Putin shocks Trump, says 'We like Melania better'; US President then shares his hilarious response

US President Donald Trump let his wife Melania co-sign legislation Monday to outlaw artificial intelligence-generated porn with real people’s faces. This came moments after claiming that Russian president Vladimir Putin had gushed about the first lady during a high-stakes phone call about the Ukraine war.

Trump gave an insight into the discussion between himself and Russian leader Vladimir Putin during their two-hour call today. While the focus was on peace negotiations for the war in Ukraine, and Russian-US trade, Trump said Putin had also brought up First Lady Melania.

Speaking at a White House Rose Garden signing ceremony for the "Take It Down" bill, Trump told the crowd, "Putin just said, 'they respect your wife a lot.'"

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When Trump responded, "what about me?" he said that Putin had responded, "They like Melania better."

“Putin just said, they [Russians] respect your wife a lot,” said Trump before signing the Take It Down Act during a Rose Garden ceremony. “I said, ‘What about me?’ They like Melania better.”

Trump thanks Melania

Trump's light-hearted story added a personal touch to his interactions with Putin. He also mentioned spending two and a half hours talking to Putin about serious issues. Trump noted that progress was made in their discussions.

Trump addressed the ongoing conflict, noting that 5,000 young people are dying each week. He expressed hope that the discussions underway would lead to meaningful improvements. Trump also engaged with leaders from European nations in an effort to tackle the crisis collaboratively.

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He took a moment to thank First Lady Melania Trump for her leadership on critical issues, praising her dedication and compassion. He highlighted her efforts in securing $25 million to provide housing and support for youth aging out of foster care.

Trump acknowledged the presence and support of several senators and congressmen at the event, expressing gratitude for their commitment to addressing these urgent matters. Their participation underscored the shared dedication to achieving meaningful change.

Also in attendance was Linda Yaccarino, CEO of X. Trump commended her leadership and asked her to stand for recognition, noting that her involvement reflected the importance of public-private collaboration in reaching shared goals.

A key highlight of the event was Trump’s signing of the Take It Down Act into law. The legislation targets the non-consensual distribution of explicit images, including deepfakes—AI-generated content often used to harass and exploit individuals. Trump stressed the urgent need for this law, emphasizing the harm caused by such abuses and the importance of accountability. The act aims to prevent further harm and protect individuals from technological misuse.

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The Take It Down Act

The 'Take It Down Act' criminalizes the distribution of non-consensual intimate imagery — including “revenge porn” that features real images and artificial intelligence-generated photos and videos.

After Trump, 78, signed the legislation, he passed the bill and a pen to his wife and asked for her signature in a reflection of her advocacy. “She deserves to sign it,” the president said, adding that “America is blessed to have such a dedicated and compassionate first lady.”

Melania Trump is believed to be the first lady to sign a piece of legislation alongside a sitting president. “This legislation is a powerful step forward in our efforts to ensure that every American, especially young people, can feel better protected from their image or identity being abused,” said Melania Trump, 55.

“Artificial intelligence and social media are the digital candy for the next generation — sweet, addictive and engineered to have an impact on the connectivity development of our children,” she added. “But unlike sugar, these new technologies can be weaponized, shape beliefs and sadly, affect emotions.”

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“We’ve all heard about deep fakes. I have them all the time, but nobody does anything,” said the president during his remarks. “I ask [Attorney General] Pam [Bondi], ‘Can you help me, Pam?’ She says, ‘No, I’m too busy, too busy doing other things, don’t worry, you’ll survive.’ But a lot of people don’t survive.”

Ahead of Monday’s bill signing, 49 states had laws barring “revenge porn” on the books, with South Carolina the lone exception. The new federal law passed the House 409-2 and the Senate by unanimous consent, becoming one of the first pieces of legislation criminalizing aspects of AI.

Perpetrators face up to two years in federal prison if the images feature an adult or three years if they depict a minor. Websites must remove content within 48 hours of notification that the images violated the law, with enforcement delegated to the Federal Trade Commission.