Updated March 2, 2026 / 4:59 PM EST — New York
First lady Melania Trump presided Monday over a United Nations Security Council session in New York focused on education’s role in promoting tolerance and peace, even as U.S. military operations in Iran continued.
In her opening remarks, the first lady offered “heartfelt condolences” to families of fallen service members and expressed hope for peace for children worldwide. She did not name the ongoing military operation. “My heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their heroes, who sacrificed their lives for freedom,” she said, adding wishes for the recovery of the injured and that peace will soon belong to children everywhere.
U.N. Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo noted that children are often among the worst affected when conflicts erupt. Citing recent disruptions, she said schools have closed in Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman because of military activity and referenced reports from Iran alleging dozens of children were killed when a strike hit an elementary school in Minab. CBS News has not independently verified those reports.
“Clearly, the United States would not deliberately target a school,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters, while acknowledging he did not have all the details.
Representatives from Security Council members spoke during the nearly two-hour session. Russia, a permanent council member, participated despite concerns raised by some delegates about children’s safety in Ukraine. The first lady has previously advocated for efforts to return Ukrainian children from Russia and reunite them with their families.
The White House confirmed last week that the first lady would preside over the council; that announcement preceded the weekend’s joint U.S.-Israel military mission in Iran. Some reports, which have not been independently confirmed, said one of the strikes killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The Pentagon says six U.S. service members have been killed so far and that many more were injured in the operation.
After nearly two hours, Melania Trump closed the meeting. The White House said the session emphasized “education’s role in advancing tolerance and world peace.” The first lady, the first in that role to chair a Security Council meeting, has made children’s safety in the digital age a priority of her public work.