Melania Trump’s Mother, Amalija Knavs, Passes Away At 78

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.”

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.”