Melania Trump’s mother, Amalija Knavs, has passed away, as confirmed by Trump on her social media accounts. Knavs was described by Trump as a strong woman who carried herself with grace, warmth, and dignity. As a campaign adviser for former President Donald Trump, Melania Trump’s mother-in-law had spent a lot of time in the United States, frequently accompanying the first family on their trips. Along with her husband Viktor Knavs, the retired couple maintained regular contact with the Trump family and were often seen with them during the administration.
Originally from Slovenia, Amalija Knavs was a textile worker who had resided in the United States with her husband. The Knavses became US citizens in 2018, controversially obtaining their citizenship through the sponsorship of their adult daughter, a visa category that the Trump administration had sought to end. Melania Trump herself became a US citizen in 2006 and is only the second foreign-born first lady in the nation’s history. Since leaving Washington in January 2021, she has largely avoided the public eye, even as her husband pursues another White House bid.
CNN’s Jack Forrest, Betsy Klein, Tal Kopan, MJ Lee, Nick Thompson, Phil Black, Matjaz Krivic, and Gašper Andrinek contributed to this report, follows the news article.
