Melania Trump to Chair UN Security Council Session as US Assumes March Presidency

United Nations, Feb 2026 : In a historic first for the United Nations, US First Lady Melania Trump will preside over a meeting of the United Nations Security Council when the United States takes over the Council’s rotating presidency for the month of March.

The announcement was made on Thursday by Stephane Dujarric, spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Dujarric noted that this would mark the first time in the history of the Security Council that the spouse of a sitting president would take the gavel and preside over a formal Council session.

According to the UN, the meeting chaired by Melania Trump will focus on education, with particular emphasis on the role of technology and the promotion of tolerance. Rosemary DiCarlo, the Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, is scheduled to brief the Council during the session.

The Office of the First Lady confirmed that the discussion will centre on education, technology, and advancing tolerance—issues closely aligned with Melania Trump’s public advocacy as First Lady. A former model born in Slovenia, Melania Trump has focused much of her public work on initiatives aimed at improving the lives of children.

One of her flagship initiatives is the “Be Best” campaign, which seeks to protect children from cyberbullying, promote responsible use of social media, and support children’s overall health and well-being. In addition, she has actively campaigned to improve educational opportunities and career prospects for children growing up in foster care, highlighting the challenges faced by some of the most vulnerable sections of society.

US Permanent Representative to the United Nations Michael Waltz said that Melania Trump’s leadership of the Security Council session was a natural extension of her long-standing advocacy for children. Speaking to Fox News, Waltz said it was “fitting that the First Lady, a passionate and tireless advocate for children, will preside over the first day of America’s presidency of the Security Council.”

He added that her emphasis on “helping the helpless through education and technology” aligns closely with the broader mission of the United Nations to achieve meaningful and lasting peace across the world.

The United States is set to assume the presidency of the Security Council on Sunday, taking over from the United Kingdom. The first Council session under the US presidency will be held on Monday, with Melania Trump chairing the proceedings.

President Donald Trump has previously been sharply critical of the United Nations, arguing that the organisation has not lived up to its potential. However, in recent weeks, his tone has moderated. While reiterating that reforms are needed, Trump has acknowledged that the UN has “tremendous potential” and praised the presence of “some very good people” within the organisation.

Last week, Trump also spoke about the so-called Board of Peace, which was established with the concurrence of the Security Council to help ensure a ceasefire in Gaza and to facilitate reconstruction efforts. Although the Board’s mandate is limited, Trump has suggested giving it a broader, more open-ended role, going beyond the Council’s original framework.

In a tangible sign of renewed engagement, the US released $160 million last week towards outstanding UN dues from last year, after previously withholding contributions amounting to nearly $4 billion.

Dujarric said that Melania Trump presiding over the Council session underscores the importance the United States attaches to the issues of education and children, as well as to the work of the Security Council itself.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)