MIAMI – Amalija Knavs, the mother of former First Lady Melania Trump, has passed away. Melania expressed her profound grief in a heartfelt message, paying tribute to her mother’s strength, grace, and devotion to family. Donald Trump shared the news during a New Years Eve celebration at his Mar-a-Lago estate, revealing that his wife was by her mother’s side at a hospital in Miami.
Amalija Knavs resided in New York with her husband, Viktor Knavs, during Trump’s presidency and occasionally made appearances at the White House. In 2018, she attended a ceremony where Melania introduced her “Be Best” public awareness campaign for children. The First Lady expressed her deep sense of loss through a post on her social media platform, remembering Amalija as an incredible woman who will be greatly missed.
Melania played a significant role in facilitating her parents’ immigration to the United States. In 2018, Amalija and Viktor took the oath of citizenship at a New York City courthouse. Their lawyer confirmed that the couple applied for citizenship independently and did not receive any preferential treatment.
Amalija and Viktor Knavs, immigrants from Slovenia, raised Melania in the town of Sevnica while the country was under Communist rule. They had been living in the United States as permanent residents and pursued different occupations – Viktor as a car dealer and Amalija as a textile factory worker. Melania attended high school in Slovenia’s capital, Ljubljana, and began her modeling career under the name Melania Knauss. She eventually settled in New York, where she met and married Donald Trump in 2005.
In conclusion, Amalija Knavs, the mother of Melania Trump, has passed away. Melania, Donald Trump, and their family are deeply saddened by the loss, and they will continue to honor Amalija’s legacy. Her immigration to the United States in 2018 was facilitated by her daughter Melania, who sponsored her parents’ path to citizenship. Amalija’s passing marks the end of a life full of grace and devotion to family.