First Lady Melania Trump held a White House gathering in the Rose Garden on Monday to launch her new ‘Be Best’ campaign focused on the well-being of children, the opioid crisis, and positive usage of social media. Of course, the liberal media can’t let a good opportunity to bash the President go to waste. Instead of focusing on the First Lady’s initiative, ABC spent twice the time in their report questioning her marriage amid the Stormy Daniels saga. And on NBC, they spent more time talking about how hypocritical it was for her to care about cyberbullying considering who her husband was.
On ABC’s World News Tonight, the sensationalist journalists spent a mere 31 seconds reporting on what Mrs. Trump’s initiative was all about. And they swiftly shifted the subject to questioning the state of her marriage with a total of one minutes and 10 seconds, which was more than double.
As the segment began, both anchor David Muir and White House correspondent Cecilia Vega strangely pointed out how Mrs. Trump walked by herself to the podium:
The First Lady alone today as she walked into the Rose Garden to unveil her official policy platform. (…) As she implored people to be kind, her husband, right there in the front row. Later joining her on stage with a kiss. A show of affection with their marriage under fierce scrutiny amid mounting questions about hush money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels just 11 days before the election.
Vega only allowed one clip of Mrs. Trump speaking before the crowd before running three soundbites about the Stormy Daniels case. With the no sign of respect for the First Lady, Vega boasted about how she “pressed the White House for details” about how many women President Trump had paid hush money too.
Meanwhile, on NBC Nightly News, anchor Lester Holt and National correspondent Peter Alexander ripped into her for the hypocrisy of her cause. And they watered down their reporting on the "Be Best" launch with 49 seconds for the event and 57 seconds for slamming it.
In his introduction to the report, Holt dove right into the comments from naysayers. “Front and center today stepping into the spotlight in rare extended remarks unveiling her new initiative which includes as focus on good behavior on social media. Something critics were quick to point out her husband doesn't always practice,” he quipped. Alexander began his report by seemingly chastising Mrs. Trump by proclaiming, “From the First Lady from the bully pulpit, an empathetic pitch.”
“The elephant in the room, in this case, the Rose Garden, her husband who has built a portfolio of online personal attacks,” Alexander jabbed. And as if he was showing off a badge of honor, he gloated about confronting the White House about it. “Does the President accept any responsibility for America's skepticism that the First Lady from the White House would speak out against cyberbullying,” he asked Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
And while they only had a 29-seconds-long news brief for the launch of "Be Best," the CBS Evening News actually stuck to the content of the initiative and even touted it. “During an appearance in the Rose Garden, Mrs. Trump said her "Be Best" initiative will focus on three areas,” reported anchor Jeff Glor. “One is well-being by promoting values such as healthy living and respect. It will highlight the importance of using social media in a positive way and support families affected by opioid abuse.”
It’s really no surprise that CBS would be the one to show the First Lady some dignity. So far, they’re the only one of the three major network news outlets to report on the apparent double standard American magazines have shown in not featuring Mrs. Trump on their covers comapred to predecessors (and particularly Michelle Obama). The others are only interested in using her to take swipes at her husband.
The transcripts are below, click "expand" to read:
CBS Evening News
May 7, 2018
6:38:23 PM EasternJEFF GLOR: First Lady Melania Trump has kept a low profile since moving to Washington, but today she announced a campaign for America's children. During an appearance in the Rose Garden, Mrs. Trump said her "Be Best" initiative will focus on three areas. One is well-being by promoting values such as healthy living and respect. It will highlight the importance of using social media in a positive way and support families affected by opioid abuse. Afterward, the President called it a heartfelt and beautiful speech.
ABC
World News Tonight
May 7, 2018
6:34:35 PM EasternDAVID MUIR: Two major headlines involving the White House tonight. First lady Melania Trump walking out alone today and outlining her new initiative, and then, the President joining her, signing a proclamation to mark the day. The President also fighting back tonight, after his attorney, Rudy Giuliani, said he could not promise that the President would not plead the fifth, instead of sitting down with Robert Mueller. Here's ABC's senior White House correspondent Cecilia Vega tonight.
[Cuts to video]
CECILIA VEGA: The first lady alone today as she walked into the Rose Garden to unveil her official policy platform. Her focus, helping children, in part, by combatting cyberbullying. A campaign called "Be best."
MELANIA TRUMP: Let us teach our children the difference between right and wrong. And encourage them to be best in their individual paths in life.
VEGA: As she implored people to be kind, her husband, right there in the front row. Later joining her on stage with a kiss.
A show of affection with their marriage under fierce scrutiny amid mounting questions about hush money paid to pornstar Stormy Daniels just 11 days before the election. And now, the president's attorney telling George Stephanopoulos it's possible other women were paid off, too, by President Trump's long-time fixer and personal lawyer.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: Did Michael Cohen make payments to other women for the president?
RUDY GIULIANI: I have no knowledge of that but I -- I would think if it was necessary, yes.
VEGA: Today, we pressed the White House for details. Is that possible, are there other women out there who received money from the President to stay quiet?
SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS: I'm not aware of any other activity, but I would refer you to Rudy Giuliani to respond to any of those questions.
VEGA: But you've been in his circle for a long time now, you were on the campaign. Is that anything that came across your desk?
SANDERS: Again, I'm not aware of anything like that.
VEGA: Rudy Giuliani said he still doesn't have all the facts, and he did little to clear up one big question, whether the President was lying last month on Air Force One when he said he knew nothing about that payment to Daniels.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Did you know about the $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels?
DONALD TRUMP: No, no.
(…)
NBC Nightly News
May 7, 2018
7:04:09 PM Eastern [49 seconds for the initiative; 57 seconds on hypocrisy]LESTER HOLT: To the White House now and not the President but instead it’s the First Lady Melania Trump. Front and center today stepping into the spotlight in rare extended remarks unveiling her new initiative which includes as focus on good behavior on social media. Something critics were quick to point out her husband doesn't always practice. NBC's Peter Alexander has that story.
[Cuts to video]
PETER ALEXANDER: From the First Lady from the bully pulpit, an empathetic pitch.
MELANIA TRUMP: An awareness campaign dedicated to the most valuable and fragile among us, our children.
ALEXANDER: Melania Trump unveiling her official initiative promoting healthy behavior among children. Focusing on their wellbeing, opioid abuse, and positive social media habits.
M. TRUMP: Whether verbally or online, they must choose their words wisely and speak with respect and compassion.
ALEXANDER: Today’s rare public appearance, punctuating a passion project for Mrs. Trump who has visited children to champion kindness.
The elephant in the room, in this case, the Rose Garden, her husband who has built a portfolio of online personal attacks. Since declaring for president, more than 450 Twitter insults, according to The New York Times. Like cheating and crying and crazy. Does the President accept any responsibility for America's skepticism that the First Lady from the White House would speak out against cyberbullying? Sarah Sanders deflected but when I pressed her.
SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS: I think the idea that you're trying to blame cyberbullying on the President is kind of ridiculous.
ALEXANDER: President Trump today offering only praise.
DONALD TRUMP: It was truly a beautiful and heartfelt speech. It's the way she feels.
MARY JORDAN: The tone was so markedly different than her husband. She was talking about a commitment to kindness-- about how hurtful online bullying is.
ALEXANDER: 16 months in, the First Lady looking to make a mark all her own. Peter Alexander, NBC News the White House.
