Months ago, US First Lady Melania Trump made headlines for supporting the online safety legislation the ‘TAKE IT DOWN Act.’ The bipartisan bill eventually signed into law by her husband, President Donald Trump, established safeguards against non-consensual dissemination of sexual imagery, including AI-generated content, and deepfake and revenge pornography.

At the time, Melania spoke out against an “AI-driven” world, saying “Every young person deserves a safe online space to express themselves free without the looming threat of exploitation.” However, her new official project sees her change tunes to some extent regarding the ever-evolving element of tech advancement. On Monday, the former model shared an exclusive statement to the New York Post, confirming that she would be leading the Presidential Artificial Intelligence Challenge.

Her next big undertaking comes weeks after she kicked allegations of potential Jeffrey Epstein links to the curb. Enlisting legal help, the 55-year-old first lady didn’t just issue a billion-dollar threat to Hunter Biden over the claims that the convicted pedophile introduced her to Trump, but also got videos and articles related to the accusations erased from the Internet.

What is Melania Trump’s new AI switch-up all about?

After making significant diplomatic moves, Melania is now shifting her focus to be hailed as the ‘First Lady of Technology.’ She hopes to achieve that by inspiring children and teachers to embrace AI.

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While Melania has expressed her aversion to the disadvantageous use of AI, she hasn’t been fully critical of its use otherwise. Back in May, she announced on social media that she had employed the innovative technology to replicate her voice for her self-titled memoir’s audiobook.

In what she called a “new era in publishing,” she declared, “I am honoured to bring you Melania –The Audiobook — narrated entirely using artificial intelligence in my own voice.”

The same AI Audiobook has now “opened” the first lady’s eyes to the “countless opportunities and risks this new technology brings to American society.” She went on to say, “In just a few short years, AI will be the engine driving every business sector across our economy. It is poised to deliver great value to our careers, families, and communities.”

While her husband is bent on making America the ‘crypto capital of the world,’ Melania added, “Just as America once led the world into the skies with the Wright Brothers, we are poised to lead again —this time in the age of AI.”

As part of Donald Trump’s April 23 executive Order: “Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education For American Youth,” 55-year-old Mrs Trump’s new challenge entails K-12 students using AI tools, including neural networks, computer vision, decision trees, robotics, and language models. Kids will then be expected to enlist the help of these tools and create a phone app or website to ultimately solve a community problem.

The Presidential AI Challenge’s prizes would eventually range from a $10,000 checks, to Cloud Credits and a Presidential Certificate of Achievement. State champions announcement s are slated for March 2026. In June, a national championship would follow. Top teams from the same would earn an official invitation to showcase their hard work at a three-day event in Washington DC, and even the White House.

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Melania Trump’s bid to become ‘First Lady of Technology’ comes after major diplomatic moves

The 55-year-old, who was largely known for her absence from the White House during Trump’s first presidential term, has prominently made her presence felt since the MAGA leader came back to office in January.

A Daily Mail report put out last week praised Melania as the “one person who really does Trump’s ear” and someone who is keen on securing “his legacy as the man who saved the world.” A source close to the Republican president hailed her as the “real soft power” responsible for making a significant move behind-the-cameras while the entire world was focussed on what Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin were up to at the Alaska summit earlier this month.

Soon after their meeting, it was revealed that Melania had penned a “peace letter” to Putin beforehand, addressing the devastating impact of Russia’s war in Ukraine on children. “President Putin opened the envelope and read the letter right there, before the talks began. You could tell he was impressed and he said as much,” the source said, calling the first lady’s handwritten gesture a “diplomatic masterstroke.”

US First Lady is consciously picking when to step in?

Socialite Toni Holt Kramer, who heads the all-female fundraising group called ‘Trumpettes,’ has known Melania for over a decade. She, too, told the outlet that while people may have underestimated the former model owing to her contrasting personality with her husband, she “isn’t shy,” merely a “private person.”

Another source familiar with the first couple’s dynamic shared with CNN, the privately influential Melania “only wades in when she really will go to the paint on something – and she really cares about kids.”

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An unprecedented second state visit to the UK will see Melania accompanying Donald Trump in September. With the US leader having accepted an invitation from King Charles for the same, the Trump will be hosted at the Windsor Castle during the upcoming trip scheduled for 17 to 19 September. In light of the soon-to-come visit, a “friend” of the first lady separately told the Daily Mail, Melania is “acutely aware” of what has been called an “embarrassing moment” on Trump’s part during his first state visit in 2019.

At the time, the MAGA leader faced the Internet’s ire for walking ahead of Queen Elizabeth II, seemingly leaving her catch up with him. However, if Melania’s friend is to be believed, the first lady will ensure “nothing will go wrong” this time. “Underestimate her at your peril,” she added. Meanwhile, another insider emphasised, “Just because you don’t see her, don’t assume she’s not there. He’s on the phone to her all day long.”