The White House announced that Melania Trump will chair a session of the United Nations Security Council on March 2, 2026, when the US assumes the rotating presidency of this body in March.
The session was themed "Children, Technology and Education in Conflict". According to a White House statement, Melania wanted to emphasize the role of education as a means of promoting tolerance and world peace. Security Council regulations allow the host country to alternately choose topics for several sessions to mark the term.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said that this will be the first time the incumbent president's wife has chaired a Security Council meeting. He said that Ms. Melania's participation shows the importance that the US attaches to this body as well as the topic being raised.
At the meeting, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations in charge of politics and peacebuilding Rosemary DiCarlo will represent Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to present the agenda before representatives of 15 permanent and non-permanent members of the Security Council.
Melania rarely appeared publicly or commented on politics during much of President Donald Trump's term, but showed a clear interest in issues related to children.
In 2025, she sent a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin calling for the return of Ukrainian children taken to Russia in the conflict and supporting them to reunite with their families.
Mr. Trump has repeatedly criticized the United Nations for operating ineffectively, especially in conflict handling and budget balancing. During this term, the US withdrew from a number of UN organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and cut funding for many other agencies.
At the end of last month, Mr. Guterres warned that the United Nations is at risk of "financial collapse" if it does not carry out reforms or member states do not fulfill their contribution obligations.
Last week, Mr. Trump showed a softer tone at the first meeting of the US-initiated Peace Council, pledging to strengthen and financially support the United Nations. This month, the US paid 160 million USD out of nearly 4 billion USD of the organization's outstanding budget.
