(CNN) - US President Donald Trump imposed a ban on CNN, MSNBC and the Politico website inside the White House, withdrawing reporters' entry permits amid what he considered "unfair" media coverage. However, First Lady Melania Trump is adopting a different approach regarding freedom of the press.
The First Lady's office officially agreed to grant press passes to CNN and Politico to attend an event on Tuesday on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly meetings. It is related to expanding the scope of its “Fostering the Future Together” initiative, an effort aimed at promoting children’s well-being through education and technology.
CNN's statement for Tuesday's event was approved on Sunday, one day after Trump's ban went into effect.
The three news organizations filed an important lawsuit based on the First Amendment to the Constitution to restore their right to coverage, and a hearing in this regard is scheduled for Wednesday.
According to a source familiar with the matter, the First Lady meticulously participates in the details of her events and public appearances, from the content of her words to the diplomatic messages reflected in her outfits, to the smallest details in press releases. She is fully aware of the ban imposed on CNN, MSNBC, and Politico, and her office had the freedom to decide whether to grant permits to reporters from those organizations to attend Tuesday’s event.
The decision to approve these permits highlights Melania Trump’s independent work style from her husband, as she accomplishes things in her own way. She spends most of her time away from the White House, maintains a narrow circle of associates, and works on a group of her own initiatives.
She also announces her positions on specific issues to which she is deeply concerned, including her sudden and explicit decision to distance herself from the late American businessman convicted of sexual assault, Jeffrey Epstein, earlier this year.
Her stance on freedom of the press was not the only difference - albeit an indirect one - from her husband on Tuesday; The First Lady has also taken a more cautious tone about the development of artificial intelligence, and the potential dangers of this technology if not used carefully.
“Together we stand on the cusp of a technological revolution,” she said at a luncheon that included husbands and wives of leaders and diplomats, hours after her husband downplayed calls for global regulations for artificial intelligence in his speech at the nearby United Nations headquarters.
Announcing new partnerships with technology companies including Amazon, Intel, and Google, Melania Trump urged her counterparts to put children at the top of the priorities for developing artificial intelligence. “AI is transforming entire business sectors, expanding humanity’s access to the largest store of information ever available to us,” she said.
She added: "But just providing access does not mean empowerment. We must provide our children with the necessary tools and teach them how to use them wisely."
The Trump initiative - which was launched during a meeting of world leaders last year - currently includes 57 participating countries, with plans for joint activities at the upcoming G20 summit in Miami and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) conference in the Philippines, as well as regional meetings in Europe and the Caribbean.
Her work on the responsible use of artificial intelligence — particularly for youth in foster care — highlights the independent path she has chosen for herself as First Lady; She often avoids the usual formal appearances associated with this role, and instead focuses intensely on her own policy initiatives, which is different from the case during her husband’s first term, when her multi-pronged “Be Best” initiative achieved little momentum or tangible results.
Still, the first lady remains one of her husband's most trusted advisers, despite her rare public appearances. Trump has largely avoided on-camera interviews, except for a few appearances on Fox News, and has only taken questions from reporters on rare occasions, such as at the premiere of the documentary bearing her name and during an event with freed Israeli hostages.
