Be Best Initiative: Melania Trump's Mission To Support Children and Families
Updated: Oct 1
Melania Trump Launches Be Best to Support America’s Children
The Be Best initiative was prompted by the indefatigable efforts of First Lady Melania Trump. Be Best was developed to improve the well-being of children in alliance with online safety and opioid abuse awareness. The Be Best, Melania Trump-inspired program is aimed at preparing children to overcome some of the challenges life will throw at them in the future.
Launched in May 2018, the initiative sought to encourage positive choices and healthier relationships among children, families, and communities. Its approach brought together children, parents, educators, and communities around issues that could have a lasting impact on young people's development.
Melania Trump Takes Be Best Around the World
Over the course of the administration, Melania’s contribution was remarkable. This included actively participating in the HHS Federal Partners in Bullying Prevention Summit on Cyberbullying, where she advocated for safe online habits and tools for children.
She also advocated for the SUPPORT Act with Congress to address opioid use among pregnant women and the effects of the epidemic on young people. Melania also heavily promoted healthy living toward our youth in conjunction with Judeo-Christian values.
The initiative was not only inspirational in the USA but also internationally. Throughout the administration, the First Lady visited India, Japan, Africa, the United Kingdom, and Egypt. During the First Lady’s time abroad, Melania encountered many humbling experiences and saw the effectiveness of the program globally.
“It is my hope that by talking about the values of Be Best with young people in the United States and around the world, our children, teachers, and parents will strive to share them with family and friends throughout their own communities.” First Lady Melania Trump.
Melania Trump and the SUPPORT Act
On October 23, 2019, Melania Trump visited the U.S. Capitol to mark the anniversary of the SUPPORT Act's signing. During a panel with members of Congress and administration officials, she highlighted provisions supporting drug-dependent mothers and babies with neonatal abstinence syndrome. She noted that these provisions closely aligned with the goals of her Be Best initiative.
The legislation also provided a platform for addressing opioid use during pregnancy and the early effects of substance abuse on children. For Melania, the issue connected directly to Be Best's focus on protecting children and supporting families affected by the opioid crisis.
Expanding the Be Best Initiative
Be Best also expanded its reach through partnerships across the federal government. In June 2019, the Office of the First Lady announced 21 new Be Best Ambassadors from federal agencies.
They joined the initiative's first ambassador from USAID, bringing the total number of ambassadors to 22. Their role was to help connect children and parents with resources and programs addressing the challenges highlighted by Be Best.
The initiative had also evolved beyond its original emphasis on social media. By its first anniversary in May 2019, the White House described Be Best as having three pillars: well-being, online safety, and opioid abuse. The online safety focus had expanded beyond social media to include broader digital citizenship and safety.
Be Best in Africa: A Case Study
One of the clearest examples of Melania Trump's international Be Best work came during her October 2018 trip to Africa. Over five days, she visited Ghana, Malawi, Kenya, and Egypt. During the trip, she highlighted children's health, education, and well-being while meeting with local officials, educators, medical professionals, and children.
In Ghana, Melania visited Ridge Hospital in Accra, where she learned about maternal, newborn, and child health programs supported by USAID. She later travelled to Cape Coast, where she visited Cape Coast Castle.
In Malawi, she visited Chipala Primary School, which had more than 8,000 students. Melania observed an English lesson and met with teachers and parents while donating soccer balls and Be Best educational supplies.
Her visit to Kenya provided another direct connection to the initiative's focus on children. In Nairobi, Melania visited the Nest Baby Village, a children's home caring for newborns through teenagers whose mothers were imprisoned. She described the facility as an example of protecting and nurturing the next generation.
The Africa trip showed that Be Best wasn't limited to speeches and awareness campaigns in Washington. Melania used her position as First Lady to champion children's health, education, and well-being on the international stage.
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