Melania Trump
Melanija Knavs Trump (born April 26, 1970)[3][4] is a Slovenian-American socialite, model and businesswoman. She is the first lady-designate of the United States as the wife of President-elect Donald Trump. She was the first lady from 2017 to 2021 during her husband's first presidency. Trump will return to her role as first lady when her husband takes office again on January 20, 2025, she will be the second woman since Frances Cleveland to serve two-nonconsecutive terms as first lady.[5][6]
Melania Trump | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2017 | |
| First Lady of the United States | |
Designate | |
| Assuming office January 20, 2025 | |
| President | Donald Trump (elect) |
| Succeeding | Jill Biden |
| In role January 20, 2017 – January 20, 2021 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Michelle Obama |
| Succeeded by | Jill Biden |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Melanija Knavs April 26, 1970 Novo Mesto, SR Slovenia, Yugoslavia |
| Citizenship |
|
| Political party | Republican[1][2] |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | Barron |
| Parents |
|
| Residence | Mar-a-Lago |
| Signature |  |
Trump grew up in Slovenia (then Yugoslavia). She worked as a fashion model through agencies in the European fashion capitals of Milan and Paris. She moved to New York City in 1996. She was associated with Irene Marie Models and Trump Model Management.[7] In 2005, she married the real estate developer and TV personality Donald Trump. She gave birth to their son Barron in March 2006. Later that year, she became a naturalized American citizen.[8] She is the second immigrant woman after former Louisa Adams and the first non-native English speaker to become first lady.[9]
Biography
changeEarly life, family and education
changeMelanija Knavs was born in Novo Mesto, Slovenia on April 26, 1970. Her father, Viktor Knavs was from the nearby town of Radeče. He managed car and motorcycle dealerships for a state-owned vehicle manufacturer. Her mother Amalija Ulčnik Knavs, came from the village of Raka. She worked as a patternmaker at the children's clothing manufacturer Jutranjka in Sevnica.
As a child, Knavs and other children of workers at the factory participated in fashion shows that featured children's clothing. She has an older sister, Ines Knauss, who is an artist. She has an older half-brother who she reportedly has never met from her father's previous relationship.
When Knavs was a teenager, she moved with her family to a two-story house in Sevnica. As a high-school student, she lived in a high-rise apartment in Ljubljana. She attended the Secondary School of Design and Photography in the city. She studied architecture and design at the University of Ljubljana for one year before she dropped out.
Relationship with Donald Trump, marriage, and children
changeIn September 1998, Knavs met real estate mogul Donald Trump at a party. The couple began dating while the latter was in the process of divorcing his second wife, Marla Maples. The divorce was finalized in 1999. In 1999, the couple gained attention after a lewd interview with shock jock Howard Stern on his show.
The two became engaged in 2004. On January 22, 2005, they married in an Anglican service at the Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea in Palm Beach, Florida. There was a reception in the ballroom at her husband's Mar-a-Lago estate.[10]
On March 20, 2006, Trump gave birth to their son, Barron William Trump. She chose his middle name and her husband chose his first name. She also has four stepchildren, stepsons Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump and stepdaughters Ivanka Trump and Tiffany Trump.
Religion
changeWhen Trump and her husband visited Vatican City in May 2017, she identified as Catholic. She was the first Catholic to live in the White House since John F. Kennedy. She was the second Catholic first lady after Jacqueline Kennedy.[11][12]
2016 United States presidential election
change.jpg)
In 2016, Trump told CNN her focus as first lady would be to help women and children. She also said she would combat cyberbullying, especially among children.[13]
On July 18, 2016, Trump gave a speech at the 2016 Republican National Convention. Trump was later accused of plagiarizing Michelle Obama's speech at the 2008 Democratic National Convention.[14][15][16]
First Lady, 2017–2021
change
Trump became the first lady of the United States when her husband was inaugurated as the 45th president of the United States on January 20, 2017.[17] As first lady, Trump focused on spending time meeting with children all over the world while in classrooms, hospitals, care facilities, at home in the White House, and in communities worldwide.
She met with leaders in technology and social media companies to raise awareness of resources available to protect children. She traveled to military bases domestically and overseas, including Iraq in 2018.
Trump also worked with Second Lady Karen Pence in expanding the American Red Cross Comfort Kit program to include deployed United States troops who are stationed away from home during the holidays.
In the summer of 2020, Trump honored the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment and the women’s suffrage movement. She hosted a children’s art competition that showed drawings of people, objects, and events that hold a significant meaning to the women’s suffrage movement.
