#BeGone trends as Melania Trump tweets on her #BeBest campaign, Internet says 'your legacy is nothing'
With only a few days remaining to the end of Donald Trump's presidency, it seems like Melania Trump has become increasingly worried about her own legacy, separate from that of her husband. After the first lady was criticized for her silence after the Capitol riots in a critical op-ed by ex-friend and aide Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, she put out a statement condemning the "salacious gossip, unwarranted personal attacks, and false misleading accusations on me — from people who are looking to be relevant and have an agenda".
On January 15, with just five days left as First Lady, Melania has tweeted again about her signature anti-bullying and anti-cyberbullying #BeBest youth initiative that also discourages opioid use. She tweeted: "As the legacy of #BeBest comes to a close at the @WhiteHouse, we must continue to give a voice to our Nation's children & the issues that impact their lives. It's the values & spirit of the American people that inspired Be Best & it's those values that will carry on its mission." Her post also had a video of herself at different #BeBest events, meeting with children.
As the legacy of #BeBest comes to a close at the @WhiteHouse, we must continue to give a voice to our Nation's children & the issues that impact their lives. It's the values & spirit of the American people that inspired Be Best & it's those values that will carry on its mission. pic.twitter.com/fRBTWphmlj
— Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) January 15, 2021
The First Lady's tweet generated a backlash that used #BeBest sarcastically. Most of the anger seemingly is because Melania Trump has ignored one of the crucial duties of a departing FLOTUS — inviting the new First Lady, in this case, Dr Jill Biden — into the White House.
"Melania Trump took these last days of the Trump presidency to emphasize how meaningful her #BeBest campaign is by refusing to reach out to Dr. Jill Biden and welcome her into the White House, like Michelle Obama did with her," said one tweet, while Vox journalist Aaron Rupar tweeted: "The legacy of #BeBest is that your husband is banned from social media". Another tweet said: "Wasn’t #BeBest supposed to be about online bullying? How ironic that the First Lady’s pathetic #BeBest initiative ended with her husband being banned from social media."
Melania Trump took these last days of the Trump presidency to emphasize how meaningful her #BeBest campaign is by refusing to reach out to Dr. Jill Biden and welcome her into the White House, like Michelle Obama did with her. pic.twitter.com/eTDjr8YLPY
— Victoria Brownworth (@VABVOX) January 15, 2021
The legacy of #BeBest is that your husband is banned from social media https://t.co/GdRBLO2b14
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 15, 2021
🤔 Wasn’t #BeBest supposed to be about online bullying?
— Carolyn from Maryland (@carolyn_from) January 15, 2021
How ironic that the First Lady’s pathetic #BeBest initiative ended with her husband being banned from social media. pic.twitter.com/df0Zj8I9Ez
Melania Trump's #BeBest hashtag also inspired another hashtag in response — #BeGone. One tweet posted pictures of traumatized children trapped in cages in border detention centers and scenes from the Capitol riot with the words: "So inspiring. #BeBest and #BeGone", while another said: "What a crock!! #BeBest Your legacy is nothing, you tore up the Rose Garden, you mocked those locked in cages, and most importantly, you stood by while your pig of a husband was the biggest cyber bully of all! #BeGone, before we drop a house on you!! #TrumpImpeachment".
Another tweet tallying up some of Melania Trump's most controversial political moments said: "#BeGone Mrs Einstein Visa Birther. Your tenure at the WH is marked by two things: 1. Wearing an "I Really Don't Care" jacket to a child detention camp 2. Being annoyed by having to deal with "f#cking" Christmas decorations You are married to the biggest bully on the planet."
So inspiring.#BeBest and #BeGone pic.twitter.com/cNPQuDKJAU
— George A. Polisner, civ.works founder, #FBR (@FoamingPenguin) January 15, 2021
What a crock!! #BeBest Your legacy is nothing, you tore up the Rose Garden, you mocked those locked in cages, and most importantly, you stood by while your pig of a husband was the biggest cyber bully of all! #BeGone, before we drop a house on you!! #TrumpImpeachment pic.twitter.com/zKaVEHTdxa
— 💯💋Brandy Dibble💋💯 (@quotemeagain) January 15, 2021
#BeGone Mrs Einstein Visa Birther.
— Patty (@suo_gan) January 15, 2021
Your tenure at the WH is marked by two things:
1. Wearing an "I Really Don't Care" jacket to a child detention camp
2. Being annoyed by having to deal with "f#cking" Christmas decorations
You are married to the biggest bully on the planet.
With five days left to go, there is still time for outgoing First Lady Melania Trump to invite incoming first lady Jill Biden for tea and a tour of the White House family quarters. According to Kate Andersen Brower, author of 'First Women: The Grace and Power of America's Modern First Ladies', who spoke to the press, "there has always been an invitation... this goes back to at least Bess Truman and Mamie Eisenhower (in 1952)". If Melania Trump doesn't extend the invitation to the incoming First Lady, it will be the first break in the 100-year-old first ladies' transfer-of-power tradition in decades.