Melania Trump

Melania Trump News: Husband Donald Trump Wins Reelection

Melania Trump will once again assume the role of First Lady following the reelection of her husband, Donald Trump, as the 47th President of the United States. The 54-year-old former model and entrepreneur will return to the White House in January 2025 after Donald Trump was declared the victor in the 2024 election. In a decisive win against Democratic challenger Vice President Kamala Harris, Trump secured a second term, surpassing the necessary 270 electoral votes and winning a majority of the popular vote. While results in Arizona and Nevada are still pending as of November 7, Trump’s victory was clear by the early hours of November 6, the day after Election Day.

During his victory speech in West Palm Beach, Florida, the president-elect expressed gratitude to his wife, saying, “I want to also thank my beautiful wife, Melania, first lady. She’s done a great job, works very hard to help people.” Melania, who has always been a supportive presence, also shared a touching moment on social media, posting a photo of their son, Barron, who voted for the first time in the 2024 election.

Who Is Melania Trump?

Melania Trump, born Melania Knavs, is a former model who served as First Lady from 2017 to 2021. She will resume the role beginning January 2025. Born on April 26, 1970, in Novo Mesto, Slovenia (then part of communist Yugoslavia), Melania began her modeling career as a teenager and quickly became an internationally recognized figure, gracing the covers of numerous fashion magazines. She moved to New York City in the 1990s, where she met Donald Trump. The couple married in 2005 and have one son, Barron.

As First Lady, Melania championed causes related to children’s welfare, addressing issues such as online bullying and opioid abuse. Notably, she was the first foreign-born U.S. First Lady since Louisa Adams in the 1820s. In October 2024, she released a memoir reflecting on her time in the White House.

Where Is Melania Trump From?

Melania Knavs was born in Novo Mesto, Slovenia, in 1970 to Viktor, a car dealer, and Amalija, a children’s clothing designer. She grew up in a modest home with her younger sister, Ines, and later discovered that she had an older half-brother, Denis, from her father’s previous relationship. As a teenager, she moved to Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital, where she began pursuing a career in modeling.

In 1996, Melania moved to the United States, where her modeling career flourished. She was granted permanent residency in 2001 through the EB-1 program, also known as the “Einstein visa,” reserved for individuals with extraordinary abilities. Melania became a U.S. citizen in 2006.

Her immigration background sparked controversy in 2018 when her husband’s administration proposed changes to the nation’s immigration laws. Reports revealed that Melania had sponsored her parents’ immigration to the U.S. through the same program, a situation that drew criticism given the administration’s stance on family-based immigration.

Modeling Career

Melania Trump began her modeling career at the age of 16 and signed with an agency in Milan two years later. Although she enrolled at the University of Ljubljana, she decided to drop out after one year to pursue modeling full-time. Standing at 5 feet 11 inches, she worked in Milan and Paris before moving to New York City in 1996. Throughout her career, Melania became fluent in several languages, including English, French, Italian, and German.

In New York, she gained consistent work with renowned photographers such as Patrick Demarchelier and Helmut Newton. Melania appeared on the covers of major magazines like Harper’s Bazaar Bulgaria, Vanity Fair Italia, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, and British GQ, where she posed nude in 2000. In 2005, she expanded her media presence, appearing in an Aflac commercial and co-hosting an episode of The View.

Nude Photo Controversy

As her husband, Donald Trump, ran for president in 2016, Melania’s past nude modeling photos became the subject of renewed controversy. Notably, her 2000 British GQ shoot, featuring her lying naked on a fur blanket, resurfaced, alongside previously unpublished images. In July 2016, the New York Post released photos of a 25-year-old Melania, including one with another woman, taken for a now-defunct French men’s magazine.

Donald Trump defended his wife, explaining that such photos were common in Europe and occurred before their relationship. Melania later addressed the issue in September 2024, expressing pride in her past work and criticizing the media for its scrutiny. “Are we no longer able to appreciate the beauty of the human body?” she said, advocating for the artistic value of self-expression through the human form.

Marriage to Donald Trump

Melania met Donald Trump in 1998 at a New York fashion event. Although she initially declined his advances, they began dating the following year, briefly splitting in 2000 before reconciling. The couple became engaged in April 2004 and married in a lavish ceremony in Palm Beach, Florida, in January 2005. Among the star-studded guest list were Shaquille O’Neal, Barbara Walters, Kelly Ripa, Matt Lauer, and Katie Couric. After the wedding, Melania officially became Melania Trump.

In March 2006, they welcomed their son, Barron, Donald’s fifth child and Melania’s only. As a mother, Melania was known for her hands-on approach in raising Barron in both New York City and Washington D.C.

Throughout their marriage, the Trumps have faced public scrutiny, including an alleged affair between Donald and adult film star Stormy Daniels. When the scandal broke in 2018, Melania briefly withdrew from the public eye but attended Donald’s State of the Union address later that month. She has not publicly commented on the allegations.

