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| Boilerpipe Text | Melania Trump
Trump in 2025
First Lady of the United States
Current
Assumed role
January 20, 2025
President
Donald Trump
Preceded by
Jill Biden
In role
January 20, 2017 – January 20, 2021
President
Donald Trump
Preceded by
Michelle Obama
Succeeded by
Jill Biden
Personal details
Born
Melanija Knavs
April 26, 1970
(age 55)
Novo Mesto
, SR Slovenia, Yugoslavia
Citizenship
Yugoslavia
(until 1991)
Slovenia
(from 1991)
U.S. (from 2006)
Party
Republican
[
1
]
Spouse
Donald Trump
(
m.
)
Children
Barron Trump
Parents
Viktor Knavs (father)
Amalija Knavs
(mother)
Relatives
Trump family
Signature
Trump on her family's departure from the White House
Recorded January 18, 2021
Melania Knauss Trump
[
a
]
[
2
]
(born
Melanija Knavs
;
[
b
]
April
26, 1970) is a
Slovenian
and American former model serving as the
first lady of the United States
since 2025, a role she previously held from 2017 to 2021 as the wife of
Donald Trump
, the 45th and 47th
president of the United States
. She is the first
naturalized citizen
and the first non-native English speaker to become first lady; the second foreign-born first lady, after
Louisa Adams
; the second
Roman Catholic
first lady, after
Jacqueline Kennedy
; and the second to hold the position nonconsecutively, after
Frances Cleveland
.
Melanija Knavs was born in
Yugoslavia
, where she began working as a fashion model at the age of 16 while pursuing her education. She changed the spelling of her name to
Melania Knauss
and traveled to
Paris
and
Milan
to seek modeling work before meeting
Paolo Zampolli
, who hired her and sponsored her immigration to the United States in 1996. She worked as a model in
Manhattan
, where she began dating Donald Trump shortly after Zampolli introduced them in 1998. Trump worked to get Knauss more modeling jobs, and she supported him during his
2000 presidential campaign
. They married in 2005, and the following year had a son,
Barron Trump
. Knauss started her own jewelry brand,
Melania
, in 2009.
After encouraging her husband to
run for president
in the
2016 presidential election
, Melania Trump made only rare campaign appearances, instead helping Donald with strategy. She received major press coverage during the campaign when erotic photos from her modeling years were republished, and again when a
speech she gave
at the
2016 Republican National Convention
was found to be plagiarized from a similar speech by
Michelle Obama
. In the month leading up to the election, she defended her husband following the release of the
Access Hollywood
tape
that mired his campaign in scandal.
For the early months of her tenure as first lady, Trump stayed in Manhattan to allow Barron to finish school there and to renegotiate her
prenuptial agreement
. She performed minimal official activities after moving into the
White House
and held fewer events than previous first ladies. Trump faced several challenges in 2018, including
allegations of extramarital affairs
committed by her husband, surgery for
kidney disease
, and a tour of Africa that was overshadowed by scrutiny of her wardrobe and personal conduct. As first lady, Trump prioritized children's issues, launching the
Be Best
campaign to promote children's welfare and visiting many children's hospitals. She was also a close advisor to her husband, influencing his decisions to end the Trump administration's
family separation policy
and to ban fruit-flavored
electronic cigarette
cartridges. In the final months of her initial tenure as first lady, Trump endorsed her husband's
false claims of election fraud
in the
2020 presidential election
. After leaving the White House in 2021, she largely stayed out of the public view before assuming the role of first lady again in 2025.
Early life and education
Melanija Knavs was born on April 26, 1970, in
Novo Mesto
, a city in the
Lower Carniola
region of
Slovenia
. At the time, Slovenia, known by the
Socialist Republic of Slovenia
, was part of the
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
.
[
3
]
Her father, Viktor Knavs, first worked as a chauffeur; eventually, he sold car parts for a state-owned vehicle manufacturer as he made connections with the
League of Communists of Yugoslavia
.
[
4
]
Her mother,
Amalija Knavs
,
[
5
]
worked as a
patternmaker
at the children's clothing manufacturer Jutranjka in
Sevnica
.
[
3
]
[
6
]
In Sevnica, the family lived in the state-run housing complex Naselje Heroja Maroka.
[
7
]
Melanija has an older sister, Ines,
[
8
]
and an older half-brother from her father's previous relationship, Denis Cigelnjak, whom she reportedly has never met.
[
9
]
The family was well-off relative to most who lived in communist societies. They frequently went on vacations to other parts of Europe,
[
10
]
and their apartment was decorated with brightly colored walls.
[
10
]
[
9
]
As a child, Melanija, like other children of workers at the factory, participated in fashion shows that featured children's clothing.
[
11
]
[
6
]
[
12
]
Textiles were Sevnica's primary industry. Students were excused from school to participate in the shows.
[
13
]
From a young age, Melanija expressed an interest in fashion, and she began customizing and sewing her own clothes.
[
7
]
She developed a skill for it by watching her mother work.
[
14
]
Melanija did well in school, where she was appointed school
treasurer
.
[
15
]
When Melanija was a teenager, she moved to a two-story house in Sevnica with her family.
[
16
]
Soon after
Tito
's death, she was inspired by
Ronald Reagan
's
Morning in America
, sensing that "morning" was spreading across the world, even into her own country.
[
17
]
Of particular interest to Melanija was the new exposure to global fashion.
[
14
]
At the age of fifteen, she began attending the Secondary School for Design and Photography in
Ljubljana
, making the long commute from her hometown to the capital and back each day by train. After her first year, she and Ines moved to the capital together in an apartment paid for by their father.
[
18
]
After graduating at age nineteen, Melanija enrolled in the Faculty of Architecture and Civil and Geodetic Engineering at the
University of Ljubljana
to further study design, leaving after a few months without finishing her degree.
[
19
]
[
20
]
Trump has said that she can speak English, Italian, French, and German in addition to her native Slovene, but in public she has fluently spoken only English and Slovene.
[
21
]
Early modeling career
European career
Knavs was discovered by Slovenian fashion photographer
Stane Jerko
when she was sixteen, after modeling in a school-sponsored show.
[
22
]
[
23
]
At the time, she had wanted to be a fashion designer rather than a model.
[
10
]
She won a modeling contest with the Italian studio
Cinecittà
that entitled her to a movie role, but rejected the prize after a producer sexually propositioned her.
[
24
]
As her modeling career progressed, Knavs took on the alternate spelling of her surname as, "Knauss" and of her given name as "Melania".
[
25
]
She traveled in Europe to find modeling work.
[
19
]
[
26
]
Except for a few close relatives, she did not maintain contact with anyone she knew in Slovenia.
[
27
]
In 1992, she was named
runner-up
in the
Jana Magazine
Look of the Year
contest, which promised its top three contestants an international modeling contract.
[
3
]
[
19
]
[
10
]
She signed with RVR Reclame in Milan, but left the organization a few months later.
[
28
]
Knauss spent the following years traveling in Europe for modeling jobs, including one in which she portrayed the first female president of the United States in 1993.
[
29
]
Around age 23 or 24, she made Paris her primary residence, where she lived with her roommate
Victoria Silvstedt
.
[
30
]
Knauss modeled for fashion houses in Paris and Milan, where in 1995 she met Metropolitan Models co-owner
Paolo Zampolli
, who was on a scouting trip in Europe. Zampolli, a friend of her future husband
Donald Trump
,
[
12
]
became one of her few long-time acquaintances.
[
31
]
Relocating to New York
Zampolli urged Knauss to travel to the United States, where he said he would like to represent her.
[
12
]
In 1996, Knauss moved to Manhattan.
[
12
]
[
10
]
By this time, she was already 26 years old, much older than most aspiring models.
[
32
]
Zampolli encouraged Knauss to live near and socialize with people in the fashion industry,
[
33
]
and he arranged for her to share an apartment with photographer Matthew Atanian in
Zeckendorf Towers
in
Union Square
.
[
34
]
[
12
]
Her rent was taken from her pay with Zampolli's agency.
[
35
]
Once she resided in the United States, she made only rare and brief visits to her country of origin.
[
36
]
She lived a healthy lifestyle, managing her diet carefully,
[
37
]
and avoided the drinking and partying that often consumed the lives of the models around her.
[
38
]
She did not lead an active social life and rarely went out.
[
38
]
[
37
]
Knauss was featured in a nude photo shoot for a 1997 issue of
Max
, a French men's magazine, with another female model. The photos were shot by the photographer Alexandre Ale de Basseville, and the work was unpaid, instead promising Knauss exposure in a prominent magazine. The photos were largely forgotten until they were published by the
New York Post
in 2016.
[
39
]
For her first weeks in the United States, her
travel visa
did not allow her to work in the country. Despite this, she accepted ten modeling jobs that earned her approximately $20,000 (equivalent to $41,000 in 2025). She then received an
H-1B visa
that allowed her to work.
[
33
]
She received her first major job when she posed for a
Camel cigarette
ad shot by
Ellen von Unwerth
, which was displayed as a
Times Square
billboard and ran in
Rolling Stone
. The opportunity was facilitated by a law that restricted cigarette ads to only depict people above the age of 25, excluding most aspiring models.
[
40
]
When her roommate Atanian left New York, Knauss moved to an apartment off of
Park Avenue
.
[
41
]
Marriage and family
Meeting Donald Trump
Donald Trump and Melania Knauss in 1999
In September 1998, Zampolli introduced Knauss to the real estate mogul Donald Trump at a party.
[
42
]
Donald had a date to the event,
Celina Midelfart
. When he asked Knauss for her phone number, she refused. Instead, she insisted that he give her his own number. He passed her test when he gave her multiple personal numbers instead of an office number.
[
43
]
[
44
]
She later said that giving her own number would make her "just one of the women he calls".
[
43
]
The exact details of when and where this took place are unclear, though the Kit Kat Club is often described as where they met.
[
45
]
After a week, Knauss called Trump and they went on a date.
[
46
]
She intentionally responded with indifference to his advances, knowing this would pique his interest.
[
47
]
Not only was Trump's personality similar to that of her father,
[
11
]
[
48
]
[
49
]
but they were of similar ages and had similar physical appearances.
[
10
]
[
48
]
[
50
]
When they began dating, Knauss had access to his book
Trump: The Art of the Comeback
, in which he detailed what he wanted from a relationship.
[
51
]
[
52
]
Knauss held a press conference on September 8, spending the event recounting her successes and telling reporters that she was "world famous", "among the top 50" highest-paid models in the world, and set to appear in a movie alongside
Mickey Rourke
.
[
53
]
The intention was to build her profile in anticipation of another, ultimately unsuccessful, cigarette ad campaign.
[
54
]
This was unusual behavior for a woman who typically kept a quiet and professional presence,
[
55
]
and reporters were unable to verify the claims she made.
[
56
]
The Trumps have stated that they met at the
New York Fashion Week
shortly after this conference but, according to biographer
Mary Jordan
, rumors in the industry suggested that their relationship had already developed by then.
[
55
]
Their relationship initially only lasted a few weeks. Knauss left Trump after she saw his ex-girlfriend
Kara Young
leaving
Trump Tower
, but she reunited with him the following week.
[
57
]
Relationship with Donald Trump
Donald Trump's fame and connections gave Melania Knauss new career opportunities.
[
58
]
Shortly after the death of
Jacqueline Kennedy
, whom Knauss and her mother had deeply admired, Knauss met the
Kennedy family
at a gala.
[
59
]
She continued to encounter celebrities while attending events with Trump.
[
60
]
Knauss continued her modeling career after meeting Trump,
[
12
]
though she took fewer jobs as time went on and she dedicated more time to him.
[
61
]
In 1999, the couple gained attention after an interview with
shock jock
Howard Stern
on his show, in which he asked them lewd sexual questions.
[
62
]
Trump often brought Knauss to meetings to show her off, praising her beauty. He did not let her participate in the business, citing the conflict he had with his first wife after giving her an executive role.
[
63
]
Melania Knauss (on the right) with then-president
Bill Clinton
, Donald Trump, and
Kylie Bax
(listed right to left) in 2000
Trump announced
his candidacy
for the
Reform Party presidential nomination
on October 7, 1999. Knauss strongly supported the move.
[
64
]
When asked by
The New York Times
what her role would be if Trump were to become president, Knauss replied: "I would be very traditional, like
Betty Ford
or Jackie Kennedy."
[
65
]
Knauss saw extensive media attention as
tabloids
considered the idea of a model as first lady.
[
66
]
Knauss was one of the first models recruited to Trump's modeling agency,
Trump Model Management
, after its creation in February 1999. The following months, she appeared in several magazines and advertisements organized by individuals close to Trump.
[
67
]
While Trump was organizing his campaign, Knauss appeared in the February edition of
Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue
. The image featured her in a bikini alongside a large inflatable whale; the shoot was run by
Antoine Verglas
, an associate of Zampolli's.
[
68
]
Shortly after the shoot, Verglas called Knauss back for another project where he had her pose nude in a
Bond girl
aesthetic.
[
69
]
Knauss later said that she stood 'proudly behind [her] nude modeling work' in a post on X (
Twitter
) in September 2024.
[
70
]
Trump had lobbied for her inclusion in a
GQ
spread,
[
71
]
and her relationship with him allowed the shoot access to his
Boeing 727
aircraft. Images from the shoot were included in the January 2000 edition of
GQ
magazine.
[
69
]
At the time, Trump's involvement was not made known.
[
33
]
She then appeared in another sexualized photoshoot, where she was posted in a mock-up of the
Oval Office
.
[
72
]
In January 2000, it was reported that Knauss and Trump had broken up, with conflicting accounts of who ended the relationship. Many photos and publicity pieces the two had done together were quickly edited before publication to accommodate the change.
[
73
]
They kept in contact, and they reunited a few months later.
[
74
]
Knauss received her
green card
in 2001, granting her
permanent residency
in the United States.
[
33
]
[
3
]
Knauss and Trump moved in together at Trump Tower in 2002.
[
75
]
She made her first appearance on Trump's game show
The Apprentice
in April 2004 when an episode had the contestants visit their
penthouse
.
[
76
]
Engagement and wedding
Trump proposed to Knauss on April 26, 2004, on her birthday as they were leaving to attend the
Met Gala
.
[
77
]
He reasoned that he was more willing to wed as she had not insisted on marriage, and he felt she had been an influence in his success over the previous years.
[
78
]
She also signed his
prenuptial agreement
without issue.
[
79
]
A few months before the wedding, Knauss traveled to Paris with
Anna Wintour
and
André Leon Talley
to find a wedding dress, deciding on a dress by
John Galliano
.
[
80
]
In the days leading up to the wedding, she appeared on the front cover of
Vogue
in her dress.
[
81
]
[
82
]
Trump and Knauss married on January 22, 2005, at the
Bethesda-by-the-Sea
church in
Palm Beach
, Florida.
[
83
]
The ceremony was followed by a reception in the
ballroom
at Trump's
Mar-a-Lago
estate, which Knauss planned with Preston Bailey.
[
84
]
Numerous celebrities were present, including musicians, athletes, media executives, and television personalities.
[
85
]
She had one
bridesmaid
, her sister Ines, who had moved to New York so they could be closer together.
[
36
]
Knauss arranged all of the details of the wedding with her planner. She let Trump make decisions about the event, but she refused his suggestion that the wedding be broadcast on
NBC
.
[
86
]
Marriage and motherhood
Donald Trump and Melania Trump in 2006
The Trumps had
three residences
that they traveled between: Trump Tower in New York,
Trump National Golf Club Bedminster
in New Jersey, and Mar-a-Lago in Florida.
[
36
]
[
87
]
To have her own private accommodation, Melania had a private spa constructed on the top floor of Trump Tower.
[
87
]
As a couple, the two did not spend much direct time together, preferring to live adjacently.
[
88
]
According to Donald, their passive relationship suited him because he worked for a living and did not "want to go home and work at a relationship".
[
10
]
[
89
]
Melania accepted a transactional element in their relationship, though she cared about Donald and did not believe that she was a
gold digger
.
[
90
]
When she attended events with her husband at Trump facilities, she often stayed for only a few minutes to make an appearance before returning to the private residence.
[
91
]
Donald did not learn to speak Melania's native language, which she said she accepted because she is "not a nagging wife".
[
3
]
Upon marrying Donald, Melania became stepmother to his four children:
Donald Trump Jr.
,
Eric Trump
and
Ivanka Trump
from his first marriage to
Ivana Zelníčková
, and
Tiffany Trump
from his second marriage to
Marla Maples
.
[
92
]
Melania had especially bonded with Tiffany, who was six when Melania began dating her father, and made sure she felt included among her half-siblings.
[
93
]
Melania's pregnancy was widely covered in the media.
[
94
]
She again appeared on the cover of
Vogue
, showing her pregnant body in a bikini and an open coat.
[
95
]
Melania's sister and their parents frequently visited her throughout the pregnancy. She oversaw the construction of a nursery in Trump Tower
[
96
]
and had a
baby shower
at the
FAO Schwarz
toy store, insisting that the toys and gifts she received be donated to a children's hospital.
[
97
]
Melania Trump in 2011
On March 20, 2006, Melania and Donald had a son,
Barron William Trump
.
[
98
]
Melania chose her son's middle name, while Donald chose his first name.
[
99
]
Donald had previously used the name Barron as a
pseudonym
when he posed as his own public relations agent.
[
100
]
After Barron was born, Melania was active in his life and accordingly spent less time attending events with her husband.
[
101
]
[
102
]
Donald had made it clear to her that if they had a child, he would not be actively involved in the child's life.
[
102
]
Melania later said she approved of this, stating that she "didn't want him changing diapers or putting Barron to bed".
[
10
]
She avoided the use of nannies, with a few exceptions in Barron's earliest years, insisting on raising him herself.
[
103
]
Due to this decreased social activity Donald began courting supermodels again, which made Melania uncomfortable. According to biographer Mary Jordan, Melania did not know about the women who later alleged that they had extramarital affairs with him.
[
87
]
Melania stayed out of the public spotlight after she settled into her life as a Trump, excepting occasional charity work and an appearance in an
Aflac
commercial.
[
104
]
She became a citizen of the United States on July 28, 2006.
[
105
]
She then sponsored her parents using the "
chain migration
" immigration process that her husband later repeatedly criticized.
[
106
]
[
107
]
Melania and Barron maintain
dual citizenship
, of the United States and Slovenia.
