Melania Trump's mum Amalija Knavs dies at 78 as former First Lady pays tribute

10 January 2024 , 04:52

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Amalija Knavs, mother of U.S. First Lady Melania Trump, has dies (Image: Getty Images)

Melania Trump's mum, Amalija Knavs, has died at the age of 78.

The former First Lady paid tribute to her mother on X, saying: "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 measure and continue to honour and love her legacy."

Amalija had been unwell for some time, with Melania revealing last month that she was "very ill" in hospital. Speculation about Amalija's health began when Melania was absent from family Christmas photos shared on social media.

Group portrait of, left to right, Amalija Knavs, Donald Trump, Melania Trump, Barron Trump, Santa Claus, and Viktor Knavs on Christmas Day at the Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach (No credit)

The pictures, posted by Donald Trump Jr's fiancee, Kimberly Guilfoyle, included many family members, but Melania was noticeably missing. A source close to Melania told Fox News Digital: "Melania has always been very devoted to her entire family. 'It should be no surprise that she spent this Christmas with her ailing mother."

Melania and her Slovenian mother were incredibly close, according to her former senior aide, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff. "Melania has always taken care of her parents. I pray for Amalija," the author of "Melania and Me" told The Post last month.

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The Knavs became US citizens in 2018, during their son-in-law's time as president. They're from Slovenia, which is also where Melania was born in April 1970. Her mum worked with textiles and her dad sold cars. Melania grew up in Sevnica, a small town in Slovenia, when it was still under Communist rule. She went to high school in Ljubljana and started modelling as Melania Knauss.

Amalija Knavs and Viktor Knavs, parents of first lady Melania Trump (The Washington Post via Getty Images)

She moved to New York in 1996, met Donald Trump two years later, and they got married in 2005. During Trump's presidency, his parents-in-law lived in the White House and were really close to him and their grandson Barron.

A source told PEOPLE that Barron spent lots of time with his grandma Amalija. "There have been times when Barron has been with his grandparents more than with Melania, and a lot more than with Donald", they shared.

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Abigail O'Leary