Melania is a first lady of great mystery in recent history, with her thoughts rarely being made public. However, an exception to this was the extensive statement she issued following an attack on her husband, which seemed to be directly from her own words.
In the statement, she expressed, “A cruel individual who viewed my husband as a heartless political figure attempted to silence Donald’s humanity – his humor, creativity, love for music, and motivation. The essence of my husband’s existence – his compassionate side – was overshadowed by the political facade. Donald, the kind and loving man whom I have stood by in both good times and bad.”
It is customary during political conventions for the spouse of the candidate to deliver a speech filled with carefully crafted stories about family life.
Melania Trump, born Melanija Knavs on April 26, 1970, is a former model of Slovenian-American descent. She held the position of the first lady of the United States from 2017 to 2021, during the presidency of her husband, former president Donald Trump, who served as the 45th president of the United States. Melania Trump is notable for being the first naturalized citizen to become the first lady, and the second first lady to be foreign-born after Louisa Adams.
Melanija Knavs, originally from Slovenia, kickstarted her career as a fashion model at just 16 years old. After changing her name to Melania Knauss, she ventured to Milan and Paris in search of modeling opportunities. It was in 1996 when Paolo Zampolli, who she met along the way, sponsored her move to the United States. Settling in Manhattan, Melania continued her modeling career, catching the eye of real estate mogul Donald Trump in 1998. Their relationship blossomed, leading to marriage in 2005 and the birth of their son, Barron Trump, the following year. Melania focused on raising Barron during his early years, while also delving into the world of jewelry design with her brand, Melania, in 2009.
Melania initially pushed Donald to run for president in the 2016 election, but she chose to stay behind the scenes, providing strategic advice over the phone instead of making frequent public appearances. Her involvement in the campaign garnered significant media attention when revealing photos from her modeling days surfaced, and later when similarities were found between her speech at the 2016 Republican National Convention and one previously given by Michelle Obama. As the election drew near, Melania addressed the Access Hollywood tape scandal involving her husband…
Family Background
Her father Viktor Knavs first worked as a chauffeur, and he eventually sold car parts for a state-owned vehicle manufacturer as he made connections with the League of Communists of Yugoslavia, the national communist party. Her mother Amalija worked as a patternmaker at the children’s clothing manufacturer Jutranjka in Sevnica. In Sevnica, the family lived in the state-run housing complex Naselje Heroja Maroka. She has an older sister, Ines, and an older half-brother from her father’s previous relationship, Denis Cigelnjak, whom she reportedly has never met. Her father denied paternity of the boy, even after it was confirmed by a paternity test .
Despite her father’s affiliation with Yugoslavia’s communist party, which promoted state atheism, Melania was secretly baptized as Catholic, a common practice. The family enjoyed relative wealth compared to others in communist societies, often vacationing in different parts of Europe. Their apartment stood out with brightly colored walls, unlike others in the country.
As a child, Melania and other factory workers’ children participated in fashion shows featuring children’s clothing. Textiles were the primary industry in Sevnica, and students were allowed to skip school to take part in these shows. Melania’s interest in fashion began at a young age, as she watched her mother work and started customizing and sewing her own clothes. She excelled in school, eventually becoming the school treasurer.
During her teenage years, Melania and her family moved to a two-story house in Sevnica. Her upbringing in Slovenia was influenced by the United States, with Melania viewing Ronald Reagan’s presidency as the start of a new era in her country. The introduction of CNN International in 1985 also left a lasting impact on her.
Although Knauss’s father was a member of Yugoslavia’s communist party, which espoused a policy of state atheism, he had his daughters secretly baptized as Catholic, as was common. The family was well-off relative to most who lived in communist societies. They frequently went on vacations to other parts of Europe. Their apartment was decorated with brightly colored walls, which was a major departure from other apartments in the country.
Dating Donald Trump proved to be advantageous for Knauss. His fame and connections opened up new career opportunities for her, and he was known for treating women with more respect compared to other men in similar circles. Knauss had the chance to meet the Kennedys at a gala in October, an event she deeply cherished due to her admiration for Jacqueline Kennedy. She also mingled with numerous other renowned celebrities at various events with Trump.
Despite continuing her modeling career after meeting Trump, Knauss gradually took on fewer jobs to spend more time with him. In 1999, the couple attracted attention after an interview with Howard Stern, where they faced explicit questions. Trump often showcased Knauss at meetings, praising her beauty but refraining from involving her in business matters to avoid conflicts similar to those he had with his first wife.
When Trump announced his candidacy for the Reform Party presidential nomination in 1999, Knauss strongly supported his decision. In an interview with The New York Times, she expressed her desire to adopt a traditional role akin to Betty Ford or Jackie Kennedy if Trump were to become president. The media extensively covered the idea of a model potentially becoming the first lady.
Knauss became one of the initial models signed to Trump Model Management, Trump’s modeling agency established in February 1999. She appeared in various magazines and advertisements organized by individuals close to Trump. During Trump’s campaign preparations, Knauss featured in the February Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, posing in a bikini next to a large inflatable whale.
Melania Trump, the First Lady of the United States from 2017 to 2021, chose to remain in Manhattan with her son Barron after her husband’s inauguration on January 20, 2017. This decision allowed Barron to finish the school year in Manhattan and gradually adjust to life in the White House.. She negotiated new terms for her prenuptial agreement with Donald Trump to ensure Barron’s inheritance. Melania’s absence in Washington, D.C. led to speculation about her stepdaughter Ivanka serving as an acting First Lady, sparking a rivalry between the two. Melania’s absence also caused concern among the administration’s staff and New Yorkers.
In early 2018, there were challenges faced by Melania Trump. A scandal erupted in January, alleging an extramarital affair between Donald Trump and Stormy Daniels. Melania’s public appearances decreased, and she even chose to ride separately from her husband to the 2018 State of the Union Address. Michael Cohen expressed regret for lying to Melania about the affair. Another affair with Karen McDougal was revealed the following month, causing Melania to feel publicly humiliated. In April, Melania was diagnosed with kidney disease and underwent treatment in May. Rumors circulated about her extended hospital stay, with false claims of plastic surgery. Melania remained out of the public eye until June, when it was revealed that her surgery was more serious than initially stated.
Melania’s public stance on the family separation policy was one of opposition, expressing her dislike for seeing families separated and her hope for successful immigration reform. She privately influenced the president’s decision to end the policy, despite leaked tapes in 2020 featuring her defending some of the practices. Melania was upset when her stepdaughter Ivanka received credit for changing the president’s mind on the issue, prompting her to visit the border herself. Her visit to the family separation facilities in Texas and her choice of attire, a controversial jacket, dominated media coverage.
After the Trumps departed from the White House, Melania returned to Mar-a-Lago to reside away from the public eye. She enlisted the help of one White House advisor, Marcia Lee Kelly, to assist her during the post-presidency period. Melania maintained communication with her successor, Jill Biden, and the two exchanged birthday cards. Following the conclusion of her role as first lady, Melania has participated in occasional paid speaking engagements, established a scholarship program for foster children, and created a series of Apollo 11-themed non-fungible tokens that did not comply with NASA’s image use policy.
Melania chose to stay out of the public eye during her husband’s legal proceedings and his 2024 presidential campaign, limiting her involvement to two fundraisers for the Log Cabin Republicans. She began to increase her visibility in July 2024 by releasing a statement after her husband’s assassination attempt and making an appearance at the 2024 Republican National Convention. However, she declined an offer to speak at the event, becoming the first candidate’s spouse not to address the convention since Barbara Bush initiated the tradition.
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