Trump also sent care packages and donated lunches to hospitals, local law enforcement officers, foster care facilities, and others who fought the Coronavirus disease.[18]
Be Best campaign
change
In May 2018, Trump formally started the Be Best public awareness campaign. It focused on issues such as, social and emotional health of children, online safety, and fighting opioid abuse and cyberbullying.
In October 2018, Trump took a solo international trip to Africa, visiting Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, and Egypt, hospitals, schools, and USAID programs benefiting children. She went on international trips with the president and met with more than 30 foreign diplomats, heads of state, and their spouses to share solutions to issues impacting children around the world.[19]
After the White House (2021–present)
changeAfter the Trumps left the White House, Melania returned to Mar-a-Lago. She lived there while avoiding public attention. Melania kept in contact with her successor Jill Biden. The two have shared birthday cards. Trump founded a scholarship program for foster children. In November 2023, Melania attended the memorial service for former First Lady Rosalynn Carter.[20]
Melania remained out of public view during her husband's court appearances and his candidacy in the 2024 presidential election. In July 2024, she released a statement after the attempted assassination of her husband and appearing at the 2024 Republican National Convention. She did not speak at the convention, making her the first candidate's spouse not to speak at the convention since Barbara Bush began the tradition.[21] In the same month, Melania announced her plan to publish a memoir, titled Melania.[22] Some Republicans were upset with her before the memoir was released because she announced her support for abortion.[23]
First Lady-designate
changeTrump will return as first lady after her husband was elected as president again in 2024. She will become the second first lady to be first lady two times non-consecutively, after Frances Cleveland.[24]
References
change- ↑ "Melania Trump votes in N.Y. primary". The Washington Post. April 19, 2016. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
- ↑ "Former President Trump, Melania Trump cast votes in Palm Beach". CBS12. March 19, 2024. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
Republican Presidential candidate former President Donald Trump and former First Lady Melania Trump cast their votes at a polling location in Palm Beach in Florida's Presidential Preference Primary on Tuesday.
- ↑ "Melania Trump". WHHA (en-US). Retrieved 2023-02-22.
- ↑ "Melania Trump - Age, Life & Facts". Biography. 2021-04-14. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
- ↑ "Melania Trump". The White House. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
- ↑ "Melania Trump – The White House". trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
- ↑ "Melania Trump - Age, Life & Facts". Biography. 2021-04-14. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
- ↑ "Melania Trump – The White House". trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
- ↑ "Melania Trump". WHHA (en-US). Retrieved 2023-02-22.
- ↑ "Melania Trump – The White House". trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
- ↑ Sieczkowski, Cavan (May 25, 2017). "Melania Trump Will Be The First Catholic To Live At The White House Since JFK". HuffPost. Archived from the original on May 26, 2017. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
- ↑ "US First Lady Melania Trump Is Catholic, Spokeswoman Confirms". The Catholic Herald. May 26, 2017. Archived from the original on May 26, 2017. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
- ↑ Bradner, Eric (November 4, 2016). "Melania Trump: Ending social media bullying would be focus as first lady". CNN. Archived from the original on November 10, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
- ↑ Tumulty, Karen; Costa, Robert; Del Real, Jose (July 19, 2016). "Scrutiny of Melania Trump's speech follows plagiarism allegations". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on July 20, 2016. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
- ↑ Bump, Philip (July 19, 2016). "Melania Trump's speech appears to have cribbed from Michelle Obama's in 2008". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on July 20, 2016. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
- ↑ Haberman, Maggie; Rappeport, Alan; Healy, Patrick (July 19, 2016). "Melania Trump's Speech Bears Striking Similarities to Michelle Obama's in 2008". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 19, 2016. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
- ↑ "Melania Trump – The White House". trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
- ↑ "Melania Trump – The White House". trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov. Retrieved 2024-02-03.
- ↑ "Melania Trump – The White House". trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov. Retrieved 2024-02-03.
- ↑ Kristen Holmes (2023-11-28). "Melania Trump Takes Her Place in the Former First Ladies Club with Rosalynn Carter Memorial Service Appearance". CNN.com. Archived from the original on August 17, 2024. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
- ↑ Yurow, Jeremy (18 July 2024). "Melania Trump Is Not Scheduled to Speak at the RNC. Here's Why That's Unusual". USA Today. Archived from the original on July 19, 2024. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
- ↑ Italie, Hillel (2024-07-25). "Melania Trump to Tell Her Story in Memoir, 'Melania,' Scheduled for This Fall". AP News. Retrieved 2024-08-27.
- ↑ "Melania Trump signals support for US abortion rights". BBC. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
- ↑ "Will Melania Move to D.C. or Will She Be a Part-Time First Lady?". The Daily Beast. 2024-11-06. Retrieved 2024-11-18.