Melania Trump’s mother dies aged 78

The mother of former first lady Melania Trump has died at the age of 78 after an illness.

Ms Trump, who is married to former US president Donald Trump, said on Monday night that her mother Amalija Knavs had passed away.

Mr Trump had previously told supporters that his wife was busy caring for her mother in a “great hospital” in Miami, explaining her absence from the family’s Christmas photos and New Year’s Eve party at Mar-a-Lago.

Knavs was 78 years old, according to public records.

“It is with deep sadness that I announce the passing of my beloved mother, Amalija,” said Ms Trump in a post on X, the social network formerly known as Twitter.

“Amalija Knavs was a strong woman who always carried herself with grace, warmth, and dignity. She was entirely devoted to her husband, daughters, grandson, and son-in-law.

“We will miss her beyond measure and continue to honor and love her legacy.”

Mr Trump condoled Knavs’ death and described her as an “incredible woman”.

“This is a very sad night for the entire Trump family!!!” Mr Trump wrote on his social media site, Truth Social. “Melania’s great and beautiful mother, Amalija, has just gone to a beautiful place in the sky. She was an incredible woman, and will be missed far beyond words!”

Born in 1945, Knavs grew up in Slovenia during a time of turmoil for the eastern European country, which was in the process of being wrenched out of Nazi occupation and annexed into the socialist republic of Yugoslavia.

She and her husband Viktor raised Ms Trump in the town of Sevnica, living in a state-run housing complex and working as a patternmaker at a children’s clothing factory.

Both Viktor and Amalija Knavs ultimately joined their most famous daughter in US, becoming citizens in 2018 in a special ceremony in New York City.