Updated | Melania Trump is set to hold her first ever event to tackle cyberbullying, hosting executives from online companies in a Tuesday meeting on the topic.
The first lady, who announced last year that she would be tackling cyberbullying as her principal cause, appeared to miss the irony of the event and her charity of choice—given her husband's tendency to lash out on social media.
Indeed, just days before the first lady prepared to discuss online safety and bullying with major companies including Google, Facebook and Twitter, President Donald Trump was lambasting U.S. intelligence agencies and individuals on social media.
"As the House Intelligence Committee has concluded, there was no collusion between Russia and the Trump Campaign. As many are now finding out, however, there was tremendous leaking, lying and corruption at the highest levels of the FBI, Justice & State. #DrainTheSwamp," the president tweeted at the weekend.
As the House Intelligence Committee has concluded, there was no collusion between Russia and the Trump Campaign. As many are now finding out, however, there was tremendous leaking, lying and corruption at the highest levels of the FBI, Justice & State. #DrainTheSwamp
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 17, 2018
Trump also lashed out at former FBI director James Comey, "crooked" Hillary Clinton and former deputy FBI director Andrew McCabe in a series of tweets bashing the Russia probe.
Democrats and Republicans alike have previously questioned Trump's use of social media. There was speculation during the 2016 presidential campaign whether Trump would continue with his unfiltered use of Twitter if and when he became commander in chief.
But Trump's appointment does not appear to have given him any filter whatsoever when it comes to the use of 280 characters—with the president regularly lambasting opponents, TV hosts and foreign leaders on Twitter since taking office.
For her part, Melania has not mentioned Trump's tendency to cyberbully, despite preparing to campaign for better behavior on the Internet. However, the president's online behavior has previously been mentioned in reference to Melania's campaign.
Following one such Twitter tirade against Morning Joe hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, CNN host Jake Tapper quipped: "This reminds me: How is @FLOTUS's campaign against cyberbullying going?"
This reminds me: how is @FLOTUS's campaign against cyber-bullying going? https://t.co/X4xmyreGLH
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) June 29, 2017
Outside of her husband's online habit, Melania may have her work cut out for her, with a Pew Research Center poll taken in 2017 finding 41 percent of adults in the U.S. saying they had suffered online harassment.
Correction: An earlier version of this story misspelled the name of Mika Brzezinski.
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