First Lady Melania Trump made a rare public appearance at the White House on Thursday, September 4, warning attendees at an artificial intelligence education event that “the robots are here” and emphasizing the need to prepare American children for an AI-driven future.
Speaking at a meeting of a White House AI education task force, Trump declared that the nation’s future is no longer science fiction. She indicated that during this primitive stage of AI development, it is society’s duty to treat artificial intelligence as people would their own children, providing empowerment but with watchful guidance.
The event marked one of only a handful of public engagements for Trump since her husband’s return to the White House in January. The 55-year-old former fashion model, born Melanija Knavs in Slovenia, has maintained a notably low public profile, spending much of her time in New York and Florida rather than at the White House.
Trump’s remarks highlighted the current reality of AI integration in daily life, noting that cars now steer themselves through cities, robots assist with steady hands in operating rooms, and drones are redefining warfare. She emphasized that inventions including first-generation humanoids, factory automation, and autonomous vehicles have emerged from private sector investment, all powered by artificial intelligence.
The AI task force meeting brought together cabinet members, administration officials, and representatives from major technology companies including IBM and Google. The event launched the Presidential AI Challenge, designed to accelerate AI literacy across the nation and prepare the next generation for an increasingly automated workforce.
Major corporate commitments were announced at the gathering. IBM pledged to train two million American workers in AI technologies, while Code.org announced plans to reach 25 million students with AI-focused curricula. Microsoft and Amazon also unveiled new programs aimed at embedding AI education in kindergarten through 12th-grade schools.
Trump’s current focus on AI and child protection builds upon her previous “Be Best” initiative from her husband’s first term, which addressed well-being, cyberbullying, and opioid abuse. Her recent work has taken on a more legislative and business-oriented approach compared to traditional first lady roles.
Earlier this year, Trump played an instrumental role in advancing the Take It Down Act, which criminalized posting intimate images, both real and AI-generated, online without individual consent. The legislation received rare bipartisan support among deeply divided lawmakers. In May, Trump became the first lady in history to co-sign legislation into law when she joined her husband on stage to sign the bill.
Einav Rabinovitch-Fox, a professor at Case Western Reserve University who specializes in first ladies’ history, noted that while first ladies typically focus on areas considered more feminine such as children and education, Trump’s approach differs significantly. Rather than coming from a motherly, feminine perspective, her work stems more from a business-oriented standpoint.
The Take It Down Act exemplified this approach by focusing heavily on the platforms that host revenge pornography, requiring removal of illicit content within 48 hours and imposing penalties for non-compliance. Thursday’s White House event similarly emphasized the technological and business aspects of education and child protection.
Anita McBride, director of American University’s First Ladies Initiative and former chief of staff to Laura Bush, indicated that Trump now has outside organizations willing to work with her that were previously reluctant during the first administration. She noted that Trump previously had difficulty convening roundtables and lacked strong structural support.
McBride suggested that Trump’s focus on technological, business, and legislative aspects adds urgency around rapidly evolving technologies. The first lady can now use her platform effectively with substantial value, potentially helping legislation gain passage.
Trump’s selective public engagement extends beyond domestic issues. In August, she wrote a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasizing the need to protect children and future generations worldwide. This correspondence prompted responses from Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska and Turkish First Lady Emine Erdogan.
McBride noted that Trump’s letter to Putin demonstrated her willingness to engage on topics of particular interest, drawing on her background from a country under Soviet influence. This provides her with sensitivity that others may lack regarding international affairs affecting children.
Looking ahead, experts expect Trump to continue her highly selective approach to first lady duties, focusing on quality rather than quantity of engagements. Her strategy appears centered on issues where she can make meaningful differences while operating on her own terms, unconstrained by traditional expectations of the role.