Former United States First Lady Melania Trump announced the passing of her mother, Amalija Knavs at age 78.
The wife of former United States President Donald Trump said that her mother was a strong woman who always carried herself with "grace, warmth, and dignity." She added that Knavs was entirely devoted to her husband, daughters, grandson, and son-in-law.
Amalija Knavs Dead at 78
Melania said that she and her family will sorely miss her mother beyond measure and will work to continue honoring and loving her legacy. The death of Melania's mother was also confirmed by a campaign adviser for former President Trump, as per CNN.
The sudden passing of Knavs comes after Trump said that his mother-in-law was "very ill" during his New Year's Eve celebration at his home in South Florida. At the time, the former president was hopeful that Melania's mother was recovering.
His remarks came after mentioning that he had gotten off the phone with his wife who was at a Miami hospital with her ill mother. The Republican businessman continued to say, "It's a tough one, a very tough one."
The former president's wife was also absent from the family's Christmas celebrations as she was busy tending to the health of her sick mother. In a statement, a source close to Melania said that she had always been very devoted to her entire family. This is why it was no surprise that she chose to spend her holidays with her ailing mother, according to Fox News.
Throughout the years, Melania maintained a close relationship with her mother and her father, 79-year-old Viktor Knavs. The elderly couple has been living at Mar-a-Lago in the past few years, where the former first lady and the former president also reside.
A source close to the family said that Melania's mother had an excellent relationship with her daughter and with Barron. They noted that she was unselfish and always took care of her entire family.
Melania Trump's Mother
The source added that in particular, Barron grew close to Melania's mother, noting that there were times when he was with his grandparents more than with his mother and a lot more than his father.
The Knavs were sworn in as United States citizens at a federal court in New York City in August 2018 under Trump's presidency. At the time, the couple's attorney said that they travailed a wonderful journey, similar to millions of others, in trying to get citizenship and waiting the requisite period of time.
The development came amid bitter debate over immigration and follows the Trump administration's adopting of a "zero-tolerance" policy for unlawful crossings at the border. There, roughly 2,000 children were separated from their families during a six-week period in April and May of that year.
The Knavs came from present-day Slovenia, which was the place where Melania was born in April 1970, based on records from the White House Historical Association. Melania's mother is a former textile worker and her husband, Viktor, was a former car dealer prior to coming to the U.S., said Yahoo Sports.