[
108
]
Spending most of her time at Trump residences, she rarely kept companions besides her parents and her son.
[
91
]
As her son reached childhood, Melania found herself with more time for other pursuits.
[
109
]
She trademarked her name, Melania, in 2009 as a jewelry brand, which she used to sell less expensive jewelry pieces on
QVC
.
[
110
]
She was intentional about not using the Trump name in her branding, correcting reporters who called it Melania Trump.
[
111
]
She drew the designs herself,
[
10
]
based on three places where she had lived: New York, Palm Beach, and Paris. Over the following years she released additional
Melania
collections, which all sold out.
[
111
]
Melania then developed a line of
caviar
-infused skincare products under the brand Melania Marks Skincare in 2011.
[
112
]
The brand never launched, and Melania sued the company selling the products, New Sunshine, for
US$
50 million in lost revenue
[
113
]
after it underwent management changes and voided the contract. The company alleged that one executive had given a
sweetheart deal
to the Trumps because Donald was a family friend. The case was decided in Melania's favor, and the amount to be paid to her was settled out of court.
[
114
]
Donald Trump 2016 presidential campaign
Personal life during the campaign
Melania was the one who finally convinced Donald
to campaign for president
in the
2016 presidential election
, telling him that he either needed to do it or stop talking about it.
[
115
]
[
116
]
When the campaign began, Melania made it clear to her husband that she would not be pressured into campaigning or attending events, and that she would only make appearances when she wanted to. She subsequently played a relatively small role in the campaign, which had been atypical of spouses of presidential candidates since the early 20th century.
[
117
]
Explaining her absence, she cited the need to stay home with her son Barron.
[
118
]
[
119
]
Her daily routine was nonetheless altered by the campaign, as she had to take security arrangements into account when she traveled, and she could not post about her activities online in real time.
[
120
]
Once a prolific user of
Instagram
and
Twitter
, she became less active on her social media accounts when the campaign began.
[
10
]
While many people doubted Donald's chances at the presidency, including his own inner circle, Melania believed he would win.
[
121
]
[
122
]
Unlike Donald's advisors, Melania encouraged him to follow his instincts and say what he felt he should say, with the exception that she does not like his use of profane language.
[
123
]
She analyzed the campaign closely from home, following polling and watching how her husband interacted with his opponents.
[
124
]
She spoke to him on the phone regularly throughout the campaign, including a conversation after each rally in which she gave a candid evaluation of how he did.
[
125
]
Campaign involvement
Melania Trump at a campaign event with Donald and Barron in November 2015
Melania's career as a model was an advantage during the campaign, as she was prepared for photographers and did not need to hire a fashion consultant.
[
19
]
As a model, she was required to be deliberate in all of her movement, including how she stood and walked.
[
126
]
She resented being called shy during the campaign, saying that this was an impression spread by people who only briefly met her and wanted their "
15 minutes of fame
".
[
127
]
Melania's earliest speaking appearances in November 2015 and February 2016 were prompted by Donald calling on her to speak to the crowd. Both times, she only said a few sentences.
[
128
]
Her first scheduled speech during the campaign did not take place until April 2016.
[
119
]
The campaign reportedly wanted to get Melania more active, as she was in a unique position to humanize Donald and to appeal to the
American Dream
from an immigrant's perspective.
[
129
]
Hope Hicks
was the campaign's main liaison with Melania, facilitating any appearances that she wished to make. Melania trusted Hicks's judgement and allowed her to weigh the importance of a given appearance.
[
130
]
Her rare appearances brought her to
swing states
where her husband needed extra support, and her speeches celebrated his personal traits instead of policy.
[
118
]
Melania was involved in the
vice presidential selection process
, meeting with the top contenders, and her approval of
Mike Pence
contributed to his selection. The deciding factor, in her mind, was that Pence was not as ambitious as the other contenders and would not seek to undermine Donald.
[
131
]
Media coverage
Melania Trump in 2016
An
attack ad
against the Trumps was produced by a
super PAC
that supported Donald's opponent
Ted Cruz
featuring Melania's nude
GQ
photo with the caption "Meet Melania Trump. Your next first lady. Or you could support Ted Cruz on Tuesday", intensifying the rivalry between the two candidates in the
2016 Republican Party presidential primaries
.
[
118
]
[
132
]
[
10
]
More nude images of Melania were published on the front page of the
New York Post
in July 2016 in a story titled "The Ogle Office". The images did not have a major effect on the campaign, as Melania was seen as the victim, but they were humiliating and she spent the following two months away from the public.
[
133
]
On July 18, 2016
, Melania
gave a speech
at the
2016 Republican National Convention
. A controversy emerged after it became apparent that a paragraph of the speech had been plagiarized from
Michelle Obama
's speech at the
2008 Democratic National Convention
.
[
134
]
[
135
]
When asked about it, Melania said she wrote the speech herself "with as little help as possible".
[
136
]
Despite political campaigns typically having several people to scrutinize such speeches, no one in the Trump campaign had reviewed the speech.
[
137
]
Donald was furious with his staff and felt he had failed Melania, while Melania felt she herself had failed the campaign through the scandal.
[
138
]
It was the only major speech she delivered during the campaign.
[
139
]
Two days later, Trump staff writer
Meredith McIver
took responsibility, saying there was a misunderstanding when Melania read passages of Obama's speech as examples.
[
134
]
[
140
]
The speech also included a rare statement on her past, describing her family in Slovenia and her early modeling career.
[
137
]
After giving the speech, Melania stayed out of public view until Election Day approached.
[
141
]
Access Hollywood
tape
On October 7, a month before the election, the
Access Hollywood
tape
was leaked. The tape had been recorded in 2005, shortly after their marriage, and it featured audio of Donald making lewd remarks about his treatment of women.
[
142
]
Immediately after its release, the campaign's primary concern was Melania's reaction. It took Donald two hours before he went to see Melania. Upon their meeting, Melania reportedly told him "Now you could lose, you could have blown this for us", and then left the room after he apologized.
[
143
]
In 2024, her husband's former personal counsel Michael Cohen testified during
The People of the State of New York v. Donald J. Trump
trial that Donald had privately credited her as having suggested that the campaign's response strategy should best characterize the conversation on the tape as
"locker room talk"
.
[
144
]
Melania kept her distance from him, angry that he may have ended his candidacy with his comments, and she waited a day before making a comment.
[
145
]
When asked by the campaign to make a scripted appearance alongside Donald as damage control, she refused, deciding that she was going to respond her own way.
[
146
]
She also refused to sit beside him during his recorded apology as politicians' spouses often did in these situations.
[
147
]
Melania released a statement saying that the tape did not show "the man I know" and said those who
accused him of sexual misconduct
are liars.
[
134
]
Melania received significantly more attention from the press following the incident,
[
148
]
and she was frustrated by the pity she received.
[
146
]
A few days later, she attended a
presidential debate
wearing a
pussy bow
, causing widespread speculation about her intention (as her husband's comments on the Access Hollywood tape had included, "Grab them by the pussy" (or
vulva
).
[
149
]
[
148
]
First tenure as First Lady of the United States (2017–2021)
Melania was the first
naturalized citizen
to become first lady
[
150
]
and the second foreign-born woman to hold the title, after
Louisa Adams
, who was born in England.
[
151
]
She was also the second
Roman Catholic
first lady of the United States, after Jacqueline Kennedy.
[
152
]
[
153
]
First lady in Manhattan
Melania Trump with Donald Trump at the Liberty Ball, January 20, 2017
After
Donald's inauguration
as president on January 20, 2017,
[
151
]
Melania announced that she would not move to
Washington, D.C.
, with him, instead staying in Manhattan so Barron could finish the school year there.
[
154
]
Remaining in New York also allowed her to introduce her son to the
White House
gradually so as not to overwhelm him.
[
155
]
According to biographer Mary Jordan, a Pulitzer Prize-winning
Washington Post
journalist, "Melania also used this time to negotiate new terms for her prenuptial agreement with Donald to reflect the changes in their lives since it was signed and to ensure that Barron would receive a suitable inheritance."
[
156
]
(Mrs. Trump's spokesperson dismissed Jordan's book as "belonging in the fiction genre".)
[
157
]
Melania's absence from the White House caused speculation that her stepdaughter Ivanka would serve as an acting first lady.
[
154
]
[
158
]
[
159
]
As time went by, members of the administration's staff like her assistant,
Stephanie Winston Wolkoff
, grew unhappy with Melania's absence, as it gave the impression of marital issues and prevented her from exercising a calming influence over the president.
[
160
]
[
161
]
She also stoked resentment among many of the people in New York, who predominantly opposed the Trumps, because of the costs and traffic issues caused by the
Secret Service
presence.
[
162
]
[
163
]
The Secret Service itself also faced logistical issues from the repeated travel to New York. Having a Secret Service detail was not a major adjustment for Melania though, as she had spent years around her husband's security team.
[
164
]
She was given the
Secret Service code name
"Muse" to go along with the president's name "Mogul".
[
165
]
Being first lady came with another drawback for Melania, as she was expected to speak on serious topics such as immigration policy and had little control over how her media appearances were handled, which was a different experience than she had as a model.
[
166
]
Melania Trump with Pope Francis, the Vatican, May 2017
When the Trump administration's
White House website
was posted, Melania's biographical information caused controversy because it listed her jewelry business. Though it had already ceased operation, critics alleged that it was an attempt to promote her business with government resources.
[
167
]
Another allegation of attempting to profit from her role as first lady came up in February, when she sued the
Daily Mail
for libel after it alleged in 2016 that she had worked for an
escort agency
.
[
168
]
The suit was initially for lost career opportunities, but this was changed to emotional distress when she received questions about why she expected to have career opportunities as first lady.
[
169
]
On March 8, 2017, Melania hosted her first White House event, a luncheon for
International Women's Day
. She spoke to an audience of women about her life as a female immigrant and about working towards
gender equality
both domestically and abroad, noting the role of education as a tool against
gender inequality
.
[
170
]
[
171
]
The Trumps visited
Vatican City
in May 2017. As Melania was visiting as a Roman Catholic,
Pope Francis
blessed her rosary beads, and she placed flowers at the feet of a statue of the
Madonna
at the Vatican's
Bambino Gesù
children's hospital.
[
172
]
The first major public attention Melania received was after an incident in May 2017 while the Trumps were visiting Israel. Donald had forgotten that Melania was by his side when he was walking with Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu
, and she fell behind from the group. Humiliated, she slapped away his hand when he reached out behind him to grab hers. This was the first time press coverage of Melania took notice of an independent streak.
[
173
]
[
174
]
East Wing staff
Official White House portrait, 2017
The lack of staff appointments in the
East Wing
during the first months of the Trump administration—typically the domain of the first lady—caused a backlog of tour requests to develop. In February several hires were made for the
Office of the First Lady
:
Anna Cristina Niceta Lloyd
as social secretary,
Lindsay Reynolds
as the first lady's chief of staff, Tham Kannalikham as her decorator, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff as the first lady's assistant, and
Stephanie Grisham
as communications director.
[
175
]
Melania retained the head florist appointed by Michelle Obama, Hedieh Ghaffarian.
[
176
]
The
chief usher
appointed under the
Obama administration
,
Angella Reid
, was replaced by
Trump International Hotel
employee
Timothy Harleth
, breaking the norm of the chief usher serving under multiple presidencies.
[
175
]
Reid had been broadly unpopular with the staff, and the firing earned Melania their goodwill.
[
177
]
The first lady's staff remained small relative to those of her predecessors.
[
175
]
This was in part because she did not want to have any employees speaking on her behalf. Instead, she answered her correspondences herself.
[
178
]
Melania had a reputation in the White House for being "drama-free",
[
179
]
and for treating the staff well.
[
180
]
According to her husband's campaign manager
Corey Lewandowski
, her staff had "100 percent loyalty to her".
[
181
]
Melania had a close, trusting relationship with her staff, and she was protective of them when conflict arose.
[
182
]
Before moving in, Melania worked with Kannalikham to redecorate the White House, as first ladies typically do. She had most of the Obama-era decor replaced, and like the Obamas, the Trumps paid for it out of pocket instead of using the allotted funding.
[
183
]
Life in the White House
Melania Trump with Argentine first lady
Juliana Awada
in 2017
Melania and her son, Barron, moved into the White House on June 11, 2017.
[
184
]
Like they had throughout their marriage, Melania and Donald chose to sleep in separate bedrooms.
[
185
]
In her first year, Melania gave only eight speeches, compared to 74 by Michelle Obama and 42 by
Laura Bush
.
[
186
]
Instead of frequent public appearances, she communicated her activities through video.
[
181
]
Most of Melania's appearances as first lady in 2017 were in Manhattan and Washington, and she typically spoke about women's and children's issues.
[
187
]
After moving to the White House, Melania opted to spend most of her time in the private quarters, running the White House staff from there instead of the first lady's East Wing offices. She oversaw restorations of several rooms in the building, including the bowling alley in the
White House basement
and the first lady's hairdresser's room.
[
188
]
She kept one office, called the "swag room" by aides, in which she kept trinkets she collected while she was first lady.
[
189
]
To accommodate Barron's soccer practice, she had a net installed on the White House grounds and had a coach practice with him.
[
190
]
Barron remained Melania's top priority when she was first lady, and she worked to keep him free from politics to the point that staffers referred to her as "The Protector".
[
191
]
Even after arriving at the White House, Melania spent extensive time away each year, visiting Mar-a-Lago on major holidays and over many weekends.
[
192
]
Melania Trump examining the 2018 White House Christmas decorations
Melania personally involved herself in decorations and planning within the White House.
[
193
]
She was particular about how things were designed and arranged whenever events were planned, but she would take on a calm and relaxed demeanor once the event began.
[
194
]
Whenever a foreign dignitary arrived at the White House, Melania had the
Blue Room
set aside where she ate lunch or drank tea with the dignitary's spouse.
[
195
]
When choosing which
presidential china set
to use, Melania often chose the
Clinton administration
china with its gold embroidery.
[
196
]
She held events less frequently than her predecessors, with a typical week featuring three or fewer events, all under one hour long.
[
197
]
Among her most ambitious projects was planning the White House Christmas decorations in 2018. Moving away from traditional designs, she filled the
East Colonnade
with red cranberry-laden trees set atop a green carpet. The design was widely derided, which Melania ascribed to personal taste.
[
198
]
To protect use of her image and maintain an income, Melania licensed photos from her photoshoots through
Getty Images
. This allowed her to choose how they were used by reporters, and she received royalties for each use. The
Office of Government Ethics
reported that she made $100,000 to $1,000,000 in royalties in 2017, though other estimates put it at over $10,000,000.
[
199
]
As one of her official duties, Melania was the honorary chair of the
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
. Because of political tension with the arts communities, she was not initially active in the role. She made her first appearances at the Kennedy Center in 2019.
[
200
]
Trump unveiled the abstract sculpture
Floor Frame
by
Isamu Noguchi
in the
White House Rose Garden
in November 2020.
[
201
]
She described it as "embodying themes of resilience and renewal" in her eponymous memoir.
[
202
]
Tribulations in early 2018
A scandal broke in January 2018 when it was alleged that Donald had
had an extramarital affair
with the pornographic actress
Stormy Daniels
. The affair was said to have taken place in July 2006, after the Trumps' marriage and the birth of their son. Melania's public appearances became more infrequent after the news emerged, and she canceled several events that she was to attend with her husband.
[
203
]
This included the
2018 State of the Union Address
, where Melania made the unprecedented decision to ride separately from him on the way there.
[
204
]
Michael Cohen, who had arranged the silencing of the alleged affair, stated that his greatest regret was lying to Melania, saying that she did not deserve it.
[
205
]
The next month, the story of a second affair in 2006 with the model
Karen McDougal
was made public.
[
203
]
[
206
]
To Melania, the worst part was that she felt Donald had publicly humiliated her.
[
207
]
[
161
]
Left to right:
Brigitte Macron
, Melania Trump,
Emmanuel Macron
,
Donald Trump
Melania learned in April 2018 that she was afflicted with kidney disease, but she only told her parents, her husband, and her sister.
[
208
]
On May 14, she began treatment at
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
.
[
209
]
While her husband had wished to join her, his presence would have risked the press discovering her condition.
[
210
]
The official statement said that she underwent an
embolization
, a
minimally invasive procedure
that deliberately blocks a blood vessel.
[
211
]
[
211
]
A statement was released after the procedure was finished without complication,
[
209
]
and she recovered in the hospital over the following five days.
[
212
]
The extended stay led to false rumors and conspiracy theories that she had gotten
plastic surgery
.
[
213
]
[
214
]
After leaving the hospital, she continued to stay out of the public eye until the beginning of June.
[
215
]
At this point, the president let slip that the surgery had been more serious than initially suggested.
[
216
]
Those around Melania noticed that she was generally happier by mid-2018. By this time, she had reached a more advantageous marital agreement that ensured Barron would be given a fair inheritance.
[
217
]
Her public position, and the corresponding influence she had over her husband's political career, had given her the advantage in negotiations.
[
218
]
After several months of problems, Melania received positive coverage for a large custom-made white hat that she wore during a visit by French president
Emmanuel Macron
.
[
219
]
On August 9, 2018, Melania's parents were granted American citizenship. This revitalized accusations of hypocrisy by the Trumps regarding Melania's parents, as Donald had spoken out against the chain migration process that allowed them to enter the
United States
.
[
220
]
2018 Africa tour
Melania Trump wearing a
pith helmet
in Kenya
In October 2018, Melania took a tour of Africa without Donald, visiting Ghana, Malawi, Kenya and Egypt. She spent much of her time with children in schools, orphanages, and hospitals. She used the trip to tout relief work being carried out by the
United States Agency for International Development
, which raised questions about her husband's intention to cut its funding. Melania also received criticism for her fashion choices, where a photo opportunity in front of the
Great Sphinx of Giza
was seen as exploitive and a
pith helmet
she wore in Kenya was criticized for its association with
colonialism in Africa
. To these criticisms, she responded that people should pay more attention to her actions instead of her outfits.
[
221
]
Perception of the trip grew worse when she responded to criticisms by saying that she was "the most bullied person in the world".
[
222
]
Throughout Melania's tour of Africa, personality conflicts took place between her team and
Mira Ricardel
, the
deputy national security advisor
.
[
223
]
Ricardel's staffer had been bumped from the first lady's plane on the flight to Africa to make room for a journalist, and Ricardel subsequently became less cooperative with providing logistical information needed for the tour.
