Melania Trump launches global children's initiative at UN, urging safeguards in digital era

NEW YORK — First lady Melania Trump used the United Nations General Assembly to announce a new global initiative aimed at protecting children as technology accelerates. The initiative, called Fostering the Future Together, seeks to build a worldwide coalition to advance children’s well-being in the digital era through education, innovation and technology.

Trump said the coalition will work with governments and the private sector to expand access to innovative education technologies, including artificial intelligence, robotics and blockchain, while exchanging best practices on AI’s advantages and risks. The mission is to ensure that every child can flourish in the digital era, with safety as a core principle. She also urged spouses or equivalents of heads of government to lead programs in their countries, and said the first meeting will be hosted at the White House in the first quarter of 2026.

During her remarks, Trump said technology has saved lives, expanded access to knowledge and connected people, but safety must come first. 'Nothing comes before safety. We must safeguard healthy environments for our children, protect their personal freedom, their confidence and motivation,' she said.

The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. The announcement underscores the first lady’s sustained focus on children’s health, safety and opportunity, now elevated to the global stage. The coalition is expected to foster international collaboration and share best practices on education technologies while addressing the risks and opportunities presented by AI, robotics and blockchain as part of efforts to empower youth worldwide.