Last Updated on September 16, 2026 8:37 am
Updated coverage of First Lady Melania Trump in Ashe County today
First Lady Melania Trump visited Mountain View Elementary School in Jefferson on Tuesday, touring a rural Ashe County school known for its focus on AI, robotics, and engineering, and using the stop to highlight both education technology and the community's recovery from Hurricane Helene.
Trump opened her remarks by recognizing the two-year anniversary of Helene, which kept students out of school for more than 30 days after flooding hit the neighborhood around Mountain View. The school itself was pressed into service during the storm's aftermath, first as an emergency childcare center and later as a community distribution site for supplies.
Speaking to several hundred students, teachers, and administrators, Trump called the community's story “incredible” and said “North Carolina is the definition of resilience.” The libary was decorated for the occasion with a hand-painted banner reading, “Welcome to Ashe County 1st Lady Melania Trump!”
Trump also announced two new initiatives for local schools. Her Be Best program will help provide 1,500 Ashe County students with subscriptions to StudyFetch, an AI learning platform, and Mountain View along with other schools in the district will receive 100 Jetson Nano Developer Kits — small computers used to run AI applications. “Maybe one of you will create the next great robot,” Trump told the students.
The visit came as national debate continues over how artificial intelligence should be regulated, particularly in schools, with some technology leaders calling for more oversight even as President Trump has pushed back on the idea. Tuesday's stop was Melania Trump's first appearance in western North Carolina since she and President Trump toured Helene damage together in January 2025.
Video: PBS News & WCNC
Student Ryker Hamm gives @FLOTUS a big hug today at Mountain View Elementary in Jefferson, NC. https://t.co/BpyYhvyq8D
— Office of the First Lady (@FirstLadyOffice) September 15, 2026
🚨 NOW: First Lady Melania Trump has arrived in Ashe County, NC to tour an elementary school, as she continues her focus on helping America's children
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) September 15, 2026
Melania will be meeting with students, teachers, and staff about how they're using technology in the classroom. pic.twitter.com/UenW3vwFEb
First Lady Melania Trump departs for Mountain View Elementary School in Jefferson, NC pic.twitter.com/f0eD8JolWq
— Office of the First Lady (@FirstLadyOffice) September 15, 2026