[
224
]
Upon returning, Ricardel gave a thoroughly negative report on Melania's staff, describing them as embarrassing the White House with their partying.
[
225
]
Melania twice complained to the president, but no immediate action was taken.
[
225
]
The following month, the Office of the First Lady issued an official statement calling for Ricardel to be removed from her position. Publicly commenting on such a thing was unprecedented for a first lady.
[
226
]
No one in the administration had been told in advance about the statement, including the president.
[
225
]
Ricardel was fired the following day.
[
227
]
A dispute over the trip arose between Melania and Ivanka a few months later when the latter made her own trip to the continent. Melania felt that in taking such a similar trip, Ivanka was intruding on the first lady's role.
[
228
]
Political influence
Trump working with children at a 2017 Christmas event; she has said that children's welfare was among the most important issues to her.
Trump was the one person exempt from the criticism and distrust that her husband leveled against those around him in the White House. He held her opinion in high regard, often agreeing with her when she made it known, and he valued her loyalty as she did not seek public attention of her own.
[
229
]
She said she believed that it was not her duty as first lady to take policy positions in her own right, but simply to advise Donald regarding his.
[
10
]
She was the only person among those around him who could critique him directly without repercussion.
[
230
]
Donald frequently asked for her opinion about issues he was considering or people who he interacted with, calling her over the phone when she was not in the same room.
[
231
]
Trump paid close attention to media coverage throughout her husband's presidency, providing her input on what would make good optics and maintain his image.
[
232
]
[
233
]
She also provided advice on how to pose for pictures and has given him suggestions on how to appear when moving.
[
234
]
The nature of their relationship allowed her to overlook erratic behavior from her husband, as she had long believed that there was no use in trying to change someone's personality, especially her husband's.
[
178
]
Trump planting a tree on the
South Lawn
during a summit hosted by the
White House Historical Association
Trump had influence over her husband's staff, and Donald sometimes fired individuals on her advice.
[
184
]
[
235
]
The welfare of children is a subject of interest for her, and she routinely made visits to children's hospitals throughout her tenure as first lady.
[
236
]
According to her biographer Kate Bennett, interacting with children is one of the rare things that causes Trump to shift away from her usual stoic demeanor.
[
237
]
Her advocacy was a major factor in her husband's decision to ban fruit-flavored
electronic cigarette
cartridges.
[
238
]
About one year into her tenure, she hired Reagan Thompson as a policy advisor, though she had yet to adopt any official initiatives at the time.
[
239
]
Family separation policy
Trump was openly critical of her husband's
"zero tolerance" policy of denying asylum
at the
Mexico–United States border
in 2018, where children were being separated from their parents. Her official position was that she hated to see families separated and hoped for successful immigration reform.
[
240
]
[
241
]
Out of public view, she made her opposition clear to the president and influenced his decision to end it.
[
242
]
Leaked tapes in 2020 featured Trump making statements defending some of the practices, expressing grief about family separation but questioning the validity of
asylum claims
and dismissing concerns that children were kept in substandard conditions.
[
243
]
Trump was upset when her stepdaughter Ivanka began receiving the credit for changing the president's mind on the issue.
[
244
]
She visited the border herself, ignoring her husband's worries about keeping media attention on the border and the Secret Service's need of advance notice to plan her trip.
[
245
]
She arrived at the border on June 21, where she visited the family separation facilities in Texas and attended a
roundtable
with doctors, medical staff, social workers, and other experts at Upbring New Hope Children's Shelter.
[
246
]
On the way to the border facility, she caused controversy by wearing a jacket that read, "I really don't care, do u?" After much speculation about the jacket's message, including criticism that she may have been expressing indifference toward the families separated at the border, she stated that the jacket was aimed at people and media who were criticizing her.
[
247
]
The jacket dominated media coverage of her visit.
[
248
]
Be Best campaign
Melania Trump celebrating the second anniversary of the Be Best campaign
On May 7, 2018, Melania held a press conference in the
White House Rose Garden
to announce her official public initiative as first lady, the Be Best awareness campaign. The initiative was created to support the welfare of children, advocate against
cyberbullying
, and prevent
opioid abuse
.
[
212
]
[
249
]
The initiative's name drew ridicule in the press for its grammatical structure.
[
250
]
Instead of creating new programs like previous first ladies' projects, Be Best promoted existing initiatives and organizations that worked toward the cause. Public awareness of the initiative remained low, and it was often regarded solely as an anti-cyberbullying campaign.
[
251
]
The Be Best campaign drew criticism for its perceived hypocrisy, challenging cyberbullying when her husband was well known for attacking people online.
[
252
]
[
251
]
Even Donald had warned her before the campaign's launch that the contrast may provoke criticism.
[
251
]
She acknowledged the discrepancy but insisted that she would continue because she felt it was a good cause.
[
252
]
This received more attention in 2019 when the president made Twitter posts critical of
Greta Thunberg
, a teenage environmental activist diagnosed on the
autism spectrum
. This came days after Melania had criticized
Pamela Karlan
for invoking Barron in a speech against the president. The first lady's office responded that spouses can have different communication styles, and said that Barron was not "an activist who travels the globe giving speeches".
[
253
]
COVID-19 and 2020 presidential campaign
Melania Trump with first responders during the
COVID-19 pandemic
Melania carried out a major reorganization of her staff in April 2020 in anticipation of
her husband's reelection campaign
. She appointed Marcia Lee Kelly as her senior advisor and
Emma Doyle
as her policy advisor. Melania's chief of staff, Lindsay Reynolds, was removed; her responsibilities went to Melania's communications director, Stephanie Grisham.
[
181
]
Melania became an active campaigner for her husband during the
2020 presidential election
, which was a strong contrast to her 2016 activity.
[
254
]
When the
COVID-19 pandemic
began, Melania was criticized for promoting a White House renovation project. She took the topic more seriously after the
COVID-19 lockdowns
began, using her Twitter account to encourage
social distancing during the pandemic
and promote official medical advice. Much of what she posted directly contradicted what her husband posted, as he discouraged many of the recommended practices.
[
255
]
[
256
]
On October 1, 2020, Melania's former advisor Stephanie Winston Wolkoff released audiotapes that featured Melania making profane statements about her image and role as first lady. In the tapes, she condemned the media for not giving her positive coverage, questioned why people wanted her to speak out against her husband when she supported his policies, and expressed frustration with her responsibility to oversee Christmas decorations in the White House. She also mentioned her "I really don't care, do u" jacket in the tapes, admitting that she wore it to irritate
liberals
. Winston Wolkoff had released the tapes alongside a
tell-all
book,
Melania and Me
.
[
243
]
[
257
]
The Justice Department filed a
civil suit
against Winston Wolkoff in October 2019, alleging breach of a
nondisclosure agreement
, but it was dropped in February 2021 under the Biden administration.
[
258
]
In September 2022, Melania said in an interview with
Breitbart News
that the audiotapes had been strategically edited to make people believe that her duties in the White House had been unimportant to her.
[
259
]
Despite Donald's loss of the 2020 election,
[
260
]
Melania ended her tenure by endorsing his false statement that he had been the legitimate election winner.
[
189
]
[
222
]
For her final months in the White House, she stopped visiting her office in the East Wing and remained in the White House residence. Her focus at this time was on compiling photo albums of the decorations and renovations she had overseen through her tenure.
[
189
]
Melania was managing photography at the White House when the
January 6 United States Capitol attack
took place and gave no comment at the time. She later said that she would have commented if she had been "fully informed of all the details".
[
161
]
Her communications director Stephanie Grisham later stated she had sent Melania a text message asking her to make a statement condemning the violence and resigned when that did not happen.
[
189
]
On January 18, Melania released a farewell video asking the American people to uphold the principles of her Be Best campaign.
[
222
]
She followed the tradition of leaving a letter for incoming first lady
Jill Biden
,
[
189
]
but she did not contact her to make transition arrangements or provide her the traditional tour of the White House.
[
222
]
Between first lady tenures (2021–2025)
After the Trumps left the White House, Melania returned to Mar-a-Lago, where she could live while avoiding public attention.
[
161
]
She retained one White House advisor, Marcia Lee Kelly, to help her during the post-presidency.
[
222
]
Melania kept in contact with her successor Jill Biden, and the two have exchanged birthday cards.
[
189
]
Since her first tenure as first lady ended, Melania made occasional paid speaking appearances, she founded a scholarship program for
foster children
, and she minted a line of
Apollo 11
–themed
non-fungible tokens
that were not in compliance with
NASA
's image use policy.
[
161
]
In November 2023, Melania attended the memorial service for former First Lady
Rosalynn Carter
.
[
261
]
Melania remained out of public view during her husband's
court appearances
and
his candidacy
in the
2024 presidential election
, limiting her campaign events to two fundraisers for the
Log Cabin Republicans
. She became more visible in July 2024 by putting out a statement following the
attempted assassination of her husband
and appearing at the
2024 Republican National Convention
, though she declined an invitation to speak at the event, making her the first candidate's spouse not to speak at the convention since
Barbara Bush
began the tradition.
[
262
]
In the same month, Melania announced her intention to publish a
memoir
, titled
Melania
.
[
263
]
She caused controversy among Republicans in the lead up to the book's publication when she announced her support for the
right to abortion
.
[
264
]
Donald won the election on November 5, 2024.
In January 2025,
Amazon MGM Studios
announced that it had licensed a documentary film on Melania directed by
Brett Ratner
for distribution in theatres and on
Amazon Prime Video
. She was also an executive producer.
[
265
]
[
266
]
Filming started in December 2024.
[
267
]
Amazon reportedly paid US$40 million to license the documentary.
[
268
]
The documentary, titled
Melania
, covered the 20 days leading up to the 2025 presidential inauguration and was scheduled for release in US theaters and other territories on January 30, 2026.
[
269
]
Less than two weeks before assuming the role of first lady again, Melania attended the
funeral for former President Jimmy Carter
.
[
270
]
On the eve of Donald's inauguration as U.S. president, Melania launched her own cryptocurrency, the $Melania coin, following the debut of the
$Trump
coin.
[
271
]
In May 2025, it was reported by the
Financial Times
that two dozen wallets purchased $2.6 million worth of the tokens minutes before Melania announced the launch on her
Truth Social
account and then sold them off in the upcoming days for $100 million.
[
272
]
Second tenure as First Lady (2025–present)
Melania's husband, Donald Trump, is sworn in on January 20, 2025, as Melania looks on.
On January 20, 2025, during
Trump's second inauguration
, Melania became the second first lady to hold the position two times non-consecutively, after
Frances Cleveland
, and the first one to assume the role of first lady at two non-consecutive inaugurations.
[
273
]
[
274
]
[
275
]
[
276
]
Official duties
During the first few days of her second tenure as first lady, Melania traveled with President Trump to parts of North Carolina that were hit by
Hurricane Helene
in September 2024 and to Southern California to monitor the progress of fire rescue services for the
January 2025 Southern California wildfires
.
[
277
]
[
278
]
[
279
]
In February 2025, Melania announced that public tours of the White House would resume on the 25th day of the month.
[
280
]
[
281
]
On March 3, 2025, Melania made her first solo appearance as first lady for the term by attending a roundtable discussion at Capitol Hill on the
Take It Down Act
, a bill that could speed the removal of intimate imagery posted online without an individual's consent, or
revenge porn
.
[
282
]
[
283
]
[
284
]
Soon after, the Take it Down Act was passed unanimously in the
United States Senate
and almost unanimously in the
United States House of Representatives
.
[
285
]
[
286
]
Melania was at the President's side when it was signed into law two months later and was also invited by her husband to sign the bill.
[
287
]
[
288
]
In April 2025, Melania honored recipients at the annual
International Women of Courage Awards
and reopened tours of the White House gardens in early bloom.
[
289
]
Melania Trump (left) with President
Donald Trump
and Texas Governor
Greg Abbott
on July 11, 2025
On April 21, 2025, Melania hosted the White House Easter Egg Roll with her husband, which drew crowds of around 40,000.
[
290
]
Later that week, she attended the
funeral for Pope Francis
.
[
291
]
In May 2025, Melania hosted a celebration honoring military mothers and an event where a postage stamp dedicated to former first lady
Barbara Bush
was unveiled.
[
292
]
[
293
]
Later that month, she welcomed the children of White House employees for "White House Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day" where she assisted kids in decorating American flags.
[
294
]
In June 2025, Melania attended the 2025 Congressional Picnic and the
U.S. Army 250th Anniversary Parade
.
[
295
]
[
296
]
She traveled with President Trump to survey damage following the
July 2025 Central Texas floods
.
[
297
]
[
298
]
On July 22, House Republicans proposed renaming the opera house at the
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
after Melania.
[
299
]
[
300
]
On September 17, 2025, Melania and President Trump attended a banquet hosted by
King Charles III
and
Queen Camilla
.
[
301
]
The following day, she appeared alongside
Catherine, Princess of Wales
, at
Windsor Castle
's
Frogmore Gardens
at an event highlighting
scouting
.
[
302
]
On November 19, Melania traveled to
Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune
with Second Lady
Usha Vance
to spend time with military members and their families to show appreciation for those who serve during the holiday season.
[
303
]
[
304
]
Trump visited children and young adults being treated for rare and serious diseases at Children's Inn at
National Institutes of Health
as part of the celebrations for
Valentine's Day
2026.
[
305
]
Advocacy for children
Melania presided over a
United Nations Security Council
meeting on 2 March 2026
In July 2025, Melania visited patients at
Children's National Hospital
by bringing gifts and taking part in
Independence Day
activities with the children.
[
306
]
[
307
]
Melania authored a letter to President Putin that President Trump hand-delivered during the August
2025 Alaska summit
. The letter, published on social media, urged compassion for children affected by war and called for peace. Ukrainian President
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
publicly thanked her for the gesture.
[
308
]
In October, she announced that eight
children displaced during the Russo-Ukrainian war
had been reunited with their families following talks with Putin.
[
309
]
On September 23, while attending the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Melania announced the launch of the global coalition Fostering the Future Together, which focuses on helping children manage changes in education, innovation, and technology.
[
310
]
[
311
]
On November 6, Melania was honored as
Fox Nation
's "Patriot of the Year" for her work on children's global advocacy.
[
312
]
[
313
]
[
314
]
She also launched a new initiative to expand resources and improve career opportunities for teenagers transitioning out of the foster care system and also provide them with scholarships and educational opportunities.
[
315
]
Trump addressed schools across the nation on January 16, 2026, through
Zoom
, discussing how students can use
artificial intelligence
for creativity, while also issuing a warning about how it could also hijack their thinking if they become too dependent on it.
[
316
]
[
317
]
In March 2026, Melania became the first first lady to preside over a
United Nations Security Council
meeting; the meeting was held to discuss children, technology, and education in conflict.
[
318
]
[
319
]
[
320
]
Later that month, she hosted a two-day Fostering the Future Together Global Coalition Summit at the State Department with representatives from 45 nations in attendance.
[
321
]
[
322
]
During the summit, Melania introduced a
Humanoid robot
known as Figure 3, marking the first time such technology was formally introduced to international leaders in a diplomatic setting at the White House.
[
323
]
[
324
]
Official White House Portrait, 2025
Influence on the president
Melania reportedly influenced President Trump's policy shift on the
Russo-Ukrainian war
. President Trump was quoted saying: "I go home, I tell the first lady: 'I spoke with Vladimir today. We had a wonderful conversation,
'
" Trump said. "She said: 'Oh really? Another city was just hit.
'
" President Trump said this before laying out a 50 day deadline for a ceasefire in July 2025, marking a notably antagonistic tone in regards to
Vladimir Putin
.
[
325
]
Allegations about links to Jeffrey Epstein
In August 2025, Melania threatened to sue
Hunter Biden
for one billion dollars after he claimed during an interview with
Andrew Callaghan
that Melania had been introduced to Donald by
Jeffrey Epstein
.
[
326
]
[
327
]
[
328
]
[
329
]
When Biden publicly refused to retract his comments,
[
330
]
[
331
]
[
332
]
Donald encouraged Melania to pursue legal action against Biden.
[
333
]
A redacted FBI document from 2019 says Epstein introduced Knauss to Trump.
[
334
]
Melania with
Catherine, Princess of Wales
, September 2025
The 2025 book
Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York
by
Andrew Lownie
also alleges that Melania Trump had been introduced to Donald Trump by Jeffrey Epstein. Melania Trump strongly objected to the claim and began making legal threats and representations to those involved in the publishing of the book. In October, the book's publisher,
HarperCollins UK
, recalled the book and apologized to Melania Trump, calling the claim unverified.
[
335
]
[
336
]
On October 22,
Michael Wolff
filed a lawsuit against Melania following threats her legal team had made over comments Wolff had made about Melania's ties with Jeffrey Epstein.
[
337
]
[
338
]
Melania's lawyers are reported to have threatened Wolff with a one billion dollar damages claim.
[
339
]
Melania signing the Fostering The Future executive order with her husband; November 13, 2025.
Demolition of East Wing
On October 23, 2025,
CNN
revealed that Melania was now "eschewing the nation's capital for
New York
and
Palm Beach
", and had been using the
Office of the First Lady of the United States
far less than she had during her husband's first term and now employing a "skeletal staff".
[
340
]
During that month,
The Wall Street Journal
and
The Hill
reported that Melania privately raised concerns over her husband's
demolition
of the
East Wing
to make room for the
White House State Ballroom
.
[
341
]
[
342
]
In November 2025, President Trump dismissed these reports saying at first Melania "loved her tiny little office" but quickly came around to support the renovation.
[
343
]
Due to the construction of the ballroom and the East Wing's demolition, the White House announced that the 2025 holiday tours featuring Melania's decorations would instead take place on the
State Floor
with an updated route and guests entering from the
North Portico
.
[
344
]
[
345
]
Involvement in film
In October 2025, Melania announced Muse Films, her own production company.
[
346
]
[
347
]
[
348
]
The company's first project, a documentary about Melania herself, titled
Melania
, was directed by
Brett Ratner
and released on January 30, 2026.
[
348
]
This marked the first time that a self-produced documentary by a sitting first lady was released in theaters,
[
349
]
and she reportedly was paid $28 million for it – 70% of the film's $40 million production budget.
[
350
]
The film debuted in third place at the United States and Canadian box office with over $7 million, making it the biggest debut for a non-music documentary in a decade.
