Former First Lady Melania Trump’s Mother Dies Age 78

U.S. President Donald Trump (2nd L), First Lady Melania Trump (2nd R), their son Barron and Melania Trump's mother Amalija Knavs walk to board Marine One at the White House in Washington, DC, on June 29, 2018. (Nicholas Kamm/AFP via Getty Images)

The mother of Melania Trump has died at the age of 78 after falling ill late in December, the former first lady has confirmed.

Former President Donald Trump’s wife shared the news of her mother’s passing in a heartfelt post on X, formerly Twitter, late on Jan. 9.

“It is with deep sadness that I announce the passing of my beloved mother, Amalija Knavs,” Ms. Trump wrote, describing her mother as a “strong woman who always carried herself with grace, warmth, and dignity.”

Ms. Trump said that her mother was “entirely devoted to her husband, daughters, grandson, and son-in-law.”

“We will miss her beyond measure and continue to honor and love her legacy,” the former first lady said.

Ms. Trump did not disclose the cause of her mother’s death. Ms. Knavs died in Florida, ABC News reported.

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The news of Ms. Knavs’s death comes after President Trump confirmed his wife’s mother was “very ill” over the Christmas and New Year’s holiday period.

Speaking at a New Year’s Eve event at his Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach, Florida, President Trump acknowledged his wife had been absent from a number of family gatherings and holiday photos in order to be by her ailing mother’s side, including the Trump family Christmas card.

“Melania—great first lady, so popular, the people love her—she’s now in a hospital with her mother. Her mother, Amalija, is very ill, but hopefully she'll be recovering,” President Trump said at the event.

President Trump—who is the leading candidate in the Republican 2024 presidential race—did not provide further details regarding Ms. Knavs’s illness but acknowledged that it was a difficult time for his wife.

Former First Lady’s Mother Was ‘Very Ill’

“But she’s been very ill, so I just want to say ‘hello’ to the first lady—we just spoke, down in Miami, great hospital—and hopefully they'll be ok. But it’s a tough one, it’s a very tough one. She knows probably about 95 percent of the people in this room. We just want to wish Amalija that she gets better as quickly as possible,” he added.

Ms. Knavs was born on July 9, 1945, in Judendorf-Strassengel, Austria, and grew up there and in Slovenia, during communist rule, according to reports.

She began her career harvesting red onions on her family’s farm before going on to work in a textile factory, where she later met her husband, Viktor Knavs, 79, The New York Times reported.

The couple welcomed Melania in 1970.

Ms. Trump, a former model, spoke of her mother’s hard work ethic and love of fashion during a speech at the Republican National Convention in 2016.

“My elegant and hardworking mother Amalija introduced me to fashion and beauty,” she said in her speech. “My father, Viktor, instilled in me a passion for business and travel. Their integrity, compassion, and intelligence reflect to this day on me and for my love of family and America.”

The former first lady’s parents eventually emigrated to the United States from Slovenia, and became U.S. citizens at a federal court in New York City in 2018, during Trump’s presidency.

Speaking to reporters at the time, the couple’s attorney said the two “have travailed a wonderful journey like most have—millions have—in getting citizenship and waiting the requisite period of time.”

Ms. Trump maintained a close relationship with her mother, according to The New York Times; with her parents spending much of the year with their daughter and her 10-year-old son, Barron, at Trump Tower in Manhattan or at President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home.