
As more information comes out about the children of immigrants being taken from their parents at the border and placed in detention facilities and tent cities, the ability of people in Trump’s orbit to respond in the exact wrong way has been quite a thing to behold. Take Melania Trump’s tweet yesterday, in which she referenced how she and Queen Letizia of Spain discussed ways to “positively impact children” over tea:
A great visit with the King & Queen of Spain at the @WhiteHouse today. Queen Letizia & I enjoyed tea & time together focusing on the ways we can positively impact children. pic.twitter.com/IiaMQOil3KJune 19, 2018
Wow. That’s almost impressively tone-deaf, and the perfect mixture of vague and cruel in light of all the horrible news coming out of this country.
And, of course, there have been some knowingly despicable reactions to the administration’s zero-tolerance policy from those in the President's circle. Check out how former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski responded when asked about a ten-year-old girl with Down Syndrome who was forcibly taken from her mother at the border:
Here, I saw you deleted your "summer camp" tweet, so I saved it for you. pic.twitter.com/lJh5IUCNM5June 20, 2018
That’s a, uh, nice tent your kids have there. You almost have to hand it to Vanessa. This is so incredibly tone-deaf that it can only have been a done in earnest (I'm pretty sure Melania was trolling). She clearly had no idea when she tweeted this what it would look like, and that's almost worse. But she was evidently made aware: The tweet was deleted almost an hour later.
It's easy to focus on gaffes and Twitter scandals when things feel especially dark and hopeless. But remember, there really are things you can do to help the families affected by this policy. Here’s a rundown of four ways you can help right now.
And, as ever, you can donate to the ACLU. Here’s a direct link.
Cady Drell is a writer, editor, researcher and pet enthusiast from Brooklyn.
-
The Perfumer Behind Last Year's Most Talked-About Fragrance Just Released Another Perfect Scent
Aqua Media Cologne forte embodies a feeling of balance and harmony.
By Deena Campbell
-
'Yellowface' Is Our June Book Club Pick
Read an excerpt from R.F. Kuang's latest novel, here, then dive in with us throughout the month.
By Brooke Knappenberger
-
I Scoured the Summer Runways—Here Are the Six Shoe Trends Actually Worth Buying
Hit the ground running this season.
By Emma Childs
-
36 Ways Women Still Aren't Equal to Men
It's just one of the many ways women still aren't equal to men.
By Brooke Knappenberger
-
How New York's First Female Governor Plans to Fight for Women If Reelected
Kathy Hochul twice came to power because men resigned amid sexual harassment scandals. Here, how she's leading differently.
By Emily Tisch Sussman
-
Why the 2022 Midterm Elections Are So Critical
As we blaze through a highly charged midterm election season, Swing Left Executive Director Yasmin Radjy highlights rising stars who are fighting for women’s rights.
By Tanya Benedicto Klich
-
Tammy Duckworth: 'I’m Mad as Hell' About the Lack of Federal Action on Gun Safety
The Illinois Senator won't let the memory of the Highland Park shooting just fade away.
By Sen. Tammy Duckworth
-
Roe Is Gone. We Have to Keep Fighting.
Democracy always offers a path forward even when we feel thrust into the past.
By Beth Silvers and Sarah Stewart Holland, hosts of Pantsuit Politics Podcast
-
The Supreme Court's Mississippi Abortion Rights Case: What to Know
The case could threaten Roe v. Wade.
By Megan DiTrolio
-
Sex Trafficking Victims Are Being Punished. A New Law Could Change That.
Victims of sexual abuse are quietly criminalized. Sara's Law protects kids that fight back.
By Dr. Devin J. Buckley and Erin Regan
-
My Family and I Live in Navajo Nation. We Don't Have Access to Clean Running Water
"They say that the United States is one of the wealthiest countries in the world. Why are citizens still living with no access to clean water?"
By Amanda L. As Told To Rachel Epstein