[
351
]
[
352
]
[
353
]
Public image
A
2017 Women's March
protester with a Free Melania sign
Melania limits her interactions with the public, creating a public image heavily influenced by speculation.
[
354
]
Because
Louisa Adams
, the only other first lady to be born outside of the United States, had an American father, Trump has been seen by the American public as the first foreigner to become first lady.
[
355
]
First tenure as first lady
In her first tenure as first lady, Trump worked to protect her privacy as first lady,
[
356
]
and her staff was instructed not to answer any questions about her whereabouts at a given time.
[
179
]
With limited information, commentators have portrayed her as being a reluctant companion to her husband or as a woman who has no independence of her own. Several incidents during her husband's presidency led to rumors that she had a secret animosity toward her husband, such as her delay in moving to the White House and allegations that he had committed adultery.
[
213
]
[
356
]
[
357
]
The rumors led to popular use of the
hashtag
#FreeMelania by those who believed them.
[
358
]
Though she disliked the idea that people saw her as helpless, Melania found the campaign amusing.
[
359
]
This became less common by 2020 as she had become more publicly associated with the role of first lady.
[
360
]
She is often seen as cold by the public, though people who interact with her describe her as a warm presence.
[
3
]
[
361
]
As with previous first ladies, Trump's fashion was heavily scrutinized, and particularly expensive pieces were criticized.
[
187
]
More than other first ladies, her fashion was scrutinized in the context of her past as a fashion model and her marriage to a billionaire.
[
362
]
She did her own clothes shopping,
[
363
]
[
364
]
but she was assisted by designer
Hervé Pierre
,
[
365
]
hair stylist Mordechai Alvow, and make up artist Nicole Byrl.
[
366
]
When preparing for speeches, she dedicated more attention to her physical appearance than content or delivery, which her staff felt affected her ability to promote her causes.
[
367
]
Despite her experience in fashion, she disliked that it was such a major aspect of news coverage about her as first lady.
[
368
]
Having a Slovenian-born woman as the American first lady became a point of national pride in Slovenia, and it gave the nation a sense of recognition on the world stage.
[
369
]
[
370
]
Trump's hometown Sevnica has developed a small tourist industry around her, and Melania-themed merchandise became common during her first tenure as first lady. These items never used Melania's full name, substituting it with "first lady" or "M", as she is protective of her
personality rights
.
[
371
]
During the 2016 presidential election, Trump became the only candidate's spouse since polling began in 1988 to have a disapproval rating greater than their approval rating.
[
372
]
Her approval rating stood at 36 or 37% in the months leading up to becoming first lady in January 2017,
[
373
]
[
154
]
but it increased to 57% in a CNN poll in April 2018 after she received public sympathy amid allegations that her husband had committed adultery.
[
239
]
[
374
]
Trump finished her tenure in 2021 as the least popular first lady since polling began with a rating of 42%.
[
375
]
Multiple polls during her tenure as first lady showed her as the most popular member of the Trump family.
[
373
]
[
376
]
[
377
]
In December 2020, the
Siena College Research Institute
released a study surveying scholars and historians on their assessments of American first ladies. It was the fifth such first ladies study that the Institute had conducted since 1982, and the first in which Trump appeared. She was ranked as being the worst of 40 assessed American first ladies,
[
378
]
receiving the lowest assessments in all of the metrics that were weighed.
[
379
]
In supplementary question asked of respondents (beyond the weighed criteria), Trump was ranked as the first lady who historians and scholars most-believed "could have done more" while first lady, with 34% of respondents selecting Melania as their top-choice for that descriptor. In another supplementary question, Trump's "Be Best" was ranked the least-effective signature initiative among the ten most-recent first ladies.
[
378
]
Second tenure as first lady
One year after assuming the role of first lady again, an
Economist
/
YouGov
poll showed that Trump had a 41% favorable rating, and a 47% unfavorable rating, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.2%.
[
380
]
Writing for
The Guardian
, Xan Brooks described her as "a latter-day
Eva Braun
".
[
381
]
Melanie McDonagh, writing for
The Standard
, said that Trump is "an enigma" with "steely self discipline".
[
382
]
Notes
^
Pronounced
mə-
LAH
-nee-ə
.
^
Name prior to her marriage
:
Melania Knauss
(
German:
[meˈlaːni̯a
ˈknaʊs]
), a
Germanization
of her Slovene birth name
Melanija Knavs
(
Slovene:
[mɛˈlaːnija
ˈknaːws]
).
References
^
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.
The Washington Post
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June 14,
2018
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"Former President Trump, Melania Trump cast votes in Palm Beach"
.
CBS12
. March 19, 2024
. Retrieved
November 21,
2024
.
Republican Presidential candidate former President Donald Trump and former First Lady Melania Trump cast their votes at a polling location in Palm Beach in Florida's Presidential Preference Primary on Tuesday.
"Melania Trump's Florida Voter Registration"
.
VoterRecords.com
. Retrieved
January 10,
2025
.
^
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firstladies.org
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b
c
d
e
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Archived
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^
"O Melaniji Je Prvi Poročal Dolenjski List"
[The First to Report about Melania was Dolenjski List].
Dolenjski list [Lower Carniola Newspaper]
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Archived
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b
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b
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2025
.
^
Klein, Betsy (October 24, 2025).
"Melania Trump has been silent on demolition of the East Wing, home to first ladies for decades"
. CNN
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2025
.
^
Linskey, Annie; Dawsey, Josh; Parker, Will (October 27, 2025).
"How Trump Barreled Through D.C.'s Bureaucracy to Get His White House Ballroom"
.
wsj.com
. The Wall Street Journal
. Retrieved
October 31,
2025
.
Everyone, it seems, has an opinion about the project, even first lady Melania Trump, who privately raised concerns about tearing down the East Wing and told associates it wasn't her project, according to administration officials.
^
Manchester, Julia (October 27, 2025).
"Melania Trump privately raised concerns about tearing down East Wing: Report"
.
thehill.com
. The Hill
. Retrieved
October 31,
2025
.
^
Adeosun, Adeola; Whisnant, Gabe (November 10, 2025).
"Donald Trump Responds to Report That Melania Disapproves of New Ballroom"
.
newsweek.com
. Newsweek
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^
Ramaswamy, Swapna Venugopal (October 31, 2025).
"White House to resume pared-down public tours in December"
.
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2025
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^
Greenwood, Amanda (November 4, 2025).
"Melania Trump Reopens White House Tours: How to Book"
.
newsweek.com
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2025
.
^
Mesa, Jesus (November 28, 2025).
"Melania Trump Announces New Company: What We Know"
.
Newsweek
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November 28,
2025
.
^
Nitzberg, Alex (November 28, 2025).
"Melania Trump announces new business venture ahead of movie release"
.
Fox Business
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2025
.
^
a
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Brunner, Raven (December 21, 2025).
"Brett Ratner, Director of Upcoming Melania Trump Documentary, Seen in Photo Released from Epstein Files"
. People
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December 22,
2025
.
^
McClintock, Pamela (January 27, 2026).
"Weekend Preview: Rachel McAdams to be First Lady of the Box Office Despite Melania Trump's Lavishly Backed Doc"
.
The Hollywood Reporter
. Archived from
the original
on February 23, 2026
. Retrieved
January 28,
2026
.
Amazon MGM shelled out a hefty $40 million to license the history-making documentary — it's the first time a film featuring and made by a sitting First Lady has appeared on the big screen — along with a docu-series for Prime from Melania Trump and Ratner.
^
Hartmann, Margaret.
"The Melania Movie, Explained: Box Office, Reviews, and What She Made"
.
Intelligencer
. Archived from
the original
on March 2, 2026
. Retrieved
March 14,
2026
.
^
Whitten, Sarah (February 1, 2026).
"
'Melania' earns a surprising $7 million, the highest opening for a nonmusic documentary in a decade"
.
CNBC
. Retrieved
February 2,
2026
.
^
Edward Helmore (February 1, 2026).
"Melania film earns $7m in US, strongest documentary debut in over a decade"
.
The Guardian
. Retrieved
February 2,
2026
.
^
Anthony D'Alessandro (February 1, 2026).
"
'Send Help' Settles To $19M+, 'Iron Lung' Healthy $18M+; 'Melania' Still $7M+ Record Docu Debut In Decade – Monday U.S. Box Office Update"
.
Deadline Hollywood
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February 2,
2026
.
^
Jordan 2020
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^
Vidmar Horvat 2021
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^
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b
Bennett 2019
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^
Jordan 2020
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^
Jordan 2020
, p. 21.
^
Jordan 2020
, pp. 275–276.
^
Jordan 2020
, pp. 281–282.
^
Bennett 2019
, p. 152.
^
Bennett 2019
, p. 247.
^
Bennett 2019
, p. 37.
^
Bennett 2019
, p. 227.
^
Bennett 2019
, pp. 226–228.
^
Bennett 2019
, pp. 243–244.
^
Jordan 2020
, pp. 245–246.
^
Bennett 2019
, p. 251.
^
Vidmar Horvat 2021
, p. 448.
^
Pušnik & Jontes 2021
, pp. 464–465.
^
Bennett 2019
, pp. 49–50.
^
Elder, Frederick & Burrell 2018
, p. 107.
^
a
b
Bennett 2019
, p. 148.
^
Bennett 2019
, pp. 216–217.
^
Enten, Harry (January 19, 2021).
"The Worst Final Popularity Rating Ever for a First Lady Belongs to Melania Trump"
.
CNN
.
Archived
from the original on February 9, 2021
. Retrieved
January 19,
2021
.
^
Frankovic, Kathy (March 7, 2019).
"Melania Remains the Most Popular Trump; Kushner Security Clearance Seen as Problematic"
.
today.yougov.com
. YouGov.
Archived
from the original on February 4, 2021
. Retrieved
January 19,
2021
.
^
De Liz, Ana (August 25, 2020).
"As Trump Family Dominates RNC, Poll Shows They're Most Popular GOP Figures"
.
Newsweek
.
Archived
from the original on December 25, 2022
. Retrieved
January 22,
2021
.
^
a
b
"Siena College First Ladies Poll"
(PDF)
.
scri.siena.edu
. Siena College Research Institute. December 9, 2020.
Archived
(PDF)
from the original on March 8, 2024
. Retrieved
March 6,
2024
.
^
"Copy of FirstLadies_Full Rankings_working_dl_2.xls"
(PDF)
.
scri.siena.edu
. Siena College Research Institute. December 2020.
Archived
(PDF)
from the original on March 30, 2024
. Retrieved
March 6,
2024
.
^
Stevenson, Sam (February 4, 2026).
"How Melania and Donald Trump's Favorability Ratings Compare"
.
Newsweek
. Retrieved
February 11,
2026
.
^
Brooks, Xan (January 30, 2026).
"Melania review – Trump film is a gilded trash remake of The Zone of Interest"
.
The Guardian
.
ISSN
0261-3077
. Retrieved
February 20,
2026
.
^
McDonagh, Melanie (January 31, 2026).
"Melania film review: She's not Princess Di but she wants us to know she cares"
.
The Standard
. Retrieved
February 28,
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.
Bibliography
Baker, Peter; Glasser, Susan (2022).
The Divider: Trump in the White House, 2017-2021
. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group.
ISBN
978-0-385-54654-6
.
Bennett, Kate (2019).
Free, Melania
. Flatiron Books.
ISBN
978-1-250-30737-8
.
Caroli, Betty Boyd
(2019). "Chapter 11: The Ever-Changing Role of First Lady".
First Ladies: The Ever Changing Role, from Martha Washington to Melania Trump
. Oxford University Press. pp.
333–
348.
ISBN
978-0-19-066913-3
.
Elder, Laurel; Frederick, Brian;
Burrell, Barbara
(2018).
American Presidential Candidate Spouses: The Public's Perspective
. Palgrave Macmillan.
doi
:
10.1007/978-3-319-73879-6
.
ISBN
978-3-319-73878-9
.
Jordan, Mary
(2020).
The Art of Her Deal: The Untold Story of Melania Trump
. Simon and Schuster.
ISBN
978-1-9821-1340-7
.
Požar, Bojan (February 18, 2016).
Melania Trump – The Inside Story: The Potential First Lady
. Zalozba Ombo d.o.o. Ljubljana. pp.
111–
113.
Pušnik, Maruša; Jontes, Dejan (2021).
"Mediji in Spontani Nacionalizem: Primer Melanie Trump"
[Media and Spontaneous Nationalism: The Case of Melania Trump]
(PDF)
.
Teorija in Praksa
(in Slovenian).
58
(2):
464–
480.
doi
:
10.51936/tip.58.2.464-480
.
ISSN
0040-3598
.
Vidmar Horvat, Ksenija (2021).
"Postimperialni Patriarhat In Karnevaleskna Periferija: Melania Trump V Transnacionalni Javnosti"
[Post-Imperial Patriarchy and the Carnivalesque Periphery: Melania Trump Within a Transnational Public]
(PDF)
.
Teorija in Praksa
(in Slovenian).
58
(2):
447–
463.
doi
:
10.51936/tip.58.2.447-463
.
ISSN
0040-3598
.
