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, SR Slovenia, Yugoslavia |
| Citizenship |
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| Political party | Republican |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) |
| Spouse | |
| Children | Barron Trump |
| Parents |
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| Residence | White House |
| Signature |  |
Melania Knauss Trump was born Melanija Knavs on April 26, 1970. She is a former model from Slovenia and the United States. She is currently the First Lady of the United States, a role she has held since 2025. She is married to President Donald Trump. She was also the First Lady from 2017 to 2021.
Contents
- Melania Trump's Early Life and Family
- Melania Trump's Modeling Career
- Role in the 2016 Presidential Campaign
- First Lady of the United States (2017–2021)
- Second Time as First Lady (2025–present)
- Melania Trump's Personal Life
- Interesting Facts About Melania Trump
- Melania Trump Quotes
- Images for kids
- See Also
Melania Trump's Early Life and Family
Melanija Knavs was born in Novo Mesto, Yugoslavia, on April 26, 1970. This area is now part of Slovenia. Her father, Viktor Knavs, managed car and motorcycle stores. Her mother, Amalija, worked as a patternmaker for children's clothes. As a child, Melania took part in fashion shows for kids' clothing at her mother's factory. She has an older sister named Ines. Ines is an artist and a close friend to Melania. Melania also has an older half-brother from her father's earlier relationship, whom she has reportedly never met.
Melania grew up in a simple apartment in Sevnica, Slovenia. Her father was part of the Communist Party. This group believed in state atheism, meaning they did not support religion. However, her parents secretly had their daughters baptized as Catholic.
When Melania was a teenager, her family moved to a two-story house in Sevnica. Later, as a high school student, she lived in an apartment in Ljubljana. She went to the Secondary School of Design and Photography there. She also studied architecture and design at the University of Ljubljana for one year before leaving.
Melania Trump's Modeling Career
Starting in Europe
When Melania started modeling, she changed her name to Melania Knauss. She traveled around Europe to find modeling jobs. At 16, she posed for Slovenian fashion photographer Stane Jerko. At 18, she signed with a modeling agency in Milan, Italy. She modeled for fashion companies in Paris and Milan. In 1995, she met Paolo Zampolli, who owned a modeling agency. He was also a friend of her future husband, Donald Trump. Zampolli encouraged her to move to the U.S. to model. In 1996, Melania Knauss moved to Manhattan, New York.
Working in New York
Melania moved to New York in 1996 to continue her modeling career. For her first few weeks in the U.S., her visa did not let her work. But she took ten modeling jobs and earned about $20,000. Later, she received a special visa that allowed her to work.
In September 1998, Melania met Donald Trump at a party. He was a real estate businessman. They started dating. Melania continued her modeling career. She appeared on the covers of American magazines like In Style Weddings and New York magazine. In 1999, she and Donald Trump gained attention after an interview on a radio show.
They appeared together when Trump ran for president in 2000. When asked what her role would be if he became president, she said she would be "very traditional." She mentioned past First Ladies like Betty Ford and Jackie Kennedy.
Role in the 2016 Presidential Campaign
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In November 2015, Melania was asked about her husband's presidential campaign. She said, "I encouraged him because I know what he will do and what he can do for America." She played a smaller role in the campaign than most spouses of presidential candidates. However, she was one of Trump's biggest supporters. She also often gave him advice.
In 2016, Melania told CNN that as First Lady, she would help women and children. She also said she would fight cyberbullying, especially among kids. Five days before the election, she spoke to supporters in Pennsylvania. She said, "Our culture has gotten too mean and too rough, especially to children and teenagers." She added that it is "unacceptable" for someone to bully others online while hiding their name.
First Lady of the United States (2017–2021)
Melania became the First Lady on January 20, 2017. She continued to live in Manhattan at the Trump Tower with her son, Barron. They stayed there until Barron finished his school year. She and Barron moved into the White House in Washington, D.C., on June 11, 2017. Her Secret Service code name is "Muse."
She is the second First Lady born outside the United States. The first was Louisa Adams, who was born in London in 1775. Melania is also the first First Lady who became a U.S. citizen later in life. She is also the first First Lady whose first language is not English.
