FLOTUS Pool Report No. 1 - UNGA event background/planned remarks

Good afternoon from the Lotte New York Palace, where first lady Melania Trump is hosting the spouses of heads of state and government for an event on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly.

I’ll be your print pooler.

The East Wing sends along a press release about her new initiative:

First Lady Melania Trump Launches a Global Coalition for Children Fostering the Future Together

First Lady Melania Trump launched Fostering the Future Together—a global coalition of nations committed to enhancing the well-being of children through the promotion of education, innovation, and technology.

The U.S. First Lady shared Fostering the Future Together’s mission; “to ensure that every child can flourish in the digital era.” She affirmed, “Innovation is wonderful. Our nations benefit from advancements in technology—saving lives, expanding access to knowledge, connecting people, and of course, safety.”

The First Lady reinforced her mission to prioritize the development of children at the intersection of technology and education. She artfully stated, “Great minds have turned marbles into microchips, paper airplanes into drones, and kites into satellites.”

The First Lady’s remarks were given during the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, “Remember, our next generation will use tech to revolutionize how we live, travel, design, and connect.”

Fostering the Future Together’s objectives during this initial phase include:

• Prioritization of personal development of children.

• Unification of efforts surrounding children, technology, and education.

• Collaboration with the private sector to provide access to innovative education technology, including artificial intelligence, robotics, and blockchain.

• Exchange of solutions encompassing advantages and risks of artificial intelligence.

The members of Fostering the Future Together will include the spouses—or equivalent representatives—of heads of government. Fostering the Future Together will be implemented by participating members at the local level, within their respective countries.

Mrs. Trump will host Fostering the Future Together’s inaugural meeting at the White House during the first quarter of 2026.

And the East Wing provided a copy of the first lady’s remarks as prepared for delivery:

Turning Marbles into Microchips

We have all been in that moment of personal reflection—looking out over our city’s lights—while time feels frozen. Behind each flickering light is a family at home, where parents work tirelessly to unlock brighter futures for their children.

We have all stood there, gazing … What can I do?

A child’s dreamy world manifests their curiosity in the physical world. Their imagination is a place filled with pastimes which adults often consider insignificant—unimportant.

But I wonder: are these early childhood activities rehearsals for the future perfection of society—the blueprint for our progress?

As children, we all played marbles, flew paper airplanes, and ran with a thin string in our hand watching our kite’s lift-off. Great minds have turned marbles into microchips, paper airplanes into drones, and kites into satellites.

Innovation is wonderful. Our nations benefit from advancements in technology—saving lives, expanding access to knowledge, connecting people, and of course, safety.

Nothing comes before safety.

We must safeguard healthy environments for our children, protect their personal freedom, their confidence, and motivation. Safety multiplies innovation.

Since technology is evolving at a pace that exceeds lawmaking, we must identify simple solutions to protect our children’s ingenuity. Remember, our next generation will use tech to revolutionize how we live, travel, design, and connect.

The moment is now.

I am establishing Fostering the Future Together—a global coalition of nations committed to the well-being of children through the promotion of education, innovation, and technology.

Fostering the Future Together’s mission is to ensure that every child can flourish in the digital era.

I will be hosting Fostering the Future Together’s inaugural meeting at the White House during the first quarter of 2026.

Please join me to Foster the Future Together. Lead this movement in your region of the world. Work with me to empower children to achieve new heights across our planet.

Nikki Schwab

Chief Campaign Correspondent

Washington, D.C.