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Melania Trump’s unusual speech to US troops being called dystopian, triggers critics

November 20, 2025 | | Print Article

First Lady Melania Trump doubled down on her warnings about artificial intelligence (AI) technology during a speech on Wednesday at a Marine Corps air base in Jacksonville, North Carolina.

Speaking two months ago at the White House, the first lady warned the crowd that “the robots are here” and that it’s “our responsibility to prepare America’s children” for the AI-driven future that lies ahead.

“Our future is no longer science fiction,” she said at the time. “During this primitive stage, it is our duty to treat AI as we would our own children – empowering, but with watchful guidance.”

Appearing this Tuesday at the Marine Corps Air Station New River base, the first lady doubled down on her warnings about AI as she spoke to military personnel and their families.

This time, she predicted that AI technology could alter the mechanics of war even more so than nuclear weapons did in the early 1900s, ergo why America must absolutely win the AI arms race.

“To win the AI war, we must train our next generation, for it’s America’s students who will lead the Marine Corps in the future,” she said. “Technology is changing the art of war … AI will alter war more profoundly than any technology since nuclear weapons.”

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“‘The most significant change will be speed. Speed in weaponry, decision-making, detection, attack, and defense. Artificial intelligence will take center stage in the theater of war; it already plays a meaningful role on the battlefield,” she added.

She continued by stressing that “artificial intelligence is propelling America’s military into a new era.”

“We are moving from human operators to human overseers — fast,” she said. “The shift from soldiers to machines is already underway. Autonomous helicopters, swarming drones, and recon aircraft are here now. Fighter-less jets and autonomous bombers are on the way.”

Ever since the Trump administration assumed office in January, the first lady has made AI technology a priority.

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In August, she announced a “Presidential AI Challenge” that “seeks to inspire young people and educators to create AI-based innovative solutions to community challenges while fostering AI interest and competency.”

“The Presidential AI Challenge will foster interest and expertise in AI technology in America’s youth,” a White House press release said.

“Early training in the responsible use of AI tools will demystify this technology and prepare America’s students to be confident participants in the AI-assisted workforce, propelling our Nation to new heights of scientific innovation and economic achievement,” it continued.

Not everyone was feeling the first lady’s Tuesday speech. Some critics complained that it was “dystopian.”

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“Is this speech supposed to be dystopian? Or is it just the translation?” one critic complained on the social media platform X.

See more criticism below:

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“Skynet” is a reference to a megalomaniacal supercomputer in the film series “Terminator.”

Vivek Saxena
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