Melania Trump condemns bullying in United Nations speech

First lady Melania Trump spoke at the United Nations on Wednesday, condemning bullying and urging world leaders to teach “moral conscience” by example.

“We must teach each child that they are at the core of the kindness, mindfulness, integrity and leadership, which can only be taught by our own example. By our own example, we must teach children to be good stewards of the world they inherit,” Melania Trump said, addressing the international body in New York City. 

Melania Trump, who on the campaign trail in 2016 indicated interest in leading anti-cyberbullying efforts as first lady, said in the speech that her focus as first lady is teaching the next generation.

{mosads}”We must remember that they are watching and listening, so we must never miss an opportunity to teach life’s ethical lessons along the way. As adults we are not merely responsible, we are accountable. I hope you will join me in recommitting ourselves to teaching the next generation to lead and honor the golden rule, do unto others as you would have do unto you. Which is paramount in today’s society, and my focus as first lady. It reminds our generation’s moral imperative to take responsibility for what our children learn,” she continued. 

“We must turn our focus right now to the message and content [children] are exposed to on a daily basis through social media — the bullying, the experience online and in person,” the first lady said. 

Critics have argued that President Trump’s bombastic rhetoric on social media and in person contradict the first lady’s message.

The president has called his political opponents various names, including on Wednesday when he referred to his 2016 presidential election opponent Hillary Clinton as “Crooked Hillary” in a tweet. 

After allowing North Korea to research and build Nukes while Secretary of State (Bill C also), Crooked Hillary now criticizes.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 20, 2017

The first lady said in a “60 Minutes” interview last year that she pushes back on the president’s tweets “all the time.” 

Her spokeswoman, though, said earlier this year that “when her husband gets attacked, he will punch back 10 times harder.”