Melania Trump presides at UN Security Council meeting on children in conflict as US attacks Iran

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — U.S. first lady Melania Trump presided over a U.N. Security Council meeting on Monday focusing on children in conflict, one of her signature issues, and acknowledged she was doing so in “challenging times” as the United States has joined Israel in attacking Iran.

“The U.S. stands with all of the children throughout the world," she said, speaking generally and not specifically about the new war in the Middle East. "I hope soon peace will be yours.”

Hanging over Monday's meeting was what Iranian state media says was an airstrike that hit a girls' school in southern Iran, killing at least 165 people and wounding dozens more. The Israeli military said it was not aware of strikes in the area. The U.S. military said it was looking into the reports.

Shortly before Monday's session began, Iran's ambassador to the U.N., Amir Saeid Iravani, said it was “deeply shameful and hypocritical” for the U.S. to convene a meeting on protecting children during conflict while launching airstrikes on Iranian cities.

“For the United States, ‘protecting children’ and ‘maintaining international peace and security’ clearly mean something very different from what the U.N. Charter provides," he told reporters.

U.N. political chief Rosemary DiCarlo said the world body was aware of the reports of the deaths at the girls' school. She noted the impact the U.S.-Israeli strikes and the Iranian retaliatory strikes was having on children across the region.

“We have been reminded of this truth over the last two days," she told the Security Council. "Schools in Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman have closed and moved to remote learning owing to the ongoing military operations in the region,” she said.

Melania Trump was the first spouse of a world leader to take the president’s seat at the United Nations’ most powerful body, which is charged with ensuring global peace and security, according to the U.N.

The wife of President Donald Trump was given the opportunity as the United States takes over the council presidency for the month of March. In the past, presidents, prime ministers and foreign ministers have often wielded the gavel.

Speaker after speaker on Monday said it was important to close the digital divide between developed and developing countries so all children have access to 21st century technology.

Melania Trump strongly advocated for all children to be connected to artificial intelligence to help them learn about the beliefs, customs and history of others. “AI is democratizing knowledge which was once confined to university libraries," she said.

Drawing a connection between knowledge and peace, she urged members of the Security Council to “safeguard learning."

“Enduring peace will be achieved when knowledge and understanding are fully valued within all our societies,” she said.

While the first lady spoke of a need to protect children and their access to education and technology in conflict, her husband's administration has cut funding for a number of U.N. agencies and other international organizations that address these issues.

Among them is the U.N. Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Children in Armed Conflict, which provides detailed reporting on the impact that conflicts have on children around the world. This information can help trigger action to prevent rape and violence against women and children. President Trump withdrew U.S. support in January.

The U.S. has also dramatically cut funding for the U.N. children’s agency, UNICEF, and has withdrawn from the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO.

DiCarlo told the council the world is facing the highest number of armed conflicts since World War II. “The number of civilians killed in these conflicts is the highest in decades," she said. "Our reality is clear: When conflicts erupt, children are among those most severely affected.”

The first lady arrived at U.N. headquarters in a motorcade and was greeted by U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. She shook hands with each of the 15 Security Council members and posed for a group photo.

The rotating president of the council gets to choose the subject and participants for some meetings. Monday’s meeting was scheduled before the war began.

The council’s last meeting, on Saturday, was a contentious emergency session called in response to the start of the war. Guterres condemned the U.S. and Israeli airstrikes as violations of international law, including the U.N. Charter. He also condemned Iran’s retaliatory attacks for violating the sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations in the Mideast.

Melania Trump took the unusual step last summer of writing a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin before his summit with her husband and later announced that the effort had led to a group of children displaced by the Russia-Ukraine war being reunited with their families.

Putin’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 resulted in Russia taking Ukrainian children out of their country so they could be raised as Russian. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has lobbied world leaders for help reuniting families.

