Melania Trump, whose husband is famous for his online attacks on political opponents, vowed to go after cyberbullies Thursday in her first campaign speech since the Republican National Convention.
“As we know now social media is a centerpiece of our lives,” she told a small but supportive crowd in Berwyn, Pennsylvania. “But like anything that is powerful it can have a bad side.”
Children and teenagers “can be fragile,” she said. “They can be made to feel less in looks and intelligence.”
“Our culture has gotten too mean and too rough, especially to our children and teenagers,” she added.
It was the former model’s first public speech on behalf of Republican nominee Donald Trump since July when she was accused of delivering an address at the GOP convention that lifted passages from Michelle Obama’s 2008 convention speech.
Striding up to the lectern to “Aquarius,” Melania Trump heralded her husband’s patriotism and said he “believes in America.”
“I come here to talk about my husband Donald’s deep love and respect for this country,” she said.
Melania Trump also went through her now-familiar life story of growing up in communist Slovenia, how she was inspired by Ronald Reagan, her career as a model in Paris and Milan and how she “followed her dreams” to America.
“I wanted to be an American,” she said to loud applause.
In the brief speech, Melania Trump did not dish any personal anecdotes or stories about Trump as a dad, but she called herself a “full-time mother to our son Barron.”
“Barron has many privileges and advantages, we know how fortune we are,” she said. “But we have the same conversations with Barron that many of you have with your children.”
Melania Trump, who is the third wife of the Manhattan mogul, was introduced by Karen Pence, wife of Trump’s running-mate Mike Pence. She called Melania a “dedicated wife and mother.”
“Her love for America is boundless,” she said.
