat leaders with us here today to address this serious issue,” she said. “Surely as adults, we can prioritise America’s children ahead of partisan politics.”

Melania said that she hoped the roundtable would raise awareness of the harm caused by non-consensual image sharing and encourage the passage of the Take It Down Act in Congress.

Cruz added that the bill would empower victims across the US and require major technology companies to implement a takedown process to ensure the swift removal of such content from the internet.

With inputs from agencies