Melania Trump, first lady of the United States, presides over the United Nations Security Council at United Nations headquarters, Monday, March 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

Melania Trump, first lady of the United States, presides over the United Nations Security Council at United Nations headquarters, Monday, March 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

Melania Trump, first lady of the United States, arrives with U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz, to preside over a United Nations Security Council meeting at United Nations headquarters, Monday, March 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

First lady Melania Trump takes a photo with a group of UN Diplomats before she presides over the United Nations Security Council on Iran and the recent attacks by U.S. and Israel at United Nations headquarters, Monday, March 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

First lady Melania Trump takes a photo with a group of UN Diplomats before she presides over the United Nations Security Council on Iran and the recent attacks by U.S. and Israel at United Nations headquarters, Monday, March 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

First lady Melania Trump presides over the United Nations Security Council at United Nations headquarters, Monday, March 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis)

First lady Melania Trump speaks at an event to present her 2025 inaugural ball gown to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert)

MIAMI (AP) — Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun scored in their return to the United States roster, and the Americans routed Haiti 6-0 on Saturday in Miami in the first leg of the Nations League quarterfinals.

Auston Trusty, Julian Hall and Weston McKennie also scored for the U.S., which had its most goals in a match under Mauricio Pochettino.

It was a near perfect start of what will be a brief farewell tour for Pochettino, who has agreed to become the head coach of Manchester United after two years coaching the U.S.

Just three months after announcing a contract to lead the Americans through the 2030 World Cup, the U.S. Soccer Federation said Pochettino will depart next week for Old Trafford.

“We played for him," Trusty said in a postmatch interview with TNT Sports after opening the scoring in the 10th minute. "Obviously, he's our gaffer. Obviously it's sad that he's moving on. It's a great opportunity that he's moving on to. But we played for him. It's his team. It's his identity, and the mindset is to win every single game, every single match.”

The second leg of the Nations League quarterfinals will take place Tuesday in Cincinnati.

“Pochettino is an amazing manager and he added a lot to us with the national team," Balogun told TNT Sports. “It’s always sad to see a top coach leave but it’s a part of the sport.”

It was a mostly pro-Haiti crowd on Saturday, with fans draped in their country's blue and red colors cheering on the squad for reasons far beyond the game.

Violence in the Caribbean country has prevented Les Grenadiers from playing on home soil, so Haiti played “host” to the Americans in South Florida, which is home to the largest Haitian diaspora community in the United States.

When Lenny Joseph appeared to finally put Haiti on the board by finishing Josue Casimir’s cross in the 70th, fans roared as if their squad had taken the lead, though Joseph was ruled offside.

Pulisic had missed exhibition wins over Peru, Chile, Mexico and Canada as he worked his way back from a microfracture of his right tibia and fibula sustained in the 4-1 loss to Belgium at the World Cup’s round of 16.

Balogun, a striker whose red card-suspension at the World Cup was controversially suspended after a phone call from U.S. President Donald Trump to FIFA head Gianni Infantino, was omitted for those friendlies when he didn’t play in Monaco’s first four Ligue 1 matches this season after a possible transfer to Everton fell through.

Pulisic converted a penalty for a 3-0 lead in the 62nd, then finished from outside the box less than two minutes later on an assist from Alex Freeman. Balogun finished past goalie Alexandre Pierre then pointed at his wrist to make it 6-0 in the 82nd.

He said his celebration was a nod to NBA player Damian Lillard, who often does the same gesture to signal that it's “Dame Time” after a knocking down a key, crunch-time bucket.

“I just wanted to show it’s my time,” Balogun said. “I’m back.”

See AP’s full soccer coverage here

United States midfielder Sebastian Berhalter (14) yells at Haiti forward Josue Casimir (10) during the first half of a CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal soccer match Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, in Miami, Fla. (AP Photo/Alie Skowronski)

Haiti defender Kayden Pierre (4) kicks the ball during the first half of a CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal soccer match against the United States on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, in Miami, Fla. (AP Photo/Alie Skowronski)

United States defender Alexander Freeman (16) kicks the ball around Haiti defender Martin Experience (8) during the first half of a CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal soccer match Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, in Miami, Fla. (AP Photo/Alie Skowronski)

United States players celebrate a goal by defender Auston Trusty (6) during the first half of a CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal soccer match against Haiti on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, in Miami, Fla. (AP Photo/Alie Skowronski)

United States forward Christian Pulisic (10) dribbles the ball around Haiti Patrick Nwadike (5) during the first half of a CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal soccer match on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, in Miami, Fla. (AP Photo/Alie Skowronski)