Amalija Knavs, mother of former first lady Melania Trump, has died. She was 78 years old.
“It is with deep sadness that I announce the passing of my beloved mother, Amalija,” Melania Trump said in a statement. “Amalija Knavs was a strong woman who always carried herself with grace, warmth, and dignity.”
“She was entirely devoted to her husband, daughters, grandson, and son-in-law,” she added. “We will miss her beyond measure and continue to honor and love her legacy.”
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Knavs was born in Slovenia in 1945 while the country was under communist rule and later married her husband Viktor. Amalija was a textile worker while Viktor was a car dealer.
Former President Donald Trump said at his New Year’s Eve event at Mar-a-Lago that his wife was absent from the family’s Christmas and New Year’s celebrations because she was visiting her mother.
“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,” Trump said. “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% of the people in this room. We just want to wish Amalija that she gets better as quickly as possible.”
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