2016 Presidential Campaign

Melania played a supportive role in her husband’s political ambitions. In 2013, she appeared on Celebrity Apprentice, and two years later, Donald Trump announced his candidacy for president. Although initially private, Melania was thrust into the national spotlight. Her modeling history, including the controversial 2000 British GQ shoot, was scrutinized, and her 2016 Republican National Convention speech faced backlash when portions were found to have been lifted from Michelle Obama’s 2008 Democratic National Convention address.

Melania later clarified that staff writer Meredith McIver had incorporated the phrases into the speech after Melania shared them as inspiration. Despite the criticism, Melania’s focus on social issues continued, and she emphasized her commitment to addressing cyberbullying during the campaign. However, her speech was overshadowed by the irony of her husband’s prolific use of Twitter for public insults.

In November 2016, Donald Trump was elected as the 45th president of the United States. The election’s impact on Melania was widely discussed, with some sources reporting that she did not expect or desire the role of First Lady. This was echoed in Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House, which claimed Melania was upset the night of her husband’s victory. The First Lady quickly refuted these claims and instructed her staff to counter the book’s narrative.

First Lady Melania Trump

When Donald Trump took office in January 2017, Melania Trump became the first foreign-born First Lady of the United States since Louisa Adams, the wife of President John Quincy Adams, who was born in London. Initially, Melania and their son Barron remained in New York City so that Barron could finish the school year, but they relocated to the White House in June 2017.

As First Lady, Melania utilized her platform to advocate for a variety of causes, including education, bullying prevention, and immigration. In September 2017, she marked National Read-a-Book Day by donating Dr. Seuss books to deserving schools across the country. The following month, she joined Education Secretary Betsy DeVos in visiting a middle school in suburban Detroit as part of the #NoOneEatsAlone initiative. During this visit, Melania emphasized the importance of kindness, respect, and compassion, telling students, “I always believe that you need to treat each other with respect, and kindness and compassion.”

Be Best Initiative

In January 2018, Melania hired a policy director to help launch her official platform as First Lady. A key element of her efforts was the “Be Best” campaign, which focused on child well-being, combating opioid addiction, and advocating against cyberbullying. This initiative became especially personal to Melania after her son Barron faced online harassment in late 2016.

In May 2018, while unveiling the “Be Best” campaign, Melania shared her concerns, stating, “As a mother and as first lady, it concerns me that in today’s fast-paced and ever-connected world, children can be less prepared to express or manage their emotions and oftentimes turn to forms of destructive or addictive behavior such as bullying, drug addiction, or even suicide.” She stressed the need for adults to guide children toward a healthy, balanced life.

Border Enforcement and Controversial Moments

In June 2018, Melania addressed the contentious issue of children being separated from their families at the U.S.-Mexico border as part of a zero-tolerance immigration policy. A spokesperson for the First Lady expressed her concern, stating, “Mrs. Trump hates to see children separated from their families and hopes both sides of the aisle can finally come together to achieve successful immigration reform.” Melania called for a balance between upholding laws and governing with compassion.

She visited a children’s shelter in McAllen, Texas, to meet with children and staff, though the visit was overshadowed by her choice of attire—a jacket emblazoned with the words “I REALLY DON’T CARE, DO U?” Her spokesperson played down its significance, but Melania later explained in her 2024 memoir that the jacket was meant to address what she saw as “skewed narratives” and “negativity” from the media.

Final Days in the White House and Return to the Spotlight

As Donald Trump’s presidency came to an end, marked by the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot, Melania sought to conclude her tenure as First Lady on a positive note. In her farewell message, she urged unity and expressed hope for the future of the nation, saying, “Together, as one national family, we can continue to be the light of hope for future generations.”

After leaving the White House, Melania largely stepped out of the public eye. She did not actively participate in her husband’s 2024 presidential campaign, but in July 2024, she issued a statement calling for unity after Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt. She later made a rare appearance at the Republican National Convention and stood by her husband as he declared victory in the 2024 general election. Melania is set to resume her role as First Lady when her husband assumes office again on January 20, 2025.

Memoir and Personal Reflections

In October 2024, Melania released a memoir that details her childhood, modeling career, marriage to Donald Trump, and time as First Lady. In a promotional video, she explained, “Writing this memoir has been a deeply personal and reflective journey for me… I feel a responsibility to clarify the facts” in light of her public scrutiny.

Net Worth and Business Ventures

As of August 2024, Melania Trump’s estimated net worth is $50 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Beyond her modeling career, she has engaged in several business ventures. In 2010, she launched a jewelry line, Melania Timepieces & Jewelry, with QVC, though the line has since been discontinued. She also created a skincare collection in 2016, but it was discontinued a year later. Currently, she sells jewelry, ornaments, and digital collectibles on her personal website.

Health Scares

Melania faced health challenges during her time as First Lady. In May 2018, she underwent surgery to treat a benign kidney condition at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. While she recovered quickly, her limited public appearances in the following weeks raised concerns about her health. In October 2020, Melania and her husband tested positive for COVID-19. Their son Barron also contracted the virus but recovered shortly thereafter. The Trump family all recovered from the virus without major complications.

Melania Trump’s time as First Lady was marked by advocacy, controversy, and personal resilience, and she is expecte