Melania launches ‘Be Best’ awareness campaign for kids

DARLENE SUPERVILLE
Washington, US | May 7

Melania Trump on Monday gave her multipronged effort to promote the wellbeing of children a minimalist new motto: “Be Best.”

The first lady formally launched her long-awaited initiative after more than a year of reading to children, learning about babies born addicted to drugs and hosting a White House conversation on cyberbullying.

“As a mother and as first lady, it concerns me that in today’s fastpaced and ever-connected world, children can be less prepared to express or manage their emotions and often times turn to forms of destructive or addictive behavior such as bullying, drug addiction or even suicide,” she said in prepared remarks.

“I feel strongly that as adults, we can and should ‘be best’ at educating our children about the importance of a healthy and balanced life,” Mrs. Trump said.

The first lady said early on that she would focus on child well-being. The goal of her public awareness campaign is to encourage parents and other adults to teach children how to be good citizens, including being kind, not bullying on social media or anywhere else, staying away from drugs and taking care of themselves.

The campaign will focus on the issues of well-being, social media and opioid abuse, she said.

“If we truly listen to what our kids have to say, whether it be their concerns or ideas, adults can provide them the support and tools they need to grow up to be happy and productive adults who contribute positively to society and their global communities,” said Mrs. Trump, who made the announcement in the White House Rose Garden as President Donald Trump looked on from the audience.

Monday’s announcement followed a period of high visibility for a first lady who once had a scant public presence around the White House. Last month, she joined her husband to host the prime minister of Japan at the Trumps’ Florida estate and the president of France at the White House. She also represented the administration at the April funeral of former first lady Barbara Bush.

Mrs. Trump’s announcement also came as her husband remains under intense legal pressure from a special counsel’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and is facing questions over $130,000 in hush money paid by one of his attorneys to a porn actress who says she had sex with Trump in 2006. Trump denies her accusation.

During nearly 16 months as first lady, Mrs. Trump demonstrated her interest in children by visiting with young hospital patients in the U.S. and during overseas trips with the president, often reading to them and encouraging them to do their best.

Her interest in the opioid drug crisis, developed during the presidential campaign, has taken her to care centers and hospitals in West Virginia and Ohio to learn about the epidemic’s effect on babies born to mothers addicted to the powerful painkillers. She convened a White House roundtable on the issue last fall.