Trump’s Wife Melania To Chair Historic UN Security Council Meeting

United States First Lady Melania Trump is set to preside over a meeting of the United Nations Security Council next week, marking the first time a sitting US First Lady will chair the powerful body.

This development comes despite the fact that President Donald Trump has withdrawn support from several major UN agencies, such as the World Health Organisation (WHO).

In a statement released on Wednesday, her office said the First Lady would “make history at the United Nations” as she takes the gavel during the United States’ presidency of the Council, with a focus on the role of education in promoting tolerance and global peace.

The meeting, scheduled for Monday at 3:00 pm (2000 GMT), will centre on education, technology, peace and security. According to the statement, it represents an unprecedented moment in the Council’s history.

Confirming the development, UN Secretary-General’s spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, said the visit underscored the importance the United States attached to both the Security Council and the issue of education.

“I can confirm that, according to our records, this will be the first time a First Lady, or first gentleman for that matter, has ever presided over a Security Council meeting,” Dujarric said, noting that spouses of heads of state have previously participated only on behalf of non-member states.

The announcement comes days after President Trump praised his wife during his State of the Union address, saying: “No one cares more about protecting America’s youth than our wonderful first lady.”

Melania Trump’s UN appearance coincides with the president’s push for his “Board of Peace” initiative, which critics argued could sidestep the authority of the Security Council.

Since returning to the White House last year, President Trump has also scaled back US support for several UN agencies, including the World Health Organization. Despite this, Washington recently paid $160 million towards the cash-strapped UN’s general budget, while still owing about $2 billion in assessed contributions, in addition to another $2 billion in outstanding peacekeeping dues.

AFP