Amalija Knavs, who was the mother of former First Lady Melania Trump, has passed away at 78 years old.
Melania Trump shared the sad news on Tuesday, saying, “It is with deep sadness that I announce the passing of my beloved mother, Amalija.”
She described her mother as a strong woman who was devoted to her family. Melania said they will miss her very much and will continue to honor her memory.
Donald Trump, the former President, also expressed his grief on social media. He called Amalija an incredible woman and said she will be deeply missed.
Amalija had been unwell for some time before her passing, although the cause of her death was not disclosed.
Melania had been by her mother’s side in the hospital, even skipping the family’s Christmas photo to be with her.
Amalija Knavs, the mother of former First Lady Melania Trump, has passed away at 78 years old
Despite her illness, Amalija’s husband, Viktor Knavs, was seen smiling in the family photo.
Melania and her mother were very close, according to Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, a former aide. Melania always took care of her parents.
Amalija and Viktor became US citizens in 2018, during Donald Trump’s presidency.
Their green cards, which they received before becoming citizens, raised questions about the family reunification process that Donald Trump criticized as “chain migration.”
The Knavses mostly lived quietly in Mar-a-Lago, away from the public eye. They had raised Melania in Slovenia while it was under Communist rule.
Amalija worked in a textile factory, and Viktor was a car dealer. Melania, then known as Melanija, moved to New York in 1996 to pursue her modeling career. She met Donald Trump in 1998 and married him in 2005.