On March 8, 2017, she hosted her first White House event. It was a lunch for International Women's Day. She spoke about her life as an immigrant woman. She also talked about working for gender equality in the U.S. and other countries. She said education is important for fighting gender inequality.
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On March 13, 2018, Melania met with leaders from technology companies. These included Amazon, Facebook, Google, and Twitter. The meeting was to discuss online harassment and internet safety, especially for children. Melania said, "I am well aware that people are skeptical of me discussing this topic." But she added, "that will not stop me from doing what I know is right."
Melania helped plan the Trump administration's first state dinner. This dinner honored the French president Emmanuel Macron on April 23, 2018. The day before, Melania visited an art exhibit with Brigitte Macron, the French president's wife.
In June 2018, Melania spoke about a policy at the U.S. border with Mexico. This policy led to children being separated from their parents. She said she "hates to see children separated from their families." She also said she wanted "successful immigration reform." On June 21, 2018, she made a quick trip to Texas. She visited a shelter where children were staying. She met with doctors, nurses, and social workers there.
In October 2018, Melania took a solo trip to four countries in Africa. She visited Ghana, Malawi, Kenya, and Egypt. Her trip focused on protecting nature and helping children and families.
Melania's time as First Lady ended in 2021. She did not contact the incoming First Lady, Jill Biden, to arrange the traditional White House tour.
Be Best Campaign
On May 7, 2018, Melania Trump officially launched her "Be Best" campaign. This public awareness campaign focused on the well-being of young people. It also spoke out against cyberbullying. The campaign included a booklet. Some people noted that parts of the booklet were very similar to a document published earlier by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). However, the FTC was always credited for the booklet's creation. Melania Trump also wrote an introduction for a slightly changed version of the booklet.
In December 2019, "Be Best" became a popular topic online. This happened after her husband, Donald Trump, used social media to make fun of teenage environmental activist Greta Thunberg. A week before this, Melania had said that a minor child should have privacy and be kept out of politics.
Second Time as First Lady (2025–present)
On January 20, 2025, during Donald Trump's second inauguration, Melania became First Lady again. She is the second First Lady to hold the position two times, but not one right after the other. The first was Frances Cleveland.
Melania Trump's Personal Life
Melania and Donald Trump got engaged in 2004. They married on January 22, 2005, in Palm Beach, Florida. This was her first marriage and his third.
When she married Donald Trump, Melania became a stepmother to his four children. These are Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and Ivanka Trump from his first marriage. She also became stepmother to Tiffany Trump from his second marriage. Melania especially connected with Tiffany. Tiffany was six when Melania started dating her father. Melania made sure Tiffany felt included with her step-siblings.
On March 20, 2006, Donald and Melania had a son, Barron William Trump. Melania chose his middle name, and Donald chose his first name. After Barron was born, Melania spent less time at public events with her husband. She focused on raising Barron herself. She mostly avoided using nannies.
Melania stayed out of the public eye after settling into her life as a Trump. She did some charity work and appeared in one commercial. When she was with her husband, they watched movies together. Their favorite films included Gone with the Wind and Sunset Boulevard.
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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Official portrait, 2025
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Melania Trump at QVC Red Carpet Style Party, 2011
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Donald Trump and Melania Knauss in 1999
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Melania gives the thumbs up at a campaign event with her husband Donald and son Barron, November 2015.
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With Donald, Liberty Ball, January 20, 2017
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Melania Trump on August 7, 2019.
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The Trumps at the announcement of the First Lady's Be Best initiative, May 2018
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Donald Trump takes the oath of office (2025) (for pic Barron Trump).jpg
Melania's husband, Donald Trump, is sworn in on January 20, 2025, as Melania looks on.
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Melania Trump with Pope Francis, the Vatican, May 2017
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Kylie Bax, Donald Trump, Bill Clinton (at that time the president of the United States), and Melania Knauss (future Trump) at the US Open in 2000, Flushing, New York
See Also
In Spanish: Melania Trump para niños
