TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - First Lady Melania Trump led a UN Security Council meeting on Monday, drawing attention to the plight of children caught in conflict, as tensions in the Middle East escalated following US–Israel strikes on Iran over the weekend.
Ambassadors from all Security Council members, including Russia and China, attended the session, where Trump represented the United States during its month-long rotating presidency of the Council.
The former model opened the session by striking the ceremonial gavel and thanking the United Kingdom for its previous presidency. She also paid tribute to US military personnel who lost their lives in the conflict with Iran.
“To the families who have lost their heroes who sacrifice their lives for freedom, their bravery and dedication will always be remembered,” she said in a packed chamber, according to Bangkok Post.
“Enduring peace will be achieved when knowledge and understanding are fully valued within all our societies,” she added.
“Societies ruled by knowledge and wisdom are therefore more peaceful.”
Ahead of the session, Iran’s UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani criticized the meeting, calling it “deeply shameful and hypocritical” that on the very first day of its Security Council presidency, the United States convened a highlevel meeting on protecting children.
He referenced a US–Israel strike on an elementary school in southern Iran that reportedly killed at least 165 students and teachers over the weekend.
In her remarks, Trump did not explicitly mention the strikes but stated, “The United States stands with all children around the world. I hope peace will soon be yours.”
Her speech was warmly received by other Council members. Greek Ambassador Aglaia Balta thanked the First Lady, while France’s representative compared her to former First Lady and activist Eleanor Roosevelt. Russia also offered polite praise, avoiding direct reference to Iran, which was only mentioned by Council members aligned with Washington, including Bahrain.
“I wish you all strength and resolve to succeed in preserving peace and security throughout the world,” Melania said, closing the two-hour session.
Political and Financial Tensions
UN Secretary-General spokesperson Stephane Dujarric confirmed that this was the first time a First Lady or First Gentleman had presided over a Security Council meeting. The US holds the Council presidency for March.
Trump has previously used her platform to advocate for the release of Ukrainian children kidnapped by Russia, though she has faced criticism from Turkey’s First Lady for not addressing the deaths of over 20,000 Palestinian children in Gaza.
Deputy Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, praised Trump for “raising visibility on issues affecting children in conflict and for her personal involvement in reuniting Ukrainian children with their families.”
Political and financial tensions between the US and UN have grown in recent years, with Washington, as the organization’s largest contributor, expressing frustration over its role amid budget shortfalls.
Analysts suggest the Trump administration intends to bypass the Security Council with a “Board of Peace”, which held its first meeting in Washington last month.
Since returning to the White House, Trump has cut support to key UN agencies, including the World Health Organization. Recently, the US contributed US$160 million toward the UN’s regular budget after withholding payments in 2025, though it still owes around US$4 billion for the regular and peacekeeping budgets.
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that the financial shortfall could have catastrophic consequences.
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