Melania Trump to Chair UN Security Council Session Next Week

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - United States First Lady Melania Trump is scheduled to chair a United Nations Security Council session next week, marking the first time in history for a First Lady of the U.S. who is still in office to take on such a diplomatic role.

"The first lady’s speech will mark the first time a first lady from any country — and the first time a sitting U.S. first lady — will preside over the security council as its members consider education, technology, peace and security," stated the United States Mission to the United Nations on Thursday, as reported by Yeni Safak.

The session titled "Children, Technology, and Education in Conflict" is scheduled to take place on March 2.

This announcement comes as Washington prepares to assume the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council.

Melania will wield the gavel as the U.S. assumes the Presidency of the UN Security Council. She will emphasize the vital role of education in advancing global tolerance and peace.

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric emphasized the historic nature of the event, 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 where First Ladies have participated on behalf of non-member states.

The session will be attended by representatives from the member states of the Security Council, U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz, and international stakeholders.

The Presidency of the UN Security Council rotates monthly among its 15 member states in English alphabetical order. The U.S. will assume the position in March, following the UK.

Tangled in Epstein Scandal?

This announcement comes just a few days after the U.S. Department of Justice released documents of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, revealing alleged connections between Melania and the late Epstein.

As reported by The Daily Beast, a former assistant of Epstein told the FBI, effectively under oath, that the pedophile introduced Donald Trump to his third wife, Melania.

"I saw my friend wave at someone behind me. When I turned around, I noticed a man and an attractive blonde woman approaching us. ‘Hi. I’m Donald Trump,’ the man said when he reached my table. ‘Nice to meet you.’ I recognized the name, and I knew he was a businessman or celebrity, but not much else. He put his hand out to shake mine."

"Hello,’ I replied. ‘I’m Melania.’ His eyes filled with curiosity and interest, and, seizing the opportunity, he took the seat next to mine and started a conversation."

The unnamed woman, a former model who worked as Epstein's assistant for a year from 2005 to 2006, made the claim in July 2019, three days after her former boss was arrested by the FBI and charged with child sex trafficking.

The heavily redacted 11-page document was released in the disclosure of three million Epstein files on Friday and discovered in early February.

The woman's claims contradict the version of events recounted by Melania Trump in her 2024 memoir, as well as her husband's account of how they became a couple. The White House referred to prior warnings from the Department of Justice that the Epstein files may contain false information.

Last year, the First Lady threatened to sue Trump biographer Michael Wolff for $1 billion after he stated in an episode of The Daily Beast podcast that Melania was "very much involved" in Epstein's social circle.

Wolff said that Trump and Melania met in 1998 through Paolo Zampolli, Melania's agent at the time.

The author responded to the threat by filing a lawsuit against the First Lady, using free speech laws to accuse her of attempting to unlawfully silence him. Melania Trump sought to dismiss the lawsuit, claiming that she had not been properly served with notice of it.

The surprising claims about the origins of the couple emerged in FBI notes dated November 2019, detailing an interview in July with a woman whose name was redacted, and who was granted immunity to speak.

The heavily redacted documents show that the woman was treated as a victim of sexual abuse, as well as a witness who provided harrowing details of Epstein's sexual abuse regime on his private island.

The interview was conducted by experienced FBI agents and federal prosecutors, and was noted as a "proffer agreement." A "proffer" occurs when a witness offers truthful evidence in exchange for not being prosecuted, or some other form of limited immunity. The documents did not specify what immunity was offered to her. Giving false statements to the FBI can result in up to five years in prison.

Trump told Fox News in April 2025 that the disgraced businessman, who was a close friend for many years, had "nothing to do" with Melania. "Jeffrey Epstein had nothing to do with Melania and introducing [us]. But they do that to demean—they make up stories," he said. "I mean, I can tell you exactly how it was: It was another person, actually. I did meet [her] through another person, but it wasn’t Jeffrey Epstein."

Read: Poll: Majority Satisfied with Trump's State of the Union Address

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News