US mission: Melania Trump to chair UN Security Council session, a historic first

2026-02-26 - 22:02

The United States mission to the United Nations confirmed Thursday that First Lady Melania Trump will chair a Security Council session in March, making history as the first presidential spouse to preside over the body. The announcement came as Washington prepares to assume the rotating presidency of the Security Council, with the first lady's session focusing on education's role in securing peace. Historic Moment at the UN "The Trump Administration continues to do more for world peace than any other in American history," the mission declared on social media, announcing that "@FLOTUS will make history, taking up the gavel (the first time any U.S. First lady has presided over the council) and will promote education's role in securing peace." UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric confirmed the historic nature of the occasion, stating "this will be the first time a first lady, or first gentleman, for that matter, has ever presided over a Security Council meeting," while noting previous instances of first ladies participating on behalf of non-member states. US Leadership at the Security Council The United States assumes the council presidency in March, giving Washington agenda-setting authority for the month. The first lady's unprecedented role highlights the administration's focus on education as a peace-building tool and represents a new dimension of diplomatic engagement for a presidential spouse at the world's foremost security body.