External links
White House website
Official website
Melania Trump
at
Fashion Model Directory
Melania Trump
at
IMDb
Appearances
on
C-SPAN |
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## Contents
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- [(Top)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump)
- [1 Early life and education](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#Early_life_and_education)
- [2 Early modeling career](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#Early_modeling_career)
Toggle Early modeling career subsection
- [2\.1 European career](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#European_career)
- [2\.2 Relocating to New York](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#Relocating_to_New_York)
- [3 Marriage and family](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#Marriage_and_family)
Toggle Marriage and family subsection
- [3\.1 Meeting Donald Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#Meeting_Donald_Trump)
- [3\.2 Relationship with Donald Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#Relationship_with_Donald_Trump)
- [3\.3 Engagement and wedding](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#Engagement_and_wedding)
- [3\.4 Marriage and motherhood](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#Marriage_and_motherhood)
- [4 Donald Trump 2016 presidential campaign](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#Donald_Trump_2016_presidential_campaign)
Toggle Donald Trump 2016 presidential campaign subsection
- [4\.1 Personal life during the campaign](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#Personal_life_during_the_campaign)
- [4\.2 Campaign involvement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#Campaign_involvement)
- [4\.3 Media coverage](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#Media_coverage)
- [4\.4 *Access Hollywood* tape](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#Access_Hollywood_tape)
- [5 First tenure as First Lady of the United States (2017–2021)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#First_tenure_as_First_Lady_of_the_United_States_\(2017%E2%80%932021\))
Toggle First tenure as First Lady of the United States (2017–2021) subsection
- [5\.1 First lady in Manhattan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#First_lady_in_Manhattan)
- [5\.2 East Wing staff](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#East_Wing_staff)
- [5\.3 Life in the White House](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#Life_in_the_White_House)
- [5\.4 Tribulations in early 2018](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#Tribulations_in_early_2018)
- [5\.5 2018 Africa tour](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#2018_Africa_tour)
- [5\.6 Political influence](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#Political_influence)
- [5\.6.1 Family separation policy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#Family_separation_policy)
- [5\.7 Be Best campaign](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#Be_Best_campaign)
- [5\.8 COVID-19 and 2020 presidential campaign](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#COVID-19_and_2020_presidential_campaign)
- [6 Between first lady tenures (2021–2025)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#Between_first_lady_tenures_\(2021%E2%80%932025\))
- [7 Second tenure as First Lady (2025–present)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#Second_tenure_as_First_Lady_\(2025%E2%80%93present\))
Toggle Second tenure as First Lady (2025–present) subsection
- [7\.1 Official duties](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#Official_duties)
- [7\.2 Advocacy for children](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#Advocacy_for_children)
- [7\.3 Influence on the president](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#Influence_on_the_president)
- [7\.4 Allegations about links to Jeffrey Epstein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#Allegations_about_links_to_Jeffrey_Epstein)
- [7\.5 Demolition of East Wing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#Demolition_of_East_Wing)
- [7\.6 Involvement in film](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#Involvement_in_film)
- [8 Public image](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#Public_image)
Toggle Public image subsection
- [8\.1 First tenure as first lady](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#First_tenure_as_first_lady)
- [8\.2 Second tenure as first lady](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#Second_tenure_as_first_lady)
- [9 Notes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#Notes)
- [10 References](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#References)
- [11 Bibliography](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#Bibliography)
- [12 External links](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#External_links)
Toggle the table of contents
# Melania Trump
108 languages
- [Afrikaans](https://af.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Afrikaans")
- [Alemannisch](https://als.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Alemannic")
- [Aragonés](https://an.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Aragonese")
- [العربية](https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%85%D9%8A%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A7_%D8%AA%D8%B1%D9%85%D8%A8 "ميلانيا ترمب – Arabic")
- [مصرى](https://arz.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%85%D9%8A%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A7_%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%A8 "ميلانيا ترامب – Egyptian Arabic")
- [Asturianu](https://ast.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Asturian")
- [Azərbaycanca](https://az.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanya_Tramp "Melanya Tramp – Azerbaijani")
- [تۆرکجه](https://azb.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%85%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C%D8%A7_%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%BE "ملانیا ترامپ – South Azerbaijani")
- [Bikol Central](https://bcl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Central Bikol")
- [Беларуская (тарашкевіца)](https://be-tarask.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9C%D1%8D%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%96%D1%8F_%D0%A2%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%BF "Мэланія Трамп – Belarusian (Taraškievica orthography)")
- [Беларуская](https://be.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9C%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BD%D1%8F_%D0%A2%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%BF "Мелання Трамп – Belarusian")
- [Български](https://bg.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9C%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8F_%D0%A2%D1%80%D1%8A%D0%BC%D0%BF "Мелания Тръмп – Bulgarian")
- [भोजपुरी](https://bh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE_%E0%A4%9F%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%AA "मलानिया ट्रंप – Bhojpuri")
- [বাংলা](https://bn.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%AF%E0%A6%BC%E0%A6%BE_%E0%A6%9F%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%AE%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AA "মেলানিয়া ট্রাম্প – Bangla")
- [Brezhoneg](https://br.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Breton")
- [Bosanski](https://bs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Bosnian")
- [Català](https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Catalan")
- [کوردی](https://ckb.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%85%DB%8E%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C%D8%A7_%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%BE "مێلانیا ترامپ – Central Kurdish")
- [Čeština](https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trumpov%C3%A1 "Melania Trumpová – Czech")
- [Cymraeg](https://cy.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Welsh")
- [Dansk](https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Danish")
- [Deutsch](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – German")
- [Zazaki](https://diq.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Dimli")
- [Ελληνικά](https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%9C%CE%B5%CE%BB%CE%AC%CE%BD%CE%B9%CE%B1_%CE%A4%CF%81%CE%B1%CE%BC%CF%80 "Μελάνια Τραμπ – Greek")
- [Emiliàn e rumagnòl](https://eml.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Knauss "Melania Knauss – Emiliano-Romagnolo")
- [Esperanto](https://eo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Esperanto")
- [Español](https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Spanish")
- [Eesti](https://et.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Estonian")
- [Euskara](https://eu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Basque")
- [فارسی](https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%85%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C%D8%A7_%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%BE "ملانیا ترامپ – Persian")
- [Suomi](https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Finnish")
- [Føroyskt](https://fo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Faroese")
- [Français](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – French")
- [Frysk](https://fy.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Western Frisian")
- [Gaeilge](https://ga.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Irish")
- [Gàidhlig](https://gd.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Scottish Gaelic")
- [Galego](https://gl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Galician")
- [Hausa](https://ha.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Hausa")
- [עברית](https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%9E%D7%9C%D7%90%D7%A0%D7%99%D7%94_%D7%98%D7%A8%D7%90%D7%9E%D7%A4 "מלאניה טראמפ – Hebrew")
- [हिन्दी](https://hi.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE_%E0%A4%9F%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA "मेलानिया ट्रम्प – Hindi")
- [Hrvatski](https://hr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Croatian")
- [Magyar](https://hu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Hungarian")
- [Հայերեն](https://hy.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D5%84%D5%A5%D5%AC%D5%A1%D5%B6%D5%B5%D5%A1_%D4%B9%D6%80%D5%A1%D5%B4%D6%83 "Մելանյա Թրամփ – Armenian")
- [Bahasa Indonesia](https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Indonesian")
- [Igbo](https://ig.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Igbo")
- [Ido](https://io.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Ido")
- [Íslenska](https://is.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Icelandic")
- [Italiano](https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Italian")
- [日本語](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%A1%E3%83%A9%E3%83%8B%E3%82%A2%E3%83%BB%E3%83%88%E3%83%A9%E3%83%B3%E3%83%97 "メラニア・トランプ – Japanese")
- [ქართული](https://ka.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E1%83%9B%E1%83%94%E1%83%9A%E1%83%90%E1%83%9C%E1%83%98%E1%83%90_%E1%83%A2%E1%83%A0%E1%83%90%E1%83%9B%E1%83%9E%E1%83%98 "მელანია ტრამპი – Georgian")
- [Qaraqalpaqsha](https://kaa.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melaniya_Tramp "Melaniya Tramp – Kara-Kalpak")
- [Қазақша](https://kk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9C%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%8C%D1%8F_%D0%A2%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%BF "Меланья Трамп – Kazakh")
- [한국어](https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%EB%A9%9C%EB%9D%BC%EB%8B%88%EC%95%84_%ED%8A%B8%EB%9F%BC%ED%94%84 "멜라니아 트럼프 – Korean")
- [Latina](https://la.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Latin")
- [Lëtzebuergesch](https://lb.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Luxembourgish")
- [Lombard](https://lmo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Lombard")
- [ລາວ](https://lo.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%BB%80%E0%BA%A1%E0%BA%A5%E0%BA%B2%E0%BB%80%E0%BA%99%E0%BA%8D_%E0%BA%97%E0%BA%A3%E0%BA%B1%E0%BA%A1 "ເມລາເນຍ ທຣັມ – Lao")
- [Lietuvių](https://lt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Lithuanian")
- [Latviešu](https://lv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel%C4%81nija_Trampa "Melānija Trampa – Latvian")
- [Madhurâ](https://mad.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Madurese")
- [मैथिली](https://mai.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE_%E0%A4%9F%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA "मेलानिया ट्रम्प – Maithili")
- [Malagasy](https://mg.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Malagasy")
- [Македонски](https://mk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9C%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%98%D0%B0_%D0%A2%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%BF "Меланија Трамп – Macedonian")
- [മലയാളം](https://ml.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B4%AE%E0%B5%86%E0%B4%B2%E0%B4%BE%E0%B4%A8%E0%B4%BF%E0%B4%AF_%E0%B4%9F%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%B0%E0%B4%82%E0%B4%AA%E0%B5%8D "മെലാനിയ ട്രംപ് – Malayalam")
- [Монгол](https://mn.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9C%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8F_%D0%A2%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%BF "Мелания Трамп – Mongolian")
- [मराठी](https://mr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE_%E0%A4%9F%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA "मेलानिया ट्रम्प – Marathi")
- [Bahasa Melayu](https://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Malay")
- [مازِرونی](https://mzn.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%85%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C%D8%A7_%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%BE "ملانیا ترامپ – Mazanderani")
- [नेपाली](https://ne.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE_%E0%A4%9F%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA "मेलानिया ट्रम्प – Nepali")
- [Nederlands](https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Dutch")
- [Norsk nynorsk](https://nn.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Norwegian Nynorsk")
- [Norsk bokmål](https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Norwegian Bokmål")
- [Occitan](https://oc.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Occitan")
- [ਪੰਜਾਬੀ](https://pa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A8%AE%E0%A8%BF%E0%A8%B2%E0%A8%BE%E0%A8%A8%E0%A8%BF%E0%A8%86_%E0%A8%9F%E0%A8%B0%E0%A9%B0%E0%A8%AA "ਮਿਲਾਨਿਆ ਟਰੰਪ – Punjabi")
- [Polski](https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Polish")
- [پنجابی](https://pnb.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%85%DB%8C%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C%D8%A7_%D9%B9%D8%B1%D9%85%D9%BE "میلانیا ٹرمپ – Western Punjabi")
- [Português](https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Portuguese")
- [Română](https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Romanian")
- [Русский](https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A2%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%BF,_%D0%9C%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8F "Трамп, Мелания – Russian")
- [Sardu](https://sc.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Sardinian")
- [Scots](https://sco.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Scots")
- [Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски](https://sh.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Serbo-Croatian")
- [සිංහල](https://si.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B6%B8%E0%B6%BD%E0%B7%8F%E0%B6%B1%E0%B7%92%E0%B6%BA%E0%B7%8F_%E0%B6%A7%E0%B7%8A%E2%80%8D%E0%B6%BB%E0%B6%B8%E0%B7%8A%E0%B6%B4%E0%B7%8A "මලානියා ට්රම්ප් – Sinhala")
- [Simple English](https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Simple English")
- [Slovenčina](https://sk.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trumpov%C3%A1 "Melania Trumpová – Slovak")
- [سرائیکی](https://skr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%85%DB%8C%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C%D8%A7_%D9%B9%D8%B1%D9%85%D9%BE "میلانیا ٹرمپ – Saraiki")
- [Slovenščina](https://sl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Slovenian")
- [Shqip](https://sq.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Albanian")
- [Српски / srpski](https://sr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9C%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%98%D0%B0_%D0%A2%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%BF "Меланија Трамп – Serbian")
- [Svenska](https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Swedish")
- [தமிழ்](https://ta.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%86%E0%AE%B2%E0%AE%A9%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%AF%E0%AE%BE_%E0%AE%A4%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%AA%E0%AF%8D "மெலனியா திரம்ப் – Tamil")
- [ไทย](https://th.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%A5%E0%B8%B2%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%B5%E0%B8%A2_%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%A1%E0%B8%9B%E0%B9%8C "เมลาเนีย ทรัมป์ – Thai")
- [Tolışi](https://tly.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanija_Tramp "Melanija Tramp – Talysh")
- [Türkçe](https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Turkish")
- [Татарча / tatarça](https://tt.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9C%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8F_%D0%A2%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%BF "Мелания Трамп – Tatar")
- [Українська](https://uk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9C%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%96%D1%8F_%D0%A2%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%BF "Меланія Трамп – Ukrainian")
- [اردو](https://ur.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%85%DB%8C%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C%D8%A7_%D9%B9%D8%B1%D9%85%D9%BE "میلانیا ٹرمپ – Urdu")
- [Oʻzbekcha / ўзбекча](https://uz.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Uzbek")
- [Tiếng Việt](https://vi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Vietnamese")
- [Volapük](https://vo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Volapük")
- [Winaray](https://war.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Waray")
- [吴语](https://wuu.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%BB%98%E6%8B%89%E6%8D%8F%C2%B7%E5%B7%9D%E6%99%AE "默拉捏·川普 – Wu")
- [ייִדיש](https://yi.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%9E%D7%A2%D7%9C%D7%90%D7%A0%D7%99%D7%A2_%D7%98%D7%A8%D7%90%D7%9E%D7%A4 "מעלאניע טראמפ – Yiddish")
- [Yorùbá](https://yo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Yoruba")
- [Zeêuws](https://zea.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Zeelandic")
- [閩南語 / Bân-lâm-gí](https://zh-min-nan.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump "Melania Trump – Minnan")
- [粵語](https://zh-yue.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%BE%8E%E8%98%AD%E5%A6%AE%E4%BA%9E%E4%BE%B5 "美蘭妮亞侵 – Cantonese")
- [中文](https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%A2%85%E6%8B%89%E5%B0%BC%E5%A8%85%C2%B7%E7%89%B9%E6%9C%97%E6%99%AE "梅拉尼娅·特朗普 – Chinese")
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
First Lady of the United States (2017–2021; since 2025)
| Melania Trump | |
|---|---|
| [](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:F20251106AH-2437_First_Lady_Melania_Trump_delivers_remarks_after_receiving_the_%E2%80%9CPatriot_of_the_Year%E2%80%9D_award_\(cropped\).jpg)Trump in 2025 | |
| [First Lady of the United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Lady_of_the_United_States "First Lady of the United States") | |
| **Current** | |
| **Assumed role** January 20, 2025 | |
| President | [Donald Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump "Donald Trump") |
| Preceded by | [Jill Biden](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jill_Biden "Jill Biden") |
| **In role** January 20, 2017 – January 20, 2021 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | [Michelle Obama](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelle_Obama "Michelle Obama") |
| Succeeded by | Jill Biden |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Melanija Knavs (1970-04-26) April 26, 1970 (age 55) [Novo Mesto](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novo_Mesto "Novo Mesto"), SR Slovenia, Yugoslavia |
| Citizenship | [Yugoslavia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialist_Federal_Republic_of_Yugoslavia "Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia") (until 1991) [Slovenia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovenia "Slovenia") (from 1991) U.S. (from 2006) |
| [Party](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_party "Political party") | [Republican](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party_\(United_States\) "Republican Party (United States)")[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-1) |
| Spouse | [Donald Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump "Donald Trump") ( m. 2005) |
| Children | [Barron Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barron_Trump "Barron Trump") |
| Parents | Viktor Knavs (father) [Amalija Knavs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amalija_Knavs "Amalija Knavs") (mother) |
| Relatives | [Trump family](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trump_family "Trump family") |
| Signature | [](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Melania_Knauss-Trump_signature.svg "Melania Trump's signature") |
| [Trump's voice](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Melania_Trump_voice.ogg "File:Melania Trump voice.ogg") Trump on her family's departure from the White House Recorded January 18, 2021 | |
**Melania Knauss Trump**[\[a\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-2)[\[2\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-3) (born **Melanija Knavs**;[\[b\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-4) April 26, 1970) is a [Slovenian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovenes "Slovenes") and American former model serving as the [first lady of the United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_lady_of_the_United_States "First lady of the United States") since 2025, a role she previously held from 2017 to 2021 as the wife of [Donald Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump "Donald Trump"), the 45th and 47th [president of the United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_the_United_States "President of the United States"). She is the first [naturalized citizen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naturalized_citizen "Naturalized citizen") and the first non-native English speaker to become first lady; the second foreign-born first lady, after [Louisa Adams](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisa_Adams "Louisa Adams"); the second [Roman Catholic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic "Roman Catholic") first lady, after [Jacqueline Kennedy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacqueline_Kennedy "Jacqueline Kennedy"); and the second to hold the position nonconsecutively, after [Frances Cleveland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frances_Cleveland "Frances Cleveland").
Melanija Knavs was born in [Yugoslavia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialist_Federal_Republic_of_Yugoslavia "Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia"), where she began working as a fashion model at the age of 16 while pursuing her education. She changed the spelling of her name to **Melania Knauss** and traveled to [Paris](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_fashion#Paris "French fashion") and [Milan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fashion_in_Milan "Fashion in Milan") to seek modeling work before meeting [Paolo Zampolli](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paolo_Zampolli "Paolo Zampolli"), who hired her and sponsored her immigration to the United States in 1996. She worked as a model in [Manhattan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manhattan "Manhattan"), where she began dating Donald Trump shortly after Zampolli introduced them in 1998. Trump worked to get Knauss more modeling jobs, and she supported him during his [2000 presidential campaign](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump_2000_presidential_campaign "Donald Trump 2000 presidential campaign"). They married in 2005, and the following year had a son, [Barron Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barron_Trump "Barron Trump"). Knauss started her own jewelry brand, *Melania*, in 2009.
After encouraging her husband to [run for president](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump_2016_presidential_campaign "Donald Trump 2016 presidential campaign") in the [2016 presidential election](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_United_States_presidential_election "2016 United States presidential election"), Melania Trump made only rare campaign appearances, instead helping Donald with strategy. She received major press coverage during the campaign when erotic photos from her modeling years were republished, and again when a [speech she gave](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speeches_by_spouses_of_nominees_at_United_States_presidential_nominating_conventions "Speeches by spouses of nominees at United States presidential nominating conventions") at the [2016 Republican National Convention](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_Republican_National_Convention "2016 Republican National Convention") was found to be plagiarized from a similar speech by [Michelle Obama](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelle_Obama "Michelle Obama"). In the month leading up to the election, she defended her husband following the release of the [*Access Hollywood* tape](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump_Access_Hollywood_tape "Donald Trump Access Hollywood tape") that mired his campaign in scandal.
For the early months of her tenure as first lady, Trump stayed in Manhattan to allow Barron to finish school there and to renegotiate her [prenuptial agreement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prenuptial_agreement "Prenuptial agreement"). She performed minimal official activities after moving into the [White House](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House "White House") and held fewer events than previous first ladies. Trump faced several challenges in 2018, including [allegations of extramarital affairs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stormy_Daniels%E2%80%93Donald_Trump_scandal "Stormy Daniels–Donald Trump scandal") committed by her husband, surgery for [kidney disease](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kidney_disease "Kidney disease"), and a tour of Africa that was overshadowed by scrutiny of her wardrobe and personal conduct. As first lady, Trump prioritized children's issues, launching the [Be Best](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Be_Best "Be Best") campaign to promote children's welfare and visiting many children's hospitals. She was also a close advisor to her husband, influencing his decisions to end the Trump administration's [family separation policy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trump_administration_family_separation_policy "Trump administration family separation policy") and to ban fruit-flavored [electronic cigarette](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_cigarette "Electronic cigarette") cartridges. In the final months of her initial tenure as first lady, Trump endorsed her husband's [false claims of election fraud](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attempts_to_overturn_the_2020_United_States_presidential_election "Attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election") in the [2020 presidential election](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_United_States_presidential_election "2020 United States presidential election"). After leaving the White House in 2021, she largely stayed out of the public view before assuming the role of first lady again in 2025.
