First Lady Melania Trump maintained her characteristic silence during President Donald Trump’s attempt to praise her political accomplishments at the annual White House congressional picnic on Thursday, June 12, 2025. The event marked the second consecutive day the couple appeared together publicly, following their attendance at the opening night of “Les Misérables” at the Kennedy Center on Wednesday evening.
During his address to Republican lawmakers gathered on the White House south lawn, Trump highlighted his wife’s successful advocacy for the “Take It Down Act,” legislation that makes posting real or AI-generated deepfake explicit intimate imagery online without consent illegal. The bill achieved rare bipartisan support, passing the Senate in February and clearing the House in April.
Trump praised what he called “our great first lady” for achieving bipartisan cooperation on the legislation, suggesting it could launch her into a political career. He joked, “I think you’re gonna take my job, Melania” due to the bill’s bipartisan passage, noting they don’t often achieve such cross-party support.
The president continued his commentary, explaining that when Melania asked why the bill succeeded across party lines, he told her there was no specific reason but congratulated her on the accomplishment. Throughout Trump’s remarks, Melania smiled, nodded and clapped while allowing her husband to speak on her behalf, maintaining her trademark reserved demeanor.
The previous evening’s appearance at the Kennedy Center also drew attention for the couple’s body language and limited interaction. Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel analyzed their appearance during his Thursday monologue, noting the apparent tension between the pair as they attended the musical production together.
Kimmel observed the couple’s unusual hand-holding technique, where Trump appeared to grip Melania’s thumb rather than her full hand, describing it as resembling a “thumb lock” from martial arts. The comedian suggested this reflected the distant nature of their relationship, joking about contractual obligations requiring Melania’s public appearances.
The first lady’s advocacy work on digital safety issues extends beyond the legislation. In May, Melania warned that artificial intelligence and social media represent “digital candy” for young people, describing these technologies as sweet and addictive while engineered to impact children’s cognitive development. She cautioned that these platforms can be weaponized to shape beliefs, affect emotions, and potentially prove deadly.
Melania’s public appearances have remained relatively infrequent throughout Trump’s current presidency. The congressional picnic represented a rare joint appearance, particularly notable given her typically low profile during official White House events.
The Kennedy Center event featured various high-profile attendees, including Vice President J.D. Vance and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Some cast members from the “Les Misérables” production reportedly chose to boycott the performance due to Trump’s attendance, reflecting ongoing political divisions within the entertainment industry.
During the congressional picnic, Trump listed various work achievements alongside his praise for Melania’s legislative success. The event provided an opportunity for the president to address Republican lawmakers while highlighting what he characterized as his administration’s accomplishments across multiple policy areas.
Melania’s approach to her role as first lady has consistently emphasized measured public engagement, often appearing at official functions while maintaining minimal verbal participation. Her silence during Trump’s complimentary remarks Thursday followed this established pattern of allowing the president to serve as the primary spokesperson for their partnership.
The “Take It Down Act” represents one of Melania’s most significant policy achievements during her time as first lady. The legislation addresses growing concerns about non-consensual intimate imagery distribution, including both authentic and artificially generated content created through advanced AI technology.
Political observers noted the rarity of achieving bipartisan support for any legislation during the current polarized political climate. Trump’s emphasis on this accomplishment during the congressional picnic underscored both the significance of the achievement and his attempt to highlight his wife’s contributions to his administration’s policy successes.
