Melania Trump on Tuesday urged students not to fear artificial intelligence — or else they will be left behind.
She made the pro-AI comments as she unveiled tech investments from mega US chip maker Nvidia.
“We need to lead … AI, as a country, and we could see now what they’re learning, and it’s very important. Of course, they need to be vigilant as well,” the first lady told reporters.
“But this is our future, and we need to guide them and teach them what is available. If not, they will stay behind, and we need to be the first in [the] United States to lead.”
Trump touted the benefits of AI during a visit to Mountain View Elementary in North Carolina, where she announced a partnership with Nvidia to bring more AI into the classroom.
The first lady told the students it was “a special surprise to help jumpstart” their learning as the school year began.
Despite a dire warning from researchers about the dangers of AI taking over humanity, Trump offered an optimistic view of the technology and envisioned students building robots they could show off at the White House.
“Dream big and use these AI tools to build something never created before,” Trump told the students. “Maybe one of you will create the next great robot. And if you do, make sure you bring it to the White House to show me!”
Nvidia will provide StudyFetch four-year subscription licenses for 1,500 students in Ashe County School District; and 100 Jetson Nano Developer Kits to experiment with robotics in partnership with Trump’s Be Best program.
After the announcement, the first lady spent nearly two hours visiting classrooms, meeting with students to hear about their work designing video simulations, using robotic arms to accomplish tasks, and using AI to design their own projects.
The kids were just as enthusiastic to see her. One boy, Ryker Hamm, jumped up to give her a hug, and she spent some time talking to him about his lessons.
She complimented one youngster on his passion for AI when he showed her how he wanted to use the technology to help his community, such as tracking damage after a storm.
“You guys are very smart, so keep studying,” she told them.
Her enthusiasm for technology was visible as she joined the students on their iPads to watch their work, admired their projects printed on a 3-D printer and encouraged them to keep learning.
“You are amazing in what you do,” she told them. “You are very smart and you have a big future guys. … You can do anything. Anything is possible. The sky is the limit. Never give up and study hard.”
Melania Trump has become a champion of AI in her husband’s administration, which wants to keep the United States at the forefront of the global economy.
The first lady already launched a coalition called “Fostering the Future Together” dedicated to “enhancing the well-being of children through the promotion of education, innovation, and technology.” At the launch event, she famously entered alongside a robot, the American-made humanoid named Figure 3.
She has hosted multiple events and meetings on the importance of incorporating technology into education, including a summit in March when she brought together the spouses of 38 world leaders.
And she hosted the Presidential Artificial Intelligence Challenge National Champion Awards Ceremony in June.
She’s used AI technology herself, notably to produce the audio version of her 2024 memoir, Melania.
It was the first lady’s fourth visit to North Carolina, and it comes one day ahead of President Trump’s trip to the state.
Melania Trump, in January 2025, joined the president in touring the damage from Hurricane Helene. She was last in the state in February when she and the president visited troops before Valentine’s Day in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
President Trump will be in North Carolina on Wednesday to campaign for Senate candidate Michael Whatley in his hometown of Gastonia.