Amalija Knavs, Melania Trump’s mother, died at 78

Amalija Knavs, the former first lady’s mother, has died, Trump revealed in a statement published on X, formerly known as Twitter. She was 78.

“It is with deep sadness that I announce the passing of my beloved mother, Amalija,” she said in a Facebook post on Jan. 9. “Amalija Knavs was a powerful lady who conducted herself with grace, love, and respect. She was completely dedicated to her husband, children, grandson, and son-in-law.

She went on to say, “We will miss her beyond measure and continue to honor and love her legacy.”

A cause of death has not been determined at this time, although former President Donald Trump stated during an event in Florida earlier this month that his mother-in-law was “very ill,” according to the BBC.

Knavs was originally from Slovenia and worked in the textile industry. She and her husband Viktor Knavs still possessed a house in Slovenia in 2016, but according to CNN, they spent the most of their time in New York when their grandson Barron Trump was born in 2006.

Knavs and her husband were frequently spotted in Washington, D.C. after their son-in-law was elected president in 2017, and the two became US citizens in 2018 thanks to their daughter’s sponsorship.

According to CNN, the retired couple spent a lot of time with the Trumps while they were in the White House, frequently visiting Mar-a-Lago and Bedminster, New Jersey.

The former President also expressed his condolences on his mother-in-law’s death.

“This is a very sad night for the entire Trump family!!!” Trump captioned a photo of himself and Knavs posted on Instagram. “Amalija, Melania’s lovely and beautiful mother, has just left for a beautiful place in the sky. She was a great woman who will be missed beyond words!”