Melania Trump facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Melania Trump
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Official portrait, 2025
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| First Lady of the United States | |
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Current
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| Assumed role January 20, 2025 |
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| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Jill Biden |
| In role January 20, 2017 – January 20, 2021 |
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| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Michelle Obama |
| Succeeded by | Jill Biden |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Melanija Knavs
April 26, 1970 Novo Mesto, Yugoslavia |
| Citizenship |
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| Political party | Republican |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) |
| Spouse | |
| Children | Barron Trump |
| Parent |
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| Residence | White House |
| Signature |  |
Melania Trump (born Melanija Knavs on April 26, 1970) is a Slovenian-American former model and businesswoman. She is married to Donald Trump, the 45th and 47th President of the United States. She served as the First Lady of the United States from 2017 to 2021 and began her second term in 2025.
As First Lady, Melania Trump has focused on issues affecting children. She is the first naturalized citizen to become First Lady and the second to be born outside the United States, after Louisa Adams. She is also the second First Lady, after Frances Cleveland, to serve two terms that were not back-to-back.
Contents
Early Life and Modeling Career
Melanija Knavs was born in Novo Mesto, Slovenia, which was then part of a country called Yugoslavia. Her father, Viktor Knavs, worked for a car company, and her mother, Amalija Knavs, was a patternmaker for a children's clothing company. Melania has an older sister named Ines.
From a young age, Melania was interested in fashion. She enjoyed customizing and sewing her own clothes. When she was a teenager, she attended the Secondary School for Design and Photography in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. She later studied design at the University of Ljubljana.
At age 16, Melania began working as a fashion model. She changed the spelling of her name to Melania Knauss to make it easier for people in other countries to pronounce. She worked as a model in European fashion capitals like Milan and Paris. In 1996, she moved to New York City to continue her career. She appeared in many magazines and advertisements.
Marriage and Family
In 1998, Melania met real estate developer Donald Trump at a party in New York City. They began dating and got married on January 22, 2005, at a church in Palm Beach, Florida. The reception was held at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate.
After her marriage, Melania became a stepmother to Donald's four older children. On March 20, 2006, Melania and Donald had a son, Barron Trump. Melania focused on raising Barron and was a very involved mother. She became a citizen of the United States on July 28, 2006.
Besides her family life, Melania also pursued business projects. In 2009, she launched her own jewelry brand called Melania, which she sold on the shopping channel QVC. She also developed a line of skincare products.
Role in the 2016 Presidential Campaign
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Melania encouraged her husband to run for president in the 2016 election. During the campaign, she chose to make only a few public appearances. She said she wanted to focus on raising their son, Barron.
Even though she was not often on the campaign trail, she was a close advisor to her husband. She watched his rallies and speeches from home and would call him afterward to give him her thoughts.
At the 2016 Republican National Convention, Melania gave a speech that received a lot of attention. Later, people noticed that parts of her speech were very similar to a speech given by Michelle Obama in 2008. A staff writer for the campaign later said it was her mistake and took responsibility.
First Term as First Lady (2017–2021)
When Donald Trump became president on January 20, 2017, Melania became the First Lady. For the first few months, she and Barron stayed in New York City so he could finish his school year. They moved into the White House in June 2017.
As First Lady, Melania was known for being private and for treating the White House staff with kindness. She worked with decorators to update some of the rooms in the White House, a tradition for new first ladies. She also planned many events, including the famous White House Christmas decorations.
In May 2018, she had a successful medical procedure for a kidney condition. She recovered at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center before returning to her duties.
Be Best Initiative
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On May 7, 2018, Melania announced her main project as First Lady: the Be Best campaign. The campaign focused on three main goals:
- Supporting the well-being of children.
- Promoting online safety and fighting cyberbullying.
She traveled across the country and around the world to promote the Be Best message, often visiting schools and children's hospitals.
Foreign and Domestic Travel
Melania Trump traveled to many countries as First Lady, both with her husband and on her own. In October 2018, she took a solo trip to Africa, visiting Ghana, Malawi, Kenya, and Egypt to highlight the work of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and to promote children's health.
She was also a trusted advisor to the president. She expressed concern about a government policy that separated families at the U.S. border. She visited a facility in Texas and was influential in the president's decision to change the policy.
After the 2020 election, she supported her husband's view of the results. When they left the White House in January 2021, she followed the tradition of leaving a personal letter for the next First Lady, Jill Biden.
Life Between Public Service
After leaving the White House, the Trumps returned to their home at Mar-a-Lago in Florida. Melania lived a more private life, away from the public eye. She focused on her family and started a scholarship program for children in foster care.
During her husband's 2024 presidential campaign, she remained mostly private. She appeared at the 2024 Republican National Convention to support her husband after he won the election.
Second Term as First Lady (2025–Present)
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Melania Trump began her second term as First Lady on January 20, 2025. In her first few weeks, she traveled with the president to visit areas in North Carolina affected by Hurricane Helene and to Southern California to support wildfire rescue services.
She has continued her focus on helping people. In March 2025, she supported the Take It Down Act, a bill to help remove private images posted online without a person's consent. She was by the president's side when he signed it into law.
Throughout 2025, she hosted traditional White House events like the Easter Egg Roll and honored military mothers. She also traveled with the president to Texas to survey flood damage and visited patients at Children's National Hospital for Independence Day. She is also said to have influenced the president's policy regarding the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Interesting Facts About Melania Trump
- Melania is the first naturalized citizen to become First Lady. She is the second foreign-born First Lady after Louisa Adams.
- Melania identifies as Catholic. She was the second Catholic First Lady of the United States.
- Both she and her son Barron also have citizenship in Slovenia.
- For her wedding, Melania wore a very expensive dress made by John Galliano for Christian Dior.
Melania Trump Quotes
- "I want our children in America to know the limits of your achievements is the reach of your dreams and your willingness to work for them."
- "Your word is your bond, and you do what you say and keep your promise."
- "Work hard for what you want in life."
- "We are responsible for empowering our next generation with values."
- "You judge a society by how it treats its citizens. We must do our best to ensure that every child can live in comfort and security, with the best possible education."
Images for kids
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Melania Knauss with Kylie Bax, Donald Trump, and then-president Bill Clinton in 2000
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Donald Trump and Melania Trump in 2006
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Melania Trump in 2011
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Melania Trump during her tour of Africa in 2018
See Also
In Spanish: Melania Trump para niños
