First Lady Melania Trump’s parents were sworn in as U.S. citizens on Aug. 9.
Viktor and Amalija Knavs, both in their 70s, took the citizenship oath in New York City, their lawyer confirmed. The couple had been living in the U.S. as permanent residents. Viktor, 74, previously worked as a car dealer, while his wife Amalija, 73, worked in a textile factory.
“They have travailed a wonderful journey, like most have, millions have in getting citizenship and waiting the requisite period of time,” the couple’s lawyer Michael Wildes told reporters.
“The application, the process, the interview is no different than anybody else’s other than security arrangements to facilitate today.”
The couple was escorted from the ceremony at a Manhattan federal building by Homeland Security police.
There was speculation about the couple applying for citizenship in May after being seen at a building which houses offices for federal immigration officials with their immigration lawyer.
The First Lady was not present at her parents’ citizenship ceremony. Her spokesperson, Stephanie Grisham, declined to comment, saying Viktor and Amalija “are not part of the administration and deserve privacy.”
The Knavses raised Melania, who was named Melanija at birth, in the rural industrial town of Sevnica while Slovenia was under Communist rule.
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