US First Lady Melania Trump on Monday chaired a meeting of the United Nations Security Council, pressing the cause of children affected by armed conflict as the US-Israeli war against Iran intensified.
The United States assumed the Council’s rotating presidency for March, with Melania Trump presiding over the high-level session — the first time a first lady has chaired the powerful UN body.
Ambassadors from all 15 member states, including Washington’s rivals Russia and China, lined up to greet her ahead of the meeting.
She opened proceedings with the strike of a ceremonial gavel and thanked United Kingdom for its month-long presidency.
Addressing the chamber, Melania Trump paid tribute to US service members killed in the ongoing conflict.
“To the families who have lost their heroes who sacrifice their lives for freedom, their bravery and dedication will always be remembered,” she said.
“Enduring peace will be achieved when knowledge and understanding are fully valued within all our societies. Societies ruled by knowledge and wisdom are therefore more peaceful,” she added.
Earlier, Iran’s ambassador to the UN, Amir Saeid Iravani, criticised the meeting, calling it “deeply shameful and hypocritical” for the United States to convene a session on protecting children while engaged in military action.
In response, the First Lady said, “The US stands with all of the children throughout the world. I hope soon peace will be yours,” without directly referencing the Middle East hostilities.
Several Council members warmly received her remarks. Greece’s ambassador, Aglaia Balta, thanked her, while France’s envoy compared her to former US First Lady and diplomat Eleanor Roosevelt.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric confirmed that it was the first time a first lady or first gentleman had presided over a Security Council meeting.
Melania Trump has previously engaged in diplomatic efforts, including advocating for the return of Ukrainian children abducted during Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, commended her for drawing attention to children in conflict and for efforts to reunite Ukrainian children with their families.
The meeting comes amid mounting tensions between the United Nations and Washington over funding and reform.
President Donald Trump has criticised the UN’s effectiveness and recently withdrew US support from several agencies, including the World Health Organization.
Although the United States paid $160 million into the UN’s regular budget in recent days, it remains approximately $4 billion in arrears for its regular and peacekeeping budgets.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned of an impending financial crisis for the world body if contributions are not stabilised.
As global tensions rise, the Council meeting underscored both diplomatic engagement and deep divisions within the international community.
