In a notable ceremony held in the Rose Garden, President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump jointly signed the Take It Down Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at criminalizing the distribution of non-consensual intimate imagery, including AI-generated deepfakes. First Lady Melania Trump co-signed the legislation alongside the president, marking a significant moment in legislative history.
This rare event followed President Trump’s comments regarding a discussion with Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which Putin reportedly praised the First Lady during a call about the Ukraine conflict.
The Take It Down Act (officially the Tools to Address Known Exploitation by Immobilizing Technological Deepfakes on Websites and Networks Act) is a key component of Mrs. Trump’s BE BEST initiative and tackles the issue of revenge image distribution, addressing both real and AI-generated content. Earlier this year, the first lady made a rare appearance on Capitol Hill to advocate for the bill directly with lawmakers.
“This legislation is a powerful step forward in our efforts to ensure that every American, especially young people, can feel better protected from their image or identity being abused,” stated Mrs. Trump during the May 19 ceremony.
Upon signing the bill, President Trump handed it and a pen to the first lady, inviting her to add her signature in acknowledgment of her advocacy efforts. “She deserves to sign it,” he remarked, further stating that “America is blessed to have such a dedicated and compassionate first lady.”
White House officials noted that Melania Trump is the first first lady in U.S. history to sign legislation alongside a sitting president, highlighting a new dimension in the role of presidential spouses.
In her address, Melania Trump emphasized the risks associated with emerging technologies, particularly for young people. She compared artificial intelligence and social media to “digital candy”—enticing and habit-forming yet potentially harmful when used against vulnerable individuals.
President Trump shared his personal encounters with deepfakes during the event, expressing frustration over the lack of consequences for offenders. He mentioned that even high-ranking law enforcement officials have been unsuccessful in tackling the issue when he sought their help.
Receiving overwhelming bipartisan support, the new federal law passed 409-2 in the House and by unanimous consent in the Senate. It addresses a crucial gap in existing laws, as before this signing, 49 states had bans on “revenge” deepfake images, with South Carolina being the exception.
The law imposes severe penalties on offenders: up to two years in federal prison for adult images and three years for content involving minors. Websites are required to comply with removal requests within 48 hours of notification that the images are unlawful, with enforcement managed by the Federal Trade Commission.
This legislation is among the first federal measures to criminalize specific aspects of artificial intelligence misuse. It follows months of advocacy by Mrs. Trump, who organized a roundtable on Capitol Hill in March 2025 with survivors of non-consensual intimate imagery, their families, and online safety advocates.
Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, a principal sponsor of the bill, commended the first lady’s involvement, highlighting her vital role in advancing the legislation. Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, who co-led the bipartisan effort, stated that the new law will help victims remove harmful material from platforms while enabling law enforcement to hold perpetrators accountable.
Digital rights organizations have raised concerns about the bill’s broad language, suggesting it might impact legitimate content or create challenges for smaller platforms. The Electronic Frontier Foundation warned that the 48-hour removal mandate could lead companies to remove content without proper verification.
Despite these concerns, the Take It Down Act has received support from major tech companies, including Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram. The legislation signifies a growing awareness of how artificial intelligence can be exploited to create realistic yet fabricated explicit content without the consent or knowledge of those depicted.
The signing ceremony was attended by survivors, families, members of Congress, Cabinet officials, and advocates who played a role in the bill’s passage, emphasizing the bipartisan commitment to addressing online exploitation.
Platforms are beginning to design their internal processes ahead of the May 2026 deadline, and some county and municipal legal advocates have prepared toolkits to assist victims and jurisdictions in navigating enforcement mechanisms.
