In a historical first, First Lady Melania Trump on Monday presided over a session of the United Nations Security Council.
Per CBS News, the appearance took place against the backdrop of the U.S. continuing with strikes against Iran.
In her appearance, she offered her condolences to those who had been killed in the war so far.
“My heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their heroes, who sacrificed their lives for freedom,” the First Lady said. “Their bravery and dedication will always be remembered. I extend my earnest wishes for a swift and smooth recovery to all those who have been injured. You are in my thoughts and prayers during these challenging times. The U.S. stands with all of the children throughout the world. I hope soon, peace will be yours.”
Melania Trump presides over UN Security Council pic.twitter.com/E4pTPgDK05
— Acyn (@Acyn) March 2, 2026
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The speech was announced as focusing on “education’s role in advancing tolerance and world peace.”
Also in the meeting, Melania invited Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo to address the meeting.
“Our reality is clear — when conflicts erupt, children are among those most severely affected. We have been reminded of this truth over the last two days,” DiCarlo said at the session. “Schools in Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman have closed and moved to remote learning owing to the ongoing military operations in the region. And we are aware of the reports from Iran about the death of possibly dozens of children, allegedly as the result of a strike that hit an elementary school in the town of Minab. United States authorities have announced they are looking into these reports.”
In a column in The Guardian, published over the weekend, Arwa Mahdawi asked why the First Lady is addressing the UN.
“While DEI may be dead, WTF hiring is very much alive,” the columnist wrote. “Being Wealthy, Trumpy, and/or Fox News-famous seem to be the only qualifications you need for success in Trump’s USA. See, for example, the entire Trump administration: a horrifying hodgepodge of unqualified sycophants. See also, hot off the press, Melania Trump’s new gig at the United Nations. It’s been announced that the first lady will lead a session of the United Nations security council on Monday titled Children, Technology, and Education in Conflict.”
People across social media also had some thoughts to share:
Melania Trump is chairing a UN Security Council meeting.
I’m not joking.
The US currently holds the presidency of the council and that’s who Trump chose as chair. pic.twitter.com/aqSTXeYtzZ
— Adam Schwarz (@AdamJSchwarz) March 2, 2026
I’m old enough to remember when the world lost its shit when then first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton had the audacity to sit in on a healthcare meeting of President Clinton
This one barely speaks English after decades in the US under and Einstein Visa
It’s all theatre to Trump
— CathyNotToday2 🌿 (@Cathy2NotToday) March 2, 2026
EVERYTHING about this administration is a JOKE
— The Resistor Sister®️♥️🇺🇸 (@the_resistor) March 2, 2026
Letting Melania Trump speak at the UN is like letting Yoko Ono play guitar on the white album.
— Gene McGurk (@magawk) March 2, 2026
It’s so hard to tell satire from reality these days pic.twitter.com/vG5x499vE7
— everythingism (@_everythingism) March 2, 2026
Lmao — this is the perfect end of American empire.
— Philip Proudfoot (@PhilipProudfoot) March 2, 2026
Photo courtesy of the Political Tribune media library.
