Melania Knauss Trump, the First Lady of the United States, has captured public attention not only for her role in the White House during both of Donald Trump‘s presidential terms but also for her career as a former model. While much is known about her time in the public eye, her family background has sparked significant curiosity.
Find out more about Melania’s background, her family, and her relationship with Donald below.
Melania, originally named Melanija Knavs, was born on April 26, 1970, in Novo Mesto, Slovenia. She is the first First Lady of the United States to be a naturalized citizen.
NEW: First lady Melania Trump’s parents, Viktor and Amalija Knavs, have been sworn in as U.S. citizens, their attorney says outside a New York City courthouse today. https://t.co/7fwqip6Cja pic.twitter.com/WaBmwYgTd0
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) August 9, 2018
Melania’s parents are Viktor and Amalija Knavs. Her father is currently 80 years old, while her mother passed away in January 2024 at the age of 78 following a battle with an undisclosed illness.
Melania, who has an older sister, Ines, born in 1968, and a half-brother, Denis Cigelnjak, from her father’s previous relationship (whom he does not acknowledge, according to GQ), has spoken highly of her parents and her upbringing on several occasions, including during the 2016 Republican National Convention.
“I was born in Slovenia, a small, beautiful and then-Communist country in Central Europe. My sister Ines, who is an incredible woman and a friend, and I were raised by my wonderful parents. My elegant and hard-working mother Amalija introduced me to fashion and beauty. My father Viktor instilled in me a passion for business and travel.”
Viktor worked as a chauffeur, as reported by The New York Times, before becoming a traveling car salesman for a state-owned car company. He later opened his own bicycle and car parts shop in Ljubljana, as noted by GQ. Amalija worked as a patternmaker at the state textile factory, Jutranjka, from 1964 until her retirement in 1997, according to The New Yorker.
