Amalija Knavs, the mother of former first lady Melania Trump, has passed away, as confirmed by Melania Trump in a statement posted on the platform X. The announcement, made late Tuesday, did not disclose the cause of death.
Melania expressed deep sadness over the passing of her mother, describing Amalija Knavs as a strong woman known for her grace, warmth, and dignity.
Melania emphasized her mother’s complete devotion to family, including her husband, daughters, grandson, and son-in-law, and stated that they would miss her beyond measure while continuing to honor and love her legacy.
The news of Amalija Knavs’s death was shared by Donald Trump during a New Year’s Eve celebration at his Mar-a-Lago estate. He mentioned that his mother-in-law was very ill, and Melania was with her at a hospital in Miami. Trump described the situation as a tough one.
Throughout Donald Trump’s presidency, Melania Trump’s mother resided in New York alongside her father, Viktor Knavs, occasionally making appearances at the White House. Amalija Knavs notably attended a 2018 ceremony where Melania introduced her “Be Best” public awareness campaign aimed at helping children.
In response to the news, Donald Trump expressed his condolences on his social media platform, Truth Social, calling it a very sad night for the entire Trump family. He paid tribute to Melania’s “great and beautiful mother,” stating that she had gone to a beautiful place in the sky. Trump praised Amalija as an incredible woman who would be missed far beyond words.
Melania Trump sponsored her parents’ immigration to the United States, and they officially became citizens at a New York City courthouse in 2018 during Donald Trump’s presidency.
The Knavses, immigrants from Slovenia, had been living in the U.S. as permanent residents. Melania’s parents, a former car dealer and textile factory worker, underwent the naturalization process like any other immigrants, without receiving any special treatment, according to their lawyer.
Born Melanija, Melania was raised by the Knavses in the rural industrial town of Sevnica during a period of Communist rule in Slovenia. After attending high school in the Slovenian capital, Ljubljana, she changed her name to Melania Knauss when she began her career in modeling. Melania settled in New York in 1996 and met Donald Trump two years later, leading to their marriage in 2005.