## Early life and education
Melanija Knavs was born on April 26, 1970, in [Novo Mesto](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novo_Mesto "Novo Mesto"), a city in the [Lower Carniola](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lower_Carniola "Lower Carniola") region of [Slovenia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovenia "Slovenia"). At the time, Slovenia, known by the [Socialist Republic of Slovenia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialist_Republic_of_Slovenia "Socialist Republic of Slovenia"), was part of the [Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialist_Federal_Republic_of_Yugoslavia "Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia").[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-CollinsModel-5) Her father, Viktor Knavs, first worked as a chauffeur; eventually, he sold car parts for a state-owned vehicle manufacturer as he made connections with the [League of Communists of Yugoslavia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/League_of_Communists_of_Yugoslavia "League of Communists of Yugoslavia").[\[4\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201948%E2%80%9349-6) Her mother, [Amalija Knavs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amalija_Knavs "Amalija Knavs"),[\[5\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-7) worked as a [patternmaker](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pattern_\(sewing\) "Pattern (sewing)") at the children's clothing manufacturer Jutranjka in [Sevnica](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sevnica "Sevnica").[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-CollinsModel-5)[\[6\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201951-8) In Sevnica, the family lived in the state-run housing complex Naselje Heroja Maroka.[\[7\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019336-9) Melanija has an older sister, Ines,[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202056-10) and an older half-brother from her father's previous relationship, Denis Cigelnjak, whom she reportedly has never met.[\[9\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202050-11)
The family was well-off relative to most who lived in communist societies. They frequently went on vacations to other parts of Europe,[\[10\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-Ioffe-12) and their apartment was decorated with brightly colored walls.[\[10\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-Ioffe-12)[\[9\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202050-11)
As a child, Melanija, like other children of workers at the factory, participated in fashion shows that featured children's clothing.[\[11\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019337-13)[\[6\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201951-8)[\[12\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-VanityFair-14) Textiles were Sevnica's primary industry. Students were excused from school to participate in the shows.[\[13\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202052%E2%80%9353-15) From a young age, Melanija expressed an interest in fashion, and she began customizing and sewing her own clothes.[\[7\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019336-9) She developed a skill for it by watching her mother work.[\[14\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201952-16) Melanija did well in school, where she was appointed school [treasurer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treasurer "Treasurer").[\[15\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202054-17)
When Melanija was a teenager, she moved to a two-story house in Sevnica with her family.[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-18) Soon after [Tito](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tito "Tito")'s death, she was inspired by [Ronald Reagan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Reagan "Ronald Reagan")'s *[Morning in America](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morning_in_America "Morning in America")*, sensing that "morning" was spreading across the world, even into her own country.[\[17\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202055%E2%80%9357-19) Of particular interest to Melanija was the new exposure to global fashion.[\[14\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201952-16) At the age of fifteen, she began attending the Secondary School for Design and Photography in [Ljubljana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ljubljana "Ljubljana"), making the long commute from her hometown to the capital and back each day by train. After her first year, she and Ines moved to the capital together in an apartment paid for by their father.[\[18\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201953%E2%80%9354-20) After graduating at age nineteen, Melanija enrolled in the Faculty of Architecture and Civil and Geodetic Engineering at the [University of Ljubljana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Ljubljana "University of Ljubljana") to further study design, leaving after a few months without finishing her degree.[\[19\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019338-21)[\[20\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201957-22)
Trump has said that she can speak English, Italian, French, and German in addition to her native Slovene, but in public she has fluently spoken only English and Slovene.[\[21\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020238%E2%80%93241-23)
## Early modeling career
### European career
Knavs was discovered by Slovenian fashion photographer [Stane Jerko](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stane_Jerko "Stane Jerko") when she was sixteen, after modeling in a school-sponsored show.[\[22\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201954%E2%80%9355-24)[\[23\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202057%E2%80%9360-25) At the time, she had wanted to be a fashion designer rather than a model.[\[10\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-Ioffe-12) She won a modeling contest with the Italian studio [Cinecittà](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinecitt%C3%A0 "Cinecittà") that entitled her to a movie role, but rejected the prize after a producer sexually propositioned her.[\[24\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202061%E2%80%9363-26) As her modeling career progressed, Knavs took on the alternate spelling of her surname as, "Knauss" and of her given name as "Melania".[\[25\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-27) She traveled in Europe to find modeling work.[\[19\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019338-21)[\[26\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202063-28) Except for a few close relatives, she did not maintain contact with anyone she knew in Slovenia.[\[27\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202025%E2%80%9326-29) In 1992, she was named [runner-up](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Runner-up "Runner-up") in the *Jana Magazine* [Look of the Year](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elite_Model_Look "Elite Model Look") contest, which promised its top three contestants an international modeling contract.[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-CollinsModel-5)[\[19\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019338-21)[\[10\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-Ioffe-12) She signed with RVR Reclame in Milan, but left the organization a few months later.[\[28\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202067%E2%80%9369-30)
Knauss spent the following years traveling in Europe for modeling jobs, including one in which she portrayed the first female president of the United States in 1993.[\[29\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202072%E2%80%9373-31) Around age 23 or 24, she made Paris her primary residence, where she lived with her roommate [Victoria Silvstedt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_Silvstedt "Victoria Silvstedt").[\[30\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202076%E2%80%9377-32) Knauss modeled for fashion houses in Paris and Milan, where in 1995 she met Metropolitan Models co-owner [Paolo Zampolli](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paolo_Zampolli "Paolo Zampolli"), who was on a scouting trip in Europe. Zampolli, a friend of her future husband [Donald Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump "Donald Trump"),[\[12\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-VanityFair-14) became one of her few long-time acquaintances.[\[31\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202083-33)
### Relocating to New York
Zampolli urged Knauss to travel to the United States, where he said he would like to represent her.[\[12\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-VanityFair-14) In 1996, Knauss moved to Manhattan.[\[12\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-VanityFair-14)[\[10\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-Ioffe-12) By this time, she was already 26 years old, much older than most aspiring models.[\[32\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201959-34) Zampolli encouraged Knauss to live near and socialize with people in the fashion industry,[\[33\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019334-35) and he arranged for her to share an apartment with photographer Matthew Atanian in [Zeckendorf Towers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeckendorf_Towers "Zeckendorf Towers") in [Union Square](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Square,_Manhattan "Union Square, Manhattan").[\[34\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202081%E2%80%9382-36)[\[12\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-VanityFair-14) Her rent was taken from her pay with Zampolli's agency.[\[35\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201963-37) Once she resided in the United States, she made only rare and brief visits to her country of origin.[\[36\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019335-38) She lived a healthy lifestyle, managing her diet carefully,[\[37\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201964-39) and avoided the drinking and partying that often consumed the lives of the models around her.[\[38\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202086%E2%80%9389-40) She did not lead an active social life and rarely went out.[\[38\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202086%E2%80%9389-40)[\[37\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201964-39) Knauss was featured in a nude photo shoot for a 1997 issue of *[Max](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_\(French_magazine\) "Max (French magazine)")*, a French men's magazine, with another female model. The photos were shot by the photographer Alexandre Ale de Basseville, and the work was unpaid, instead promising Knauss exposure in a prominent magazine. The photos were largely forgotten until they were published by the *[New York Post](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Post "New York Post")* in 2016.[\[39\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202089%E2%80%9392-41)
For her first weeks in the United States, her [travel visa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travel_visa "Travel visa") did not allow her to work in the country. Despite this, she accepted ten modeling jobs that earned her approximately \$20,000 (equivalent to \$41,000 in 2025). She then received an [H-1B visa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H-1B_visa "H-1B visa") that allowed her to work.[\[33\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019334-35) She received her first major job when she posed for a [Camel cigarette](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camel_\(cigarette\) "Camel (cigarette)") ad shot by [Ellen von Unwerth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellen_von_Unwerth "Ellen von Unwerth"), which was displayed as a [Times Square](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Times_Square "Times Square") billboard and ran in *[Rolling Stone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolling_Stone "Rolling Stone")*. The opportunity was facilitated by a law that restricted cigarette ads to only depict people above the age of 25, excluding most aspiring models.[\[40\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202095%E2%80%9396-42) When her roommate Atanian left New York, Knauss moved to an apartment off of [Park Avenue](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Park_Avenue "Park Avenue").[\[41\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202097-43)
## Marriage and family
### Meeting Donald Trump
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Donald_and_Melania_1999.jpg)
Donald Trump and Melania Knauss in 1999
In September 1998, Zampolli introduced Knauss to the real estate mogul Donald Trump at a party.[\[42\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-44) Donald had a date to the event, [Celina Midelfart](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celina_Midelfart "Celina Midelfart"). When he asked Knauss for her phone number, she refused. Instead, she insisted that he give her his own number. He passed her test when he gave her multiple personal numbers instead of an office number.[\[43\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020109-45)[\[44\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201966-46) She later said that giving her own number would make her "just one of the women he calls".[\[43\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020109-45) The exact details of when and where this took place are unclear, though the Kit Kat Club is often described as where they met.[\[45\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020109%E2%80%93110-47)
After a week, Knauss called Trump and they went on a date.[\[46\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201966%E2%80%9367-48) She intentionally responded with indifference to his advances, knowing this would pique his interest.[\[47\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020112-49) Not only was Trump's personality similar to that of her father,[\[11\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019337-13)[\[48\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202048-50)[\[49\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201972-51) but they were of similar ages and had similar physical appearances.[\[10\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-Ioffe-12)[\[48\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202048-50)[\[50\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201967,_72-52) When they began dating, Knauss had access to his book *[Trump: The Art of the Comeback](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trump:_The_Art_of_the_Comeback "Trump: The Art of the Comeback")*, in which he detailed what he wanted from a relationship.[\[51\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202029%E2%80%9330-53)[\[52\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201993%E2%80%9394-54)
Knauss held a press conference on September 8, spending the event recounting her successes and telling reporters that she was "world famous", "among the top 50" highest-paid models in the world, and set to appear in a movie alongside [Mickey Rourke](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mickey_Rourke "Mickey Rourke").[\[53\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202099%E2%80%93102-55) The intention was to build her profile in anticipation of another, ultimately unsuccessful, cigarette ad campaign.[\[54\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020106%E2%80%93107-56) This was unusual behavior for a woman who typically kept a quiet and professional presence,[\[55\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020108-57) and reporters were unable to verify the claims she made.[\[56\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020101,_104%E2%80%93105-58) The Trumps have stated that they met at the [New York Fashion Week](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Fashion_Week "New York Fashion Week") shortly after this conference but, according to biographer [Mary Jordan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Jordan_\(journalist\) "Mary Jordan (journalist)"), rumors in the industry suggested that their relationship had already developed by then.[\[55\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020108-57) Their relationship initially only lasted a few weeks. Knauss left Trump after she saw his ex-girlfriend [Kara Young](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kara_Young_\(model\) "Kara Young (model)") leaving [Trump Tower](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trump_Tower "Trump Tower"), but she reunited with him the following week.[\[57\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201968-59)
### Relationship with Donald Trump
Donald Trump's fame and connections gave Melania Knauss new career opportunities.[\[58\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020113-60) Shortly after the death of [Jacqueline Kennedy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacqueline_Kennedy "Jacqueline Kennedy"), whom Knauss and her mother had deeply admired, Knauss met the [Kennedy family](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kennedy_family "Kennedy family") at a gala.[\[59\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020114-61) She continued to encounter celebrities while attending events with Trump.[\[60\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020115,_118%E2%80%93119-62)
Knauss continued her modeling career after meeting Trump,[\[12\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-VanityFair-14) though she took fewer jobs as time went on and she dedicated more time to him.[\[61\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201974-63) In 1999, the couple gained attention after an interview with [shock jock](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shock_jock "Shock jock") [Howard Stern](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Stern "Howard Stern") on his show, in which he asked them lewd sexual questions.[\[62\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020141%E2%80%93144-64) Trump often brought Knauss to meetings to show her off, praising her beauty. He did not let her participate in the business, citing the conflict he had with his first wife after giving her an executive role.[\[63\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020199%E2%80%93200-65)
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bill_Clinton_and_Donald_Trump_at_the_U.S._Open_in_2000,_Flushing_Meadows%E2%80%93Corona_Park.jpg)
Melania Knauss (on the right) with then-president [Bill Clinton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Clinton "Bill Clinton"), Donald Trump, and [Kylie Bax](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kylie_Bax "Kylie Bax") (listed right to left) in 2000
Trump announced [his candidacy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump_2000_presidential_campaign "Donald Trump 2000 presidential campaign") for the [Reform Party presidential nomination](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000_Reform_Party_presidential_primaries "2000 Reform Party presidential primaries") on October 7, 1999. Knauss strongly supported the move.[\[64\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020128%E2%80%93129-66) When asked by *[The New York Times](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times "The New York Times")* what her role would be if Trump were to become president, Knauss replied: "I would be very traditional, like [Betty Ford](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betty_Ford "Betty Ford") or Jackie Kennedy."[\[65\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020144%E2%80%93145-67) Knauss saw extensive media attention as [tabloids](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tabloid_journalism "Tabloid journalism") considered the idea of a model as first lady.[\[66\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020139%E2%80%93140-68)
Knauss was one of the first models recruited to Trump's modeling agency, [Trump Model Management](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trump_Model_Management "Trump Model Management"), after its creation in February 1999. The following months, she appeared in several magazines and advertisements organized by individuals close to Trump.[\[67\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020119%E2%80%93123-69) While Trump was organizing his campaign, Knauss appeared in the February edition of *[Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sports_Illustrated_Swimsuit_Issue "Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue")*. The image featured her in a bikini alongside a large inflatable whale; the shoot was run by [Antoine Verglas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antoine_Verglas "Antoine Verglas"), an associate of Zampolli's.[\[68\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020129%E2%80%93130-70) Shortly after the shoot, Verglas called Knauss back for another project where he had her pose nude in a [Bond girl](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bond_girl "Bond girl") aesthetic.[\[69\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020132%E2%80%93135-71) Knauss later said that she stood 'proudly behind \[her\] nude modeling work' in a post on X ([Twitter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitter "Twitter")) in September 2024.[\[70\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-72) Trump had lobbied for her inclusion in a *[GQ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GQ "GQ")* spread,[\[71\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201974%E2%80%9375-73) and her relationship with him allowed the shoot access to his [Boeing 727](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_727 "Boeing 727") aircraft. Images from the shoot were included in the January 2000 edition of *GQ* magazine.[\[69\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020132%E2%80%93135-71) At the time, Trump's involvement was not made known.[\[33\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019334-35) She then appeared in another sexualized photoshoot, where she was posted in a mock-up of the [Oval Office](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oval_Office "Oval Office").[\[72\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201978%E2%80%9379-74)
In January 2000, it was reported that Knauss and Trump had broken up, with conflicting accounts of who ended the relationship. Many photos and publicity pieces the two had done together were quickly edited before publication to accommodate the change.[\[73\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020151%E2%80%93156-75) They kept in contact, and they reunited a few months later.[\[74\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201980-76) Knauss received her [green card](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_card "Green card") in 2001, granting her [permanent residency](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permanent_residency "Permanent residency") in the United States.[\[33\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019334-35)[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-CollinsModel-5) Knauss and Trump moved in together at Trump Tower in 2002.[\[75\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201981-77) She made her first appearance on Trump's game show [*The Apprentice*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Apprentice_\(American_TV_series\) "The Apprentice (American TV series)") in April 2004 when an episode had the contestants visit their [penthouse](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penthouse_apartment "Penthouse apartment").[\[76\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201983-78)
### Engagement and wedding
Trump proposed to Knauss on April 26, 2004, on her birthday as they were leaving to attend the [Met Gala](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Met_Gala "Met Gala").[\[77\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201986%E2%80%9387-79) He reasoned that he was more willing to wed as she had not insisted on marriage, and he felt she had been an influence in his success over the previous years.[\[78\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201984-80) She also signed his [prenuptial agreement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prenuptial_agreement "Prenuptial agreement") without issue.[\[79\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201991-81) A few months before the wedding, Knauss traveled to Paris with [Anna Wintour](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Wintour "Anna Wintour") and [André Leon Talley](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andr%C3%A9_Leon_Talley "André Leon Talley") to find a wedding dress, deciding on a dress by [John Galliano](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Galliano "John Galliano").[\[80\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019100-82) In the days leading up to the wedding, she appeared on the front cover of [*Vogue*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vogue_\(magazine\) "Vogue (magazine)") in her dress.[\[81\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019101-83)[\[82\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020178%E2%80%93179-84)
Trump and Knauss married on January 22, 2005, at the [Bethesda-by-the-Sea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bethesda-by-the-Sea "Bethesda-by-the-Sea") church in [Palm Beach](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_Beach,_Florida "Palm Beach, Florida"), Florida.[\[83\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020176-85) The ceremony was followed by a reception in the [ballroom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballroom "Ballroom") at Trump's [Mar-a-Lago](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mar-a-Lago "Mar-a-Lago") estate, which Knauss planned with Preston Bailey.[\[84\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201996%E2%80%9397-86) Numerous celebrities were present, including musicians, athletes, media executives, and television personalities.[\[85\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020176%E2%80%93177-87) She had one [bridesmaid](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridesmaid "Bridesmaid"), her sister Ines, who had moved to New York so they could be closer together.[\[36\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019335-38) Knauss arranged all of the details of the wedding with her planner. She let Trump make decisions about the event, but she refused his suggestion that the wedding be broadcast on [NBC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBC "NBC").[\[86\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020177%E2%80%93178-88)
### Marriage and motherhood
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Donald_Trump_and_wife_Melania.jpg)
Donald Trump and Melania Trump in 2006
The Trumps had [three residences](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Residences_of_Donald_Trump "Residences of Donald Trump") that they traveled between: Trump Tower in New York, [Trump National Golf Club Bedminster](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trump_National_Golf_Club_Bedminster "Trump National Golf Club Bedminster") in New Jersey, and Mar-a-Lago in Florida.[\[36\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019335-38)[\[87\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020185-89) To have her own private accommodation, Melania had a private spa constructed on the top floor of Trump Tower.[\[87\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020185-89) As a couple, the two did not spend much direct time together, preferring to live adjacently.[\[88\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020210%E2%80%93213-90) According to Donald, their passive relationship suited him because he worked for a living and did not "want to go home and work at a relationship".[\[10\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-Ioffe-12)[\[89\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201987%E2%80%9388-91) Melania accepted a transactional element in their relationship, though she cared about Donald and did not believe that she was a [gold digger](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_digger "Gold digger").[\[90\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201992%E2%80%9393-92) When she attended events with her husband at Trump facilities, she often stayed for only a few minutes to make an appearance before returning to the private residence.[\[91\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020214-93) Donald did not learn to speak Melania's native language, which she said she accepted because she is "not a nagging wife".[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-CollinsModel-5)
Upon marrying Donald, Melania became stepmother to his four children: [Donald Trump Jr.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump_Jr. "Donald Trump Jr."), [Eric Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Trump "Eric Trump") and [Ivanka Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivanka_Trump "Ivanka Trump") from his first marriage to [Ivana Zelníčková](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivana_Trump "Ivana Trump"), and [Tiffany Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiffany_Trump "Tiffany Trump") from his second marriage to [Marla Maples](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marla_Maples "Marla Maples").[\[92\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020183-94) Melania had especially bonded with Tiffany, who was six when Melania began dating her father, and made sure she felt included among her half-siblings.[\[93\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201973-95) Melania's pregnancy was widely covered in the media.[\[94\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019110%E2%80%93111-96) She again appeared on the cover of *Vogue*, showing her pregnant body in a bikini and an open coat.[\[95\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019113%E2%80%93114-97) Melania's sister and their parents frequently visited her throughout the pregnancy. She oversaw the construction of a nursery in Trump Tower[\[96\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019112-98) and had a [baby shower](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby_shower "Baby shower") at the [FAO Schwarz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FAO_Schwarz "FAO Schwarz") toy store, insisting that the toys and gifts she received be donated to a children's hospital.[\[97\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019114-99)
