Melania Trump’s Mother, Amalija Knavs, Dead at 78

Only one year older than her son-in-law Donald Trump, Amalija reportedly fell “very ill” in late 2023

PEOPLE

Amalija Knavs, mother of former first lady 

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, died at the age of 78, the former first lady announced on social media Tuesday.

“It is with deep sadness that I announce the passing of my beloved mother, Amalija,” Trump wrote in a statement on X, 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,” the statement continued.

The news comes after Donald Trump used his New Year’s Eve event at Mar-a-Lago to acknowledge his wife’s absence from family gatherings during the holiday season, telling the crowd she was attending to her mother.

Sources tell PEOPLE that the former first lady was not at the Trumps’ New Year’s Eve celebration, with video footage showing that, when the former president spoke to attendees, he announced: “Melania — great first lady, so popular, the people love her — she’s now in a hospital with her mother. Her mother, Amalija, is very ill, but hopefully she’ll be recovering.”

Trump, 77, continued: “But she’s been very ill, so I just want to say ‘hello’ to the first lady — we just spoke, down in Miami, great hospital — and hopefully they’ll be ok. But it’s a tough one, it’s a very tough one. She knows probably about 95% of the people in this room. We just want to wish Amalija that she gets better as quickly as possible.”