Melania Trump presides at UN Security Council meeting as U.S. attacks Iran

U.S. first lady Melania Trump presided over a United Nations Security Council meeting at UN headquarters on Monday, March 2, 2026, focusing on children in conflict during challenging times as the United States has joined Israel in attacking Iran. The meeting, which centered on one of the first lady's signature issues, saw her acknowledge the difficult global circumstances while delivering a general message about supporting children worldwide. 'The U.S. stands with all of the children throughout the world,' she stated, avoiding specific mention of the new Middle East conflict. 'I hope soon peace will be yours.' Melania Trump made history as the first spouse of a world leader to take the president's seat at the UN's most powerful body, an opportunity afforded as the United States assumes the council's presidency for March. The meeting occurred against the backdrop of what Iranian state media reported as an airstrike hitting a girls' school in southern Iran, killing at least 165 people and wounding dozens more. While the Israeli military denied awareness of such strikes, the U.S. military stated it was investigating the reports. Iranian ambassador to the UN Amir Saeid Iravani condemned the timing of the meeting as 'deeply shameful and hypocritical,' questioning how the U.S. could convene a discussion on protecting children while launching airstrikes on Iranian cities. UN political chief Rosemary DiCarlo highlighted the broader impact of the U.S.-Israeli strikes and Iranian retaliations on children across the region, noting school closures in multiple Middle Eastern nations. During the session, speakers emphasized the importance of closing the digital divide between developed and developing countries to ensure all children have access to 21st-century technology. Melania Trump strongly advocated for connecting all children to artificial intelligence to help them learn about diverse beliefs, customs, and histories, stating 'AI is democratizing knowledge which was once confined to university libraries.' However, her advocacy stood in contrast to her husband's administration policies, which have included cutting funding for UN agencies addressing children's issues, including the UN Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Children in Armed Conflict and UNICEF, as well as withdrawing from UNESCO. DiCarlo noted the world is facing the highest number of armed conflicts since World War II, with children being among the most severely affected civilians.