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Melania_Trump_2011.jpg)
Melania Trump in 2011
On March 20, 2006, Melania and Donald had a son, [Barron William Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barron_William_Trump "Barron William Trump").[\[98\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020183%E2%80%93184-100) Melania chose her son's middle name, while Donald chose his first name.[\[99\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-Schneider1May-101) Donald had previously used the name Barron as a [pseudonym](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudonym "Pseudonym") when he posed as his own public relations agent.[\[100\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019114%E2%80%93115-102) After Barron was born, Melania was active in his life and accordingly spent less time attending events with her husband.[\[101\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020184-103)[\[102\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019118-104) Donald had made it clear to her that if they had a child, he would not be actively involved in the child's life.[\[102\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019118-104) Melania later said she approved of this, stating that she "didn't want him changing diapers or putting Barron to bed".[\[10\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-Ioffe-12) She avoided the use of nannies, with a few exceptions in Barron's earliest years, insisting on raising him herself.[\[103\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201924,_117-105) Due to this decreased social activity Donald began courting supermodels again, which made Melania uncomfortable. According to biographer Mary Jordan, Melania did not know about the women who later alleged that they had extramarital affairs with him.[\[87\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020185-89)
Melania stayed out of the public spotlight after she settled into her life as a Trump, excepting occasional charity work and an appearance in an [Aflac](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aflac "Aflac") commercial.[\[104\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019125-106) She became a citizen of the United States on July 28, 2006.[\[105\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020186-107) She then sponsored her parents using the "[chain migration](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chain_migration "Chain migration")" immigration process that her husband later repeatedly criticized.[\[106\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020193%E2%80%93194-108)[\[107\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019112%E2%80%93113-109) Melania and Barron maintain [dual citizenship](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple_citizenship "Multiple citizenship"), of the United States and Slovenia.[\[108\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020191%E2%80%93192-110) Spending most of her time at Trump residences, she rarely kept companions besides her parents and her son.[\[91\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020214-93)
As her son reached childhood, Melania found herself with more time for other pursuits.[\[109\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019125%E2%80%93126-111) She trademarked her name, Melania, in 2009 as a jewelry brand, which she used to sell less expensive jewelry pieces on [QVC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QVC "QVC").[\[110\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020200%E2%80%93201-112) She was intentional about not using the Trump name in her branding, correcting reporters who called it Melania Trump.[\[111\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019126%E2%80%93127-113) She drew the designs herself,[\[10\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-Ioffe-12) based on three places where she had lived: New York, Palm Beach, and Paris. Over the following years she released additional *Melania* collections, which all sold out.[\[111\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019126%E2%80%93127-113) Melania then developed a line of [caviar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caviar "Caviar")\-infused skincare products under the brand Melania Marks Skincare in 2011.[\[112\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020204%E2%80%93205-114) The brand never launched, and Melania sued the company selling the products, New Sunshine, for [US\$](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US$ "US$")50 million in lost revenue[\[113\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019128-115) after it underwent management changes and voided the contract. The company alleged that one executive had given a [sweetheart deal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweetheart_deal "Sweetheart deal") to the Trumps because Donald was a family friend. The case was decided in Melania's favor, and the amount to be paid to her was settled out of court.[\[114\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020207%E2%80%93209-116)
## Donald Trump 2016 presidential campaign
### Personal life during the campaign
Melania was the one who finally convinced Donald [to campaign for president](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump_2016_presidential_campaign "Donald Trump 2016 presidential campaign") in the [2016 presidential election](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_United_States_presidential_election "2016 United States presidential election"), telling him that he either needed to do it or stop talking about it.[\[115\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202022-117)[\[116\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201920%E2%80%9322-118) When the campaign began, Melania made it clear to her husband that she would not be pressured into campaigning or attending events, and that she would only make appearances when she wanted to. She subsequently played a relatively small role in the campaign, which had been atypical of spouses of presidential candidates since the early 20th century.[\[117\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201923-119) Explaining her absence, she cited the need to stay home with her son Barron.[\[118\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019339-120)[\[119\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEElderFrederickBurrell2018108-121) Her daily routine was nonetheless altered by the campaign, as she had to take security arrangements into account when she traveled, and she could not post about her activities online in real time.[\[120\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019120%E2%80%93121-122) Once a prolific user of [Instagram](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instagram "Instagram") and [Twitter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitter "Twitter"), she became less active on her social media accounts when the campaign began.[\[10\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-Ioffe-12)
While many people doubted Donald's chances at the presidency, including his own inner circle, Melania believed he would win.[\[121\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan20203%E2%80%934-123)[\[122\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201922-124) Unlike Donald's advisors, Melania encouraged him to follow his instincts and say what he felt he should say, with the exception that she does not like his use of profane language.[\[123\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020227%E2%80%93228-125) She analyzed the campaign closely from home, following polling and watching how her husband interacted with his opponents.[\[124\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201927-126) She spoke to him on the phone regularly throughout the campaign, including a conversation after each rally in which she gave a candid evaluation of how he did.[\[125\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020224,_226-127)
### Campaign involvement
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:First_Lady_Melania_Trump_speaking_in_2015_\(cropped2\).jpg)
Melania Trump at a campaign event with Donald and Barron in November 2015
Melania's career as a model was an advantage during the campaign, as she was prepared for photographers and did not need to hire a fashion consultant.[\[19\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019338-21) As a model, she was required to be deliberate in all of her movement, including how she stood and walked.[\[126\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202018-128) She resented being called shy during the campaign, saying that this was an impression spread by people who only briefly met her and wanted their "[15 minutes of fame](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/15_minutes_of_fame "15 minutes of fame")".[\[127\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020222%E2%80%93223-129) Melania's earliest speaking appearances in November 2015 and February 2016 were prompted by Donald calling on her to speak to the crowd. Both times, she only said a few sentences.[\[128\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201925%E2%80%9326-130) Her first scheduled speech during the campaign did not take place until April 2016.[\[119\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEElderFrederickBurrell2018108-121)
The campaign reportedly wanted to get Melania more active, as she was in a unique position to humanize Donald and to appeal to the [American Dream](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Dream "American Dream") from an immigrant's perspective.[\[129\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201924%E2%80%9325,_42-131) [Hope Hicks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hope_Hicks "Hope Hicks") was the campaign's main liaison with Melania, facilitating any appearances that she wished to make. Melania trusted Hicks's judgement and allowed her to weigh the importance of a given appearance.[\[130\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201928-132) Her rare appearances brought her to [swing states](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swing_states "Swing states") where her husband needed extra support, and her speeches celebrated his personal traits instead of policy.[\[118\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019339-120)
Melania was involved in the [vice presidential selection process](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_Republican_Party_vice_presidential_candidate_selection "2016 Republican Party vice presidential candidate selection"), meeting with the top contenders, and her approval of [Mike Pence](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Pence "Mike Pence") contributed to his selection. The deciding factor, in her mind, was that Pence was not as ambitious as the other contenders and would not seek to undermine Donald.[\[131\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202042%E2%80%9343-133)
### Media coverage
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Melania_Trump_\(8_February_2016\).jpg)
Melania Trump in 2016
An [attack ad](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_ad "Attack ad") against the Trumps was produced by a [super PAC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_PAC "Super PAC") that supported Donald's opponent [Ted Cruz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Cruz "Ted Cruz") featuring Melania's nude *GQ* photo with the caption "Meet Melania Trump. Your next first lady. Or you could support Ted Cruz on Tuesday", intensifying the rivalry between the two candidates in the [2016 Republican Party presidential primaries](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_Republican_Party_presidential_primaries "2016 Republican Party presidential primaries").[\[118\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019339-120)[\[132\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201977-134)[\[10\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-Ioffe-12) More nude images of Melania were published on the front page of the *New York Post* in July 2016 in a story titled "The Ogle Office". The images did not have a major effect on the campaign, as Melania was seen as the victim, but they were humiliating and she spent the following two months away from the public.[\[133\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201929%E2%80%9331-135)
[On July 18, 2016](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump_speech_plagiarism_controversy "Melania Trump speech plagiarism controversy"), Melania [gave a speech](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speeches_by_spouses_of_nominees_at_United_States_presidential_nominating_conventions "Speeches by spouses of nominees at United States presidential nominating conventions") at the [2016 Republican National Convention](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_Republican_National_Convention "2016 Republican National Convention"). A controversy emerged after it became apparent that a paragraph of the speech had been plagiarized from [Michelle Obama](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelle_Obama "Michelle Obama")'s speech at the [2008 Democratic National Convention](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Democratic_National_Convention "2008 Democratic National Convention").[\[134\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019340-136)[\[135\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett20197%E2%80%938-137) When asked about it, Melania said she wrote the speech herself "with as little help as possible".[\[136\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-138) Despite political campaigns typically having several people to scrutinize such speeches, no one in the Trump campaign had reviewed the speech.[\[137\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett20198-139) Donald was furious with his staff and felt he had failed Melania, while Melania felt she herself had failed the campaign through the scandal.[\[138\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201911%E2%80%9312-140) It was the only major speech she delivered during the campaign.[\[139\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-141) Two days later, Trump staff writer [Meredith McIver](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meredith_McIver "Meredith McIver") took responsibility, saying there was a misunderstanding when Melania read passages of Obama's speech as examples.[\[134\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019340-136)[\[140\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201915%E2%80%9316-142) The speech also included a rare statement on her past, describing her family in Slovenia and her early modeling career.[\[137\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett20198-139) After giving the speech, Melania stayed out of public view until Election Day approached.[\[141\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEElderFrederickBurrell2018110-143)
### *Access Hollywood* tape
On October 7, a month before the election, the [*Access Hollywood* tape](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump_Access_Hollywood_tape "Donald Trump Access Hollywood tape") was leaked. The tape had been recorded in 2005, shortly after their marriage, and it featured audio of Donald making lewd remarks about his treatment of women.[\[142\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-144) Immediately after its release, the campaign's primary concern was Melania's reaction. It took Donald two hours before he went to see Melania. Upon their meeting, Melania reportedly told him "Now you could lose, you could have blown this for us", and then left the room after he apologized.[\[143\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan20201%E2%80%933-145) In 2024, her husband's former personal counsel Michael Cohen testified during *[The People of the State of New York v. Donald J. Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_People_of_the_State_of_New_York_v._Donald_J._Trump "The People of the State of New York v. Donald J. Trump")* trial that Donald had privately credited her as having suggested that the campaign's response strategy should best characterize the conversation on the tape as ["locker room talk"](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/locker_room_talk "wikt:locker room talk").[\[144\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-146)
Melania kept her distance from him, angry that he may have ended his candidacy with his comments, and she waited a day before making a comment.[\[145\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201934%E2%80%9335-147) When asked by the campaign to make a scripted appearance alongside Donald as damage control, she refused, deciding that she was going to respond her own way.[\[146\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan20204-148) She also refused to sit beside him during his recorded apology as politicians' spouses often did in these situations.[\[147\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201935-149) Melania released a statement saying that the tape did not show "the man I know" and said those who [accused him of sexual misconduct](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump_sexual_misconduct_allegations "Donald Trump sexual misconduct allegations") are liars.[\[134\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019340-136) Melania received significantly more attention from the press following the incident,[\[148\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan20207-150) and she was frustrated by the pity she received.[\[146\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan20204-148) A few days later, she attended a [presidential debate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_United_States_presidential_debates "2016 United States presidential debates") wearing a [pussy bow](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pussy_bow "Pussy bow"), causing widespread speculation about her intention (as her husband's comments on the Access Hollywood tape had included, "Grab them by the pussy" (or [vulva](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vulva "Vulva")).[\[149\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201932-151)[\[148\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan20207-150)
## First tenure as First Lady of the United States (2017–2021)
Melania was the first [naturalized citizen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naturalized_citizen "Naturalized citizen") to become first lady[\[150\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-152) and the second foreign-born woman to hold the title, after [Louisa Adams](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisa_Adams "Louisa Adams"), who was born in England.[\[151\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-:0-153) She was also the second [Roman Catholic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church "Catholic Church") first lady of the United States, after Jacqueline Kennedy.[\[152\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-Sieczkowski-154)[\[153\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-catholicherald.co.uk-155)
### First lady in Manhattan
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Donald_Trump_and_Melania_Trump_at_Liberty_Ball_Inauguration_2017.jpg)
Melania Trump with Donald Trump at the Liberty Ball, January 20, 2017
After [Donald's inauguration](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_inauguration_of_Donald_Trump "First inauguration of Donald Trump") as president on January 20, 2017,[\[151\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-:0-153) Melania announced that she would not move to [Washington, D.C.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington,_D.C. "Washington, D.C."), with him, instead staying in Manhattan so Barron could finish the school year there.[\[154\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019341-156) Remaining in New York also allowed her to introduce her son to the [White House](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House "White House") gradually so as not to overwhelm him.[\[155\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019144-157) According to biographer Mary Jordan, a Pulitzer Prize-winning *Washington Post* journalist, "Melania also used this time to negotiate new terms for her prenuptial agreement with Donald to reflect the changes in their lives since it was signed and to ensure that Barron would receive a suitable inheritance."[\[156\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202034-158) (Mrs. Trump's spokesperson dismissed Jordan's book as "belonging in the fiction genre".)[\[157\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-159)
Melania's absence from the White House caused speculation that her stepdaughter Ivanka would serve as an acting first lady.[\[154\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019341-156)[\[158\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202030-160)[\[159\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019161-161) As time went by, members of the administration's staff like her assistant, [Stephanie Winston Wolkoff](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephanie_Winston_Wolkoff "Stephanie Winston Wolkoff"), grew unhappy with Melania's absence, as it gave the impression of marital issues and prevented her from exercising a calming influence over the president.[\[160\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202034%E2%80%9335-162)[\[161\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-:1-163) She also stoked resentment among many of the people in New York, who predominantly opposed the Trumps, because of the costs and traffic issues caused by the [Secret Service](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Secret_Service "United States Secret Service") presence.[\[162\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202036-164)[\[163\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019144%E2%80%93145-165) The Secret Service itself also faced logistical issues from the repeated travel to New York. Having a Secret Service detail was not a major adjustment for Melania though, as she had spent years around her husband's security team.[\[164\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019134-166) She was given the [Secret Service code name](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secret_Service_code_name "Secret Service code name") "Muse" to go along with the president's name "Mogul".[\[165\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019137-167) Being first lady came with another drawback for Melania, as she was expected to speak on serious topics such as immigration policy and had little control over how her media appearances were handled, which was a different experience than she had as a model.[\[166\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202037-168)
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Donald_Trump_Pope_Francis_Melania_Trump_in_2017.jpg)
Melania Trump with Pope Francis, the Vatican, May 2017
When the Trump administration's [White House website](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_website "White House website") was posted, Melania's biographical information caused controversy because it listed her jewelry business. Though it had already ceased operation, critics alleged that it was an attempt to promote her business with government resources.[\[167\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019128%E2%80%93129-169) Another allegation of attempting to profit from her role as first lady came up in February, when she sued the *[Daily Mail](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daily_Mail "Daily Mail")* for libel after it alleged in 2016 that she had worked for an [escort agency](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escort_agency "Escort agency").[\[168\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-Puente-170) The suit was initially for lost career opportunities, but this was changed to emotional distress when she received questions about why she expected to have career opportunities as first lady.[\[169\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-171)
On March 8, 2017, Melania hosted her first White House event, a luncheon for [International Women's Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Women%27s_Day "International Women's Day"). She spoke to an audience of women about her life as a female immigrant and about working towards [gender equality](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_equality "Gender equality") both domestically and abroad, noting the role of education as a tool against [gender inequality](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_inequality "Gender inequality").[\[170\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-172)[\[171\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-173) The Trumps visited [Vatican City](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vatican_City "Vatican City") in May 2017. As Melania was visiting as a Roman Catholic, [Pope Francis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Francis "Pope Francis") blessed her rosary beads, and she placed flowers at the feet of a statue of the [Madonna](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary,_mother_of_Jesus "Mary, mother of Jesus") at the Vatican's [Bambino Gesù](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bambino_Ges%C3%B9_Hospital "Bambino Gesù Hospital") children's hospital.[\[172\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-174)
The first major public attention Melania received was after an incident in May 2017 while the Trumps were visiting Israel. Donald had forgotten that Melania was by his side when he was walking with Prime Minister [Benjamin Netanyahu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Netanyahu "Benjamin Netanyahu"), and she fell behind from the group. Humiliated, she slapped away his hand when he reached out behind him to grab hers. This was the first time press coverage of Melania took notice of an independent streak.[\[173\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019257%E2%80%93262-175)[\[174\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBakerGlasser2022145-176)
### East Wing staff
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Melania_Trump_official_portrait.jpg)
Official White House portrait, 2017
The lack of staff appointments in the [East Wing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Wing "East Wing") during the first months of the Trump administration—typically the domain of the first lady—caused a backlog of tour requests to develop. In February several hires were made for the [Office of the First Lady](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_of_the_First_Lady_of_the_United_States "Office of the First Lady of the United States"): [Anna Cristina Niceta Lloyd](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Cristina_Niceta_Lloyd "Anna Cristina Niceta Lloyd") as social secretary, [Lindsay Reynolds](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lindsay_Reynolds "Lindsay Reynolds") as the first lady's chief of staff, Tham Kannalikham as her decorator, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff as the first lady's assistant, and [Stephanie Grisham](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephanie_Grisham "Stephanie Grisham") as communications director.[\[175\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019341%E2%80%93342-177) Melania retained the head florist appointed by Michelle Obama, Hedieh Ghaffarian.[\[176\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019138-178) The [chief usher](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_Chief_Usher "White House Chief Usher") appointed under the [Obama administration](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obama_administration "Obama administration"), [Angella Reid](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angella_Reid "Angella Reid"), was replaced by [Trump International Hotel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trump_International_Hotel_\(Washington_D.C.\) "Trump International Hotel (Washington D.C.)") employee [Timothy Harleth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_Harleth "Timothy Harleth"), breaking the norm of the chief usher serving under multiple presidencies.[\[175\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019341%E2%80%93342-177) Reid had been broadly unpopular with the staff, and the firing earned Melania their goodwill.[\[177\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019139%E2%80%93140-179)
The first lady's staff remained small relative to those of her predecessors.[\[175\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019341%E2%80%93342-177) This was in part because she did not want to have any employees speaking on her behalf. Instead, she answered her correspondences herself.[\[178\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019156-180) Melania had a reputation in the White House for being "drama-free",[\[179\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020251-181) and for treating the staff well.[\[180\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019139-182) According to her husband's campaign manager [Corey Lewandowski](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corey_Lewandowski "Corey Lewandowski"), her staff had "100 percent loyalty to her".[\[181\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020243-183) Melania had a close, trusting relationship with her staff, and she was protective of them when conflict arose.[\[182\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019185185%E2%80%93186-184) Before moving in, Melania worked with Kannalikham to redecorate the White House, as first ladies typically do. She had most of the Obama-era decor replaced, and like the Obamas, the Trumps paid for it out of pocket instead of using the allotted funding.[\[183\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019211%E2%80%93212-185)
