Amalija Knavs, mother to the former First Lady Melania Trump, has passed away at the age of 78.
Melania Trump expressed her sorrow, stating, “It is with deep sadness that I announce the passing of my beloved mother, Amalija.” She described her mother as “a strong woman who always carried herself with grace, warmth, and dignity,” and as someone who was “entirely devoted to her husband, daughters, grandson, and son-in-law. We will miss her beyond measure and continue to honor and love her legacy.”
The cause of her death was not disclosed, but it was known that Knavs had been ill for some time.
Former President Donald Trump paid tribute to his mother-in-law on Truth Social, saying, “This is a very sad night for the entire Trump family!!! Melania’s great and beautiful mother, Amalija, has just gone to a beautiful place in the sky. She was an incredible woman, and will be missed far beyond words!”
It is with deep sadness that I announce the passing of my beloved mother, Amalija.
Amalija Knavs was a strong woman who always carried herself with grace, warmth, and dignity. She was entirely devoted to her husband, daughters, grandson, and son-in-law. We will miss her beyond…
— MELANIA TRUMP (@MELANIATRUMP) January 10, 2024
Last month, Melania Trump missed the annual Trump family Christmas photo to be with her mother in the hospital. During this time, Melania’s father, Viktor Knavs, 79, appeared smiling in the family photo.
Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, a former senior aide to Melania, spoke about the close bond between Melania and her mother, saying, “Melania has always taken care of her parents. I pray for Amalija.”
SAD: For those who missed this late last night, Melania Trump (@MELANIATRUMP) announced the passing of her beloved mother Amalija Knavs.
She wrote, "It is with deep sadness that I announce the passing of my beloved mother, Amalija.
"Amalija Knavs was a strong woman who always… pic.twitter.com/bB5lZxNS7o
— Simon Ateba (@simonateba) January 10, 2024
Amalija and her husband Viktor became U.S. citizens in 2018, amidst controversy over their green card process, which was seen as contradictory to Donald Trump’s criticism of “chain migration.”
The Knavs, who preferred a life away from the public eye, had been residing at Mar-a-Lago in recent years. They raised Melania in Sevnica, a small industrial town in Slovenia, during Communist rule. Amalija worked in a textile factory, and Viktor was a car dealer.
Melania Trump, originally named Melanija, altered her name to Melania Knauss during her early modeling career. She moved to New York in 1996, met Donald Trump in 1998, and they married in 2005.
