WASHINGTON: First lady Melania Trump will chair a meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Monday as the US takes over the monthly rotating presidency, the White House said.
Her office said in a statement on Wednesday she will emphasize education as a way to advance tolerance and world peace in her remarks at the meeting, titled “Children, Technology, and Education in Conflict.”
A UN spokesperson said it would be the first time a spouse of any serving world leader has chaired a meeting of the 15-member Security Council.
US President Donald Trump has been a vocal critic of the United Nations since his first White House term, saying the 193-member world body was ineffective and needed reforms. The United States is billions of dollars behind in its contributions to the UN budget.
Asked at a regular briefing if Melania Trump’s appearance was a positive sign for UN-US relations, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said it showed “the importance that the United States feels toward the Security Council and the subject at hand,” referring to the meeting’s agenda.