### Life in the White House
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Juliana_Awada_and_Melania_Trump_walk_along_the_Colonnade_of_the_White_House,_April_2017_\(cropped\).jpg)
Melania Trump with Argentine first lady [Juliana Awada](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juliana_Awada "Juliana Awada") in 2017
Melania and her son, Barron, moved into the White House on June 11, 2017.[\[184\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202044-186) Like they had throughout their marriage, Melania and Donald chose to sleep in separate bedrooms.[\[185\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019208-187) In her first year, Melania gave only eight speeches, compared to 74 by Michelle Obama and 42 by [Laura Bush](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laura_Bush "Laura Bush").[\[186\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020244-188) Instead of frequent public appearances, she communicated her activities through video.[\[181\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020243-183) Most of Melania's appearances as first lady in 2017 were in Manhattan and Washington, and she typically spoke about women's and children's issues.[\[187\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019342-189)
After moving to the White House, Melania opted to spend most of her time in the private quarters, running the White House staff from there instead of the first lady's East Wing offices. She oversaw restorations of several rooms in the building, including the bowling alley in the [White House basement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_basement "White House basement") and the first lady's hairdresser's room.[\[188\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020241%E2%80%93242-190) She kept one office, called the "swag room" by aides, in which she kept trinkets she collected while she was first lady.[\[189\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-:2-191) To accommodate Barron's soccer practice, she had a net installed on the White House grounds and had a coach practice with him.[\[190\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020255-192) Barron remained Melania's top priority when she was first lady, and she worked to keep him free from politics to the point that staffers referred to her as "The Protector".[\[191\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020271-193) Even after arriving at the White House, Melania spent extensive time away each year, visiting Mar-a-Lago on major holidays and over many weekends.[\[192\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019156%E2%80%93157-194)
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:White_House_Christmas_2018_\(46060476411\).jpg)
Melania Trump examining the 2018 White House Christmas decorations
Melania personally involved herself in decorations and planning within the White House.[\[193\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019142-195) She was particular about how things were designed and arranged whenever events were planned, but she would take on a calm and relaxed demeanor once the event began.[\[194\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019105-196) Whenever a foreign dignitary arrived at the White House, Melania had the [Blue Room](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Room_\(White_House\) "Blue Room (White House)") set aside where she ate lunch or drank tea with the dignitary's spouse.[\[195\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019150-197) When choosing which [presidential china set](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_china "White House china") to use, Melania often chose the [Clinton administration](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinton_administration "Clinton administration") china with its gold embroidery.[\[196\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019151-198) She held events less frequently than her predecessors, with a typical week featuring three or fewer events, all under one hour long.[\[197\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019157-199) Among her most ambitious projects was planning the White House Christmas decorations in 2018. Moving away from traditional designs, she filled the [East Colonnade](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Wing#/media/File:WHComplex.svg "East Wing") with red cranberry-laden trees set atop a green carpet. The design was widely derided, which Melania ascribed to personal taste.[\[198\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019142%E2%80%93144-200)
To protect use of her image and maintain an income, Melania licensed photos from her photoshoots through [Getty Images](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Getty_Images "Getty Images"). This allowed her to choose how they were used by reporters, and she received royalties for each use. The [Office of Government Ethics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Office_of_Government_Ethics "United States Office of Government Ethics") reported that she made \$100,000 to \$1,000,000 in royalties in 2017, though other estimates put it at over \$10,000,000.[\[199\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019130-201)
As one of her official duties, Melania was the honorary chair of the [John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_F._Kennedy_Center_for_the_Performing_Arts "John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts"). Because of political tension with the arts communities, she was not initially active in the role. She made her first appearances at the Kennedy Center in 2019.[\[200\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020237%E2%80%93238-202) Trump unveiled the abstract sculpture *[Floor Frame](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floor_Frame "Floor Frame")* by [Isamu Noguchi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isamu_Noguchi "Isamu Noguchi") in the [White House Rose Garden](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_Rose_Garden "White House Rose Garden") in November 2020.[\[201\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-Artnet-203) She described it as "embodying themes of resilience and renewal" in her eponymous memoir.[\[202\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-Mel24-204)
### Tribulations in early 2018
A scandal broke in January 2018 when it was alleged that Donald had [had an extramarital affair](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stormy_Daniels%E2%80%93Donald_Trump_scandal "Stormy Daniels–Donald Trump scandal") with the pornographic actress [Stormy Daniels](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stormy_Daniels "Stormy Daniels"). The affair was said to have taken place in July 2006, after the Trumps' marriage and the birth of their son. Melania's public appearances became more infrequent after the news emerged, and she canceled several events that she was to attend with her husband.[\[203\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019343%E2%80%93344-205) This included the [2018 State of the Union Address](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_State_of_the_Union_Address "2018 State of the Union Address"), where Melania made the unprecedented decision to ride separately from him on the way there.[\[204\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019194%E2%80%93195-206) Michael Cohen, who had arranged the silencing of the alleged affair, stated that his greatest regret was lying to Melania, saying that she did not deserve it.[\[205\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202011-207) The next month, the story of a second affair in 2006 with the model [Karen McDougal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_McDougal "Karen McDougal") was made public.[\[203\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019343%E2%80%93344-205)[\[206\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019202-208) To Melania, the worst part was that she felt Donald had publicly humiliated her.[\[207\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019196%E2%80%93197-209)[\[161\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-:1-163)
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Arrival_Ceremony_-_The_Official_State_Visit_of_France_\(39892882240\).jpg)
Left to right: [Brigitte Macron](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brigitte_Macron "Brigitte Macron"), Melania Trump, [Emmanuel Macron](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmanuel_Macron "Emmanuel Macron"), [Donald Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump "Donald Trump")
Melania learned in April 2018 that she was afflicted with kidney disease, but she only told her parents, her husband, and her sister.[\[208\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019215%E2%80%93216-210) On May 14, she began treatment at [Walter Reed National Military Medical Center](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Reed_National_Military_Medical_Center "Walter Reed National Military Medical Center").[\[209\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019218%E2%80%93219-211) While her husband had wished to join her, his presence would have risked the press discovering her condition.[\[210\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019218-212) The official statement said that she underwent an [embolization](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embolization "Embolization"), a [minimally invasive procedure](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimally_invasive_procedure "Minimally invasive procedure") that deliberately blocks a blood vessel.[\[211\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019220-213)[\[211\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019220-213) A statement was released after the procedure was finished without complication,[\[209\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019218%E2%80%93219-211) and she recovered in the hospital over the following five days.[\[212\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019345-214) The extended stay led to false rumors and conspiracy theories that she had gotten [plastic surgery](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_surgery "Plastic surgery").[\[213\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019346-215)[\[214\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019220%E2%80%93221-216) After leaving the hospital, she continued to stay out of the public eye until the beginning of June.[\[215\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019222%E2%80%93223-217) At this point, the president let slip that the surgery had been more serious than initially suggested.[\[216\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019224-218)
Those around Melania noticed that she was generally happier by mid-2018. By this time, she had reached a more advantageous marital agreement that ensured Barron would be given a fair inheritance.[\[217\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020234-219) Her public position, and the corresponding influence she had over her husband's political career, had given her the advantage in negotiations.[\[218\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020236-220) After several months of problems, Melania received positive coverage for a large custom-made white hat that she wore during a visit by French president [Emmanuel Macron](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmanuel_Macron "Emmanuel Macron").[\[219\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019226%E2%80%93230-221) On August 9, 2018, Melania's parents were granted American citizenship. This revitalized accusations of hypocrisy by the Trumps regarding Melania's parents, as Donald had spoken out against the chain migration process that allowed them to enter the [United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States "United States").[\[220\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019347-222)
### 2018 Africa tour
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:First_Lady_Melania_Trump%27s_Visit_to_Kenya_14.jpg)
Melania Trump wearing a [pith helmet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pith_helmet "Pith helmet") in Kenya
In October 2018, Melania took a tour of Africa without Donald, visiting Ghana, Malawi, Kenya and Egypt. She spent much of her time with children in schools, orphanages, and hospitals. She used the trip to tout relief work being carried out by the [United States Agency for International Development](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Agency_for_International_Development "United States Agency for International Development"), which raised questions about her husband's intention to cut its funding. Melania also received criticism for her fashion choices, where a photo opportunity in front of the [Great Sphinx of Giza](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Sphinx_of_Giza "Great Sphinx of Giza") was seen as exploitive and a [pith helmet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pith_helmet "Pith helmet") she wore in Kenya was criticized for its association with [colonialism in Africa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonialism_in_Africa "Colonialism in Africa"). To these criticisms, she responded that people should pay more attention to her actions instead of her outfits.[\[221\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020261%E2%80%93263-223) Perception of the trip grew worse when she responded to criticisms by saying that she was "the most bullied person in the world".[\[222\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-auto1-224)
Throughout Melania's tour of Africa, personality conflicts took place between her team and [Mira Ricardel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mira_Ricardel "Mira Ricardel"), the [deputy national security advisor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deputy_National_Security_Advisor "Deputy National Security Advisor").[\[223\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020264%E2%80%93267-225) Ricardel's staffer had been bumped from the first lady's plane on the flight to Africa to make room for a journalist, and Ricardel subsequently became less cooperative with providing logistical information needed for the tour.[\[224\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019184%E2%80%93185-226) Upon returning, Ricardel gave a thoroughly negative report on Melania's staff, describing them as embarrassing the White House with their partying.[\[225\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019186-227) Melania twice complained to the president, but no immediate action was taken.[\[225\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019186-227) The following month, the Office of the First Lady issued an official statement calling for Ricardel to be removed from her position. Publicly commenting on such a thing was unprecedented for a first lady.[\[226\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019183%E2%80%93184-228) No one in the administration had been told in advance about the statement, including the president.[\[225\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019186-227) Ricardel was fired the following day.[\[227\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019187-229) A dispute over the trip arose between Melania and Ivanka a few months later when the latter made her own trip to the continent. Melania felt that in taking such a similar trip, Ivanka was intruding on the first lady's role.[\[228\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019170%E2%80%93172-230)
### Political influence
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:White_House_Christmas_\(38121595104\).jpg)
Trump working with children at a 2017 Christmas event; she has said that children's welfare was among the most important issues to her.
Trump was the one person exempt from the criticism and distrust that her husband leveled against those around him in the White House. He held her opinion in high regard, often agreeing with her when she made it known, and he valued her loyalty as she did not seek public attention of her own.[\[229\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202040%E2%80%9341-231) She said she believed that it was not her duty as first lady to take policy positions in her own right, but simply to advise Donald regarding his.[\[10\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-Ioffe-12) She was the only person among those around him who could critique him directly without repercussion.[\[230\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett20192%E2%80%933-232) Donald frequently asked for her opinion about issues he was considering or people who he interacted with, calling her over the phone when she was not in the same room.[\[231\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019213-233)
Trump paid close attention to media coverage throughout her husband's presidency, providing her input on what would make good optics and maintain his image.[\[232\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202041-234)[\[233\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019154%E2%80%93156-235) She also provided advice on how to pose for pictures and has given him suggestions on how to appear when moving.[\[234\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020274-236) The nature of their relationship allowed her to overlook erratic behavior from her husband, as she had long believed that there was no use in trying to change someone's personality, especially her husband's.[\[178\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019156-180)
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:White_House_Historical_Association_Tree_Planting_\(42515028540\).jpg)
Trump planting a tree on the [South Lawn](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Lawn "South Lawn") during a summit hosted by the [White House Historical Association](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_Historical_Association "White House Historical Association")
Trump had influence over her husband's staff, and Donald sometimes fired individuals on her advice.[\[184\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202044-186)[\[235\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett20193-237) The welfare of children is a subject of interest for her, and she routinely made visits to children's hospitals throughout her tenure as first lady.[\[236\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020253-238) According to her biographer Kate Bennett, interacting with children is one of the rare things that causes Trump to shift away from her usual stoic demeanor.[\[237\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019200%E2%80%93201-239) Her advocacy was a major factor in her husband's decision to ban fruit-flavored [electronic cigarette](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_cigarette "Electronic cigarette") cartridges.[\[238\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020254,_269%E2%80%93271-240) About one year into her tenure, she hired Reagan Thompson as a policy advisor, though she had yet to adopt any official initiatives at the time.[\[239\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019344-241)
#### Family separation policy
Trump was openly critical of her husband's ["zero tolerance" policy of denying asylum](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trump_administration_family_separation_policy "Trump administration family separation policy") at the [Mexico–United States border](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexico%E2%80%93United_States_border "Mexico–United States border") in 2018, where children were being separated from their parents. Her official position was that she hated to see families separated and hoped for successful immigration reform.[\[240\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020259-242)[\[241\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019176-243) Out of public view, she made her opposition clear to the president and influenced his decision to end it.[\[242\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett20193,_176-244) Leaked tapes in 2020 featured Trump making statements defending some of the practices, expressing grief about family separation but questioning the validity of [asylum claims](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asylum_in_the_United_States "Asylum in the United States") and dismissing concerns that children were kept in substandard conditions.[\[243\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-CNNTapes-245)
Trump was upset when her stepdaughter Ivanka began receiving the credit for changing the president's mind on the issue.[\[244\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019178-246) She visited the border herself, ignoring her husband's worries about keeping media attention on the border and the Secret Service's need of advance notice to plan her trip.[\[245\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019178%E2%80%93179-247) She arrived at the border on June 21, where she visited the family separation facilities in Texas and attended a [roundtable](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roundtable "Roundtable") with doctors, medical staff, social workers, and other experts at Upbring New Hope Children's Shelter.[\[246\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-248) On the way to the border facility, she caused controversy by wearing a jacket that read, "I really don't care, do u?" After much speculation about the jacket's message, including criticism that she may have been expressing indifference toward the families separated at the border, she stated that the jacket was aimed at people and media who were criticizing her.[\[247\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020260%E2%80%93261-249) The jacket dominated media coverage of her visit.[\[248\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019179-250)
### Be Best campaign
Main article: [Be Best](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Be_Best "Be Best")
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:First_Lady_Melania_Trump_Participates_in_a_Zoom_Call_with_Students_for_the_Second_Anniversary_of_Be_Best_\(49883203437\).jpg)
Melania Trump celebrating the second anniversary of the Be Best campaign
On May 7, 2018, Melania held a press conference in the [White House Rose Garden](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_Rose_Garden "White House Rose Garden") to announce her official public initiative as first lady, the Be Best awareness campaign. The initiative was created to support the welfare of children, advocate against [cyberbullying](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyberbullying "Cyberbullying"), and prevent [opioid abuse](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opioid_abuse "Opioid abuse").[\[212\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019345-214)[\[249\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020247-251) The initiative's name drew ridicule in the press for its grammatical structure.[\[250\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019216-252) Instead of creating new programs like previous first ladies' projects, Be Best promoted existing initiatives and organizations that worked toward the cause. Public awareness of the initiative remained low, and it was often regarded solely as an anti-cyberbullying campaign.[\[251\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019158-253)
The Be Best campaign drew criticism for its perceived hypocrisy, challenging cyberbullying when her husband was well known for attacking people online.[\[252\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020247%E2%80%93248-254)[\[251\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019158-253) Even Donald had warned her before the campaign's launch that the contrast may provoke criticism.[\[251\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019158-253) She acknowledged the discrepancy but insisted that she would continue because she felt it was a good cause.[\[252\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020247%E2%80%93248-254) This received more attention in 2019 when the president made Twitter posts critical of [Greta Thunberg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greta_Thunberg "Greta Thunberg"), a teenage environmental activist diagnosed on the [autism spectrum](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism_spectrum "Autism spectrum"). This came days after Melania had criticized [Pamela Karlan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pamela_Karlan "Pamela Karlan") for invoking Barron in a speech against the president. The first lady's office responded that spouses can have different communication styles, and said that Barron was not "an activist who travels the globe giving speeches".[\[253\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020271%E2%80%93272-255)
### COVID-19 and 2020 presidential campaign
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_First_Lady_Visits_with_First_Responders_\(50123337337\).jpg)
Melania Trump with first responders during the [COVID-19 pandemic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic "COVID-19 pandemic")
Melania carried out a major reorganization of her staff in April 2020 in anticipation of [her husband's reelection campaign](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump_2020_presidential_campaign "Donald Trump 2020 presidential campaign"). She appointed Marcia Lee Kelly as her senior advisor and [Emma Doyle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emma_Doyle "Emma Doyle") as her policy advisor. Melania's chief of staff, Lindsay Reynolds, was removed; her responsibilities went to Melania's communications director, Stephanie Grisham.[\[181\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020243-183) Melania became an active campaigner for her husband during the [2020 presidential election](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_United_States_presidential_election "2020 United States presidential election"), which was a strong contrast to her 2016 activity.[\[254\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020276%E2%80%93277-256)
When the [COVID-19 pandemic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic "COVID-19 pandemic") began, Melania was criticized for promoting a White House renovation project. She took the topic more seriously after the [COVID-19 lockdowns](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lockdowns "COVID-19 lockdowns") began, using her Twitter account to encourage [social distancing during the pandemic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_distancing_measures_related_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Social distancing measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic") and promote official medical advice. Much of what she posted directly contradicted what her husband posted, as he discouraged many of the recommended practices.[\[255\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020279%E2%80%93281-257)[\[256\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-258)
On October 1, 2020, Melania's former advisor Stephanie Winston Wolkoff released audiotapes that featured Melania making profane statements about her image and role as first lady. In the tapes, she condemned the media for not giving her positive coverage, questioned why people wanted her to speak out against her husband when she supported his policies, and expressed frustration with her responsibility to oversee Christmas decorations in the White House. She also mentioned her "I really don't care, do u" jacket in the tapes, admitting that she wore it to irritate [liberals](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberalism_in_the_United_States "Liberalism in the United States"). Winston Wolkoff had released the tapes alongside a [tell-all](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tell-all "Tell-all") book, *[Melania and Me](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_and_Me "Melania and Me")*.[\[243\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-CNNTapes-245)[\[257\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-259) The Justice Department filed a [civil suit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawsuit "Lawsuit") against Winston Wolkoff in October 2019, alleging breach of a [nondisclosure agreement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nondisclosure_agreement "Nondisclosure agreement"), but it was dropped in February 2021 under the Biden administration.[\[258\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-260) In September 2022, Melania said in an interview with *[Breitbart News](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breitbart_News "Breitbart News")* that the audiotapes had been strategically edited to make people believe that her duties in the White House had been unimportant to her.[\[259\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-261)
Despite Donald's loss of the 2020 election,[\[260\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-262) Melania ended her tenure by endorsing his false statement that he had been the legitimate election winner.[\[189\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-:2-191)[\[222\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-auto1-224) For her final months in the White House, she stopped visiting her office in the East Wing and remained in the White House residence. Her focus at this time was on compiling photo albums of the decorations and renovations she had overseen through her tenure.[\[189\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-:2-191) Melania was managing photography at the White House when the [January 6 United States Capitol attack](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_6_United_States_Capitol_attack "January