Critics were scratching their heads over Melania Trump’s appearance at the United Nations on Monday, and in particular over her preaching of peace.

The first lady presided over a United Nations Security Council meeting — becoming the first first lady ever to do so — as part of the United States’ rotating monthlong presidency of the council in March.

The session focused, in part, on securing world peace through education.

There was no awkward escalator moment like when the first couple visited the U.N. in September 2025.

But the optics struck many on social media as jarring, given how her husband, President Donald Trump, on Saturday launched joint U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran, which have reportedly killed hundreds of Iranians — including, according to reports, 153 people after a strike hit a school, among them children.

Melania Trump, sat in front of desk name signs reading “President” and “United States,” opened the session before yielding the floor to United Nations Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo, who said the debate “comes at a moment of exceptional relevance” with the world facing “the highest number of armed conflicts since the Second World War” and “the number of civilians killed in these conflicts [...] the highest in decades.”

“Our reality is clear. When conflicts erupt, children are among those most severely affected,” she continued, before directly addressing the Iran operation:

“Globally, one in every five children is living in or fleeing a conflict zone. This adds up to 473 million children,” DiCarlo also said, later paying “tribute” to Melania Trump “for her work to give visibility to the issue of children in conflict and particularly for her personal engagement to reunite Ukrainian children with their families.”

She told Melania Trump, “The most effective way to protect children from conflict is to prevent and end wars.” Then, concluding her speech, she added, “Building peace is at the heart of what the United Nations does. We must all work together toward this goal.”

Melania Trump then addressed the chamber but did not explicitly mention the situation in Iran.

“First, my heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their heroes, who sacrifice their lives for freedom. Their bravery and dedication will always be remembered,“ she said. “I extend my earnest wishes for a swift and smooth recovery to all those who have been injured. You are in my thoughts and prayers during these challenging times.”

She added, “The U.S. stands with all of the children throughout the world. I hope soon peace will be yours.” Later, she argued that “peace does not need to be fragile” and that “enduring peace will be achieved when knowledge and understanding are fully valued within all societies. The value placed on education by nations’ leaders shape the core of their country’s belief system.”

The wife of the deeply incurious and intolerant president said, “A nation that makes learning sacred, protects its books, its language, its science and its mathematics, it protects its future.” She continued, “This leads to something powerful, to greater understanding, moral reasoning and tolerance of others.”

Melania Trump said that “children raised in a culture rooted in intelligence, develop confidence, innovate, build, compete and maintain “a deep value system,” and that ”their knowledge fosters empathy for others, transcending geography, religion, race, gender, and even local norms.”

She added, “They become caring people. But children raised in culture rooted in ignorance are surrounded by disorder and sometimes even conflict.”

The first lady’s attendance at the U.N. was slammed as “laughable,” “beyond parody” and more online: