Meet Melania Trump’s Parents: Amalija Knavs and Viktor Knavs

Melania Trump, born Melanija Knavs on April 26, 1970, in Novo Mesto, Slovenia (then part of Yugoslavia), is the former and current First Lady of the United States.

She often credits her Slovenian upbringing with shaping her values, resilience, and ambition.

Raised in the small town of Sevnica, Melania grew up in a modest state-run housing complex before her family later moved into a two-story home during her teenage years.

From a young age, she showed a strong interest in fashion, participating in shows organized by her mother’s workplace and even sewing her own clothes. Alongside her creative pursuits, she excelled academically, serving as treasurer and demonstrating both academic and artistic talent.

Her parents played a pivotal role in her journey. Her father, Viktor Knavs, worked as a chauffeur before becoming a car and motorcycle salesman for a state-owned company, while her mother, Amalija Knavs, was a patternmaker at the children’s clothing factory Jutranjka.

Raised Roman Catholic, Melania was secretly baptized due to her father’s communist affiliations conflicting with the state’s stance on religion.

Melania grew up with her older sister, Ines Knavs, to whom she has remained close. She also has an older half-brother, Denis Cigelnjak, from her father’s earlier relationship; however, they have reportedly never met, despite paternity being confirmed.

At 16, Melania began modeling, influenced by Western media and global fashion trends. She attended the Secondary School of Design and Photography in Ljubljana and later enrolled at the University of Ljubljana to study architecture and design. However, after a year, she left to fully pursue her modelling career — a decision that would eventually take her from Slovenia to the global spotlight.

Amalija Knavs

Amalija Knavs (née Ulčnik) was born on July 9, 1945, in Judendorf-Straßengel, Austria, and was raised in Slovenia, which was then part of Yugoslavia.

Growing up on her family’s red onion farm, she developed a strong work ethic that defined her life. She later worked as a patternmaker at Jutranjka, a state-owned textile factory in Sevnica, Slovenia, from 1964 until her retirement in 1997.

Her role in the children’s clothing factory, combined with her mother’s skills as a seamstress, sparked Amalija’s passion for fashion, which she passed on to her daughter, Melania. She often sewed clothes for herself and her daughters, igniting Melania’s early interest in modelling.

Amalija’s elegance and grace were hallmarks of her personality. She introduced Melania to fashion through factory-organized fashion shows, where Melania and the children of other workers modelled clothing. This exposure laid the groundwork for Melania’s international modelling career in Paris, Milan, and New York.

After moving to the United States, Amalija became a U.S. citizen in 2018, alongside her husband, through a process sponsored by Melania. She was a frequent presence at Trump family events, including White House functions and Melania’s 2018 “Be Best” campaign launch, often appearing polished and glamorous.

Amalija was deeply devoted to her family, particularly her grandson, Barron Trump, with whom she shared a close bond, often speaking in Slovenian. She split her time between Trump Tower, the White House, and Mar-a-Lago, remaining “hyperinvolved” in Barron’s upbringing.

Tragically, Amalija passed away on January 9, 2024, at age 78 in a Miami hospital after an illness. Melania eulogized her at a funeral in Palm Beach, Florida, saying, “In her presence, the world seemed to shimmer with radiance and joy. Our bond was unbreakable.”

Viktor Knavs

Viktor Knavs was born on March 24, 1944, in Radeče, Slovenia. A member of the Sevnica Communist Party during Yugoslavia’s era under Josip Tito, Viktor began his career as a chauffeur for a local mayor and later for the head of the Jutranjka textile factory.

His ambition led him to become a travelling salesman for a state-owned car company, eventually opening a shop in Ljubljana selling bicycles and car parts. Known for his “larger-than-life” personality and love for luxury cars like Mercedes and Maseratis, Viktor’s entrepreneurial spirit drew comparisons to his son-in-law, Donald Trump.

Melania noted their similarities in a 2016 GQ interview, saying, “They’re both very smart and very capable… they have the same values, they have the same tradition.” Viktor’s drive and business acumen provided a comfortable life for his family, despite their modest beginnings in a housing complex in Sevnica.

He and Amalija raised their daughters, Ines and Melania, in a two-bedroom apartment, later moving to Ljubljana as his career progressed. Family vacations to France, Italy, and Germany broadened Melania’s worldview, fueling her ambition to pursue modelling abroad.

Viktor also has a son, Denis Cigelnjak, from a prior relationship, whom he reportedly never acknowledged. After Melania’s move to New York in 1996 and her marriage to Donald Trump in 2005, Viktor and Amalija became permanent U.S. residents, gaining citizenship in 2018.

Viktor maintained a lower profile than Amalija but was a steady presence in the Trump family, often staying at Trump Tower, the White House, or Mar-a-Lago.

He attended Donald Trump’s second inauguration in January 2025, reflecting his ongoing connection to his daughter’s public role. Now 81, Viktor remains a figure of ambition and resilience, embodying the work ethic and family values that shaped Melania’s journey.