When the First Lady takes the president’s chair at the Security Council, it will mark the first time a first lady or first gentleman has ever presided over a council meeting — underscoring the United States’ focus on children, education, and peace in times of conflict.
Melania Trump is set to preside over a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Monday, marking what U.N. officials say will be the first time a sitting first lady — or first gentleman — has led a council session.
U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters that when the wife of Donald Trump takes the president’s chair at the council table, it will represent an unprecedented moment in the body’s history.
The United States assumes the rotating presidency of the 15-member Security Council for the month of March. According to the first lady’s office, the session she will oversee is titled “Children, Technology, and Education in Conflict” and will highlight the role of education in fostering tolerance and promoting global peace.
Advocacy for children affected by conflict has been a key focus for Melania Trump. Last year, she wrote to Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of a summit with President Trump, urging action on behalf of children displaced by the Russia-Ukraine war. She later announced that the effort helped facilitate the reunification of a group of displaced children with their families.
Her appearance at the Security Council comes at a time when President Trump has repeatedly criticized the United Nations, arguing that the 193-member organization has failed to meet its full potential. His administration has withdrawn the U.S. from several U.N. bodies, including the World Health Organization and UNESCO, and reduced or eliminated funding to dozens of others.
The United States also remains in arrears on its U.N. payments, owing billions of dollars. Until recently, the administration had not paid its assessed contributions for the U.N.’s 2025 regular operating budget or for peacekeeping operations this year. Earlier this month, it paid $160 million — roughly 4% of the nearly $4 billion total owed.
Last month, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that the organization faces “imminent financial collapse” unless member states pay their dues in full or financial rules are restructured — remarks widely interpreted as directed at the United States.
President Trump has also drawn concern from some allies over his broader ambitions for the Board of Peace, suggesting it could play a role in conflicts beyond Gaza in ways that might sidestep the Security Council. Speaking at the board’s inaugural meeting last week, he defended his approach, saying he intends to ensure the United Nations remains viable and eventually fulfills its mission. “Someday, I won’t be here — the United Nations will be,” he said.
Dujarric described the first lady’s decision to chair the Security Council session as a reflection of the importance the United States places on both the council and the meeting’s theme. As the council’s monthly president, the U.S. has the authority to set the agenda for certain high-profile sessions.
At Monday’s meeting, U.N. political chief Rosemary DiCarlo will brief members on behalf of the secretary-general.
