“Our dreams as individuals, progress as leaders, and building as nations begin today with the acceleration of our global alliance to positively impact our children’s future.” With these words, First Lady Melania Trump greeted a gathering of international leaders and tech visionaries dedicated to empowering the next generation through technology and education.
This assembly of member nations and tech entities took place at the U.S. Department of State, aiming to devise practical strategies for broadening access to educational tools while enhancing child safety in digital environments.
The First Lady’s opening remarks highlighted the crucial role of global partnerships, underscoring her commitment to providing children everywhere the opportunity to learn and thrive in a rapidly changing digital landscape. She urged coalition members to engage in partnerships, research, and regional initiatives to advance the goals of the Fostering the Future Together mission.
“Our shared vision places children above political ideologies, geographical boundaries, and local biases,” said First Lady Melania Trump. “Together, we can extend educational and technological access, equipping the next generation with the skills they need to succeed.”
During the working session, discussions focused on four main areas: Educational Technology Tools, Artificial Intelligence in Education, Online Safety and Protection, and Digital Literacy.
The First Lady acknowledged the involvement of leading American technology companies, whose participation symbolizes the increasing role of the private sector in fostering safe and effective educational innovations. The session underscored the significance of public-private collaboration in delivering scalable, innovative solutions for children, educators, and families worldwide.
The first day of this historic summit marks the inaugural large-scale, in-person meeting of the Fostering the Future Together coalition since its launch was announced at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2025. The summit will resume on Wednesday, March 25, at the White House.
Below are the complete remarks by First Lady Melania Trump, as prepared for delivery:
Elevate Our Children
Good morning, Ambassador Crowley, Ambassador Waltz, Secretary McMahon, Deputy Secretary Landau, Director Kratsios, Chairman Ferguson, Special Envoy for Best Future Generations Charles Harder. Thank you all for championing Fostering the Future Together.
It is a pleasure to welcome such a distinguished delegation of world leaders, first spouses, and leading tech companies—all united by the purpose of empowering our next generation in technology and education.
Welcome to Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bangladesh, Belize, and Bolivia. It is my distinct honor to have Burundi, Cabo Verde, Congo, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, France, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, and Guatemala here in Washington D.C. Greetings to Israel, Kenya, Kosovo, Lithuania, Malta, Malawi, Montenegro, Morocco, Nigeria, Macedonia, Palau, Panama, and of course, Paraguay. Hello to Poland, Romania, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Ukraine, and UAE.
Let us begin today by accelerating our new global alliance—this bond—to positively influence our children’s progress.
Welcome to the inaugural meeting of Fostering the Future Together. Our coalition’s mission is to empower children by enhancing access to technology and education. This is a pivotal moment in history.
Our primary objective is to cultivate the skills young people need to thrive in this rapidly evolving world. Fostering the Future Together will accomplish this by developing innovative learning programs, advocating for supportive education policies, sponsoring new tech-focused laws, and building strong public-private sector partnerships.
Each of you plays a crucial role in shaping educational technology opportunities for the next generation.
Fostering the Future Together’s collaborative platform will act as a capability multiplier for members, driven by our coalition’s core elements: AI, education, and global leadership.
Our shared vision places children above political philosophies, geographical boundaries, and local prejudices.
To translate this vision into action, I invite each of you to participate—commit to hosting a regional meeting, conduct a research study, forge new partnerships, and collaborate with other member nations in your region.
Remarkable things happen in our nation’s capital, especially when the private and public sectors collaborate. Today’s meeting is unprecedented. I commend America’s leading companies for joining us today.
Never before have so many tech visionaries addressed such a large global audience of leaders at the State Department and the White House over a two-day period.
No other place could gather such a concentration of excellence—from AI pioneers like OpenAI, Palantir, and xAI, to tech platforms like Google and Meta, creative engines like Adobe and Microsoft, in addition to human connectivity through Zoom Communications.
This room is filled with extraordinary human capital. Leaders: leverage it to uplift your children, empower your people, and accelerate your economies.
Our coalition of leaders will enhance our future, but only by supporting tangible initiatives that equip young people with the necessary skills and knowledge. Together, let us invest, expand access, and create opportunities for education and technology.
I wish everyone great success during Fostering the Future Together’s global coalition summit. There is much to achieve over this two-day period, and this is just the beginning.
