Melania Trump is set to preside over a meeting of the UN Security Council on Monday, an unprecedented move for a sitting First Lady. The announcement was made by her office and confirmed by UN officials, as the United States currently holds the rotating presidency of the Council this month.
The meeting, scheduled for 3:00 pm in New York (10:00 pm Romanian time), will focus on „education, technology, and peace.” According to a statement released by Melania Trump’s team and cited by The Guardian, she „will make history at the UN by wielding the gavel,” emphasizing the importance of education in promoting tolerance and peace globally.
A First in UN History
The UN Security Council is the principal executive body of the United Nations, responsible for maintaining international peace and security. According to the spokesperson for Secretary-General António Guterres, Stéphane Dujarric, this will be the first time a sitting head of state's spouse presides over a Council meeting.
The UN official stated that Melania Trump's presence is "a sign of the importance the United States places on the Security Council and the subject of education."
However, the event also carries a symbolic dimension: despite the US temporarily leading the Council's proceedings, the Trump administration has had a strained relationship with the organization over the past year.
- Trump Opens Battle for Congress. How He Turned the State of the Union Address into an Electoral Test
A Diplomatic Gesture Amid Criticism of the UN
Returning to the White House in January 2025, President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized the effectiveness of the UN. At the first meeting of the so-called "Peace Council" initiated by his administration, Trump stated that the UN "has great potential," but "has never realized it."
Meanwhile, the US has withdrawn from several major agencies of the organization, including the World Health Organization, and has accumulated significant arrears in the UN budget. Washington has not paid its 2025 dues, despite being the organization's largest contributor.
Just a few days ago, the US administration paid $160 million of the over $2 billion owed to the general budget, in addition to around another $2 billion owed for peacekeeping operations.
Melania Praised by Trump Openly
In his State of the Union address delivered on Tuesday, Donald Trump stated that "no one cares more about protecting American youth than our fantastic First Lady," also referring to the documentary "Melania," released at the end of January by Amazon-MGM, which covers the period leading up to the 2025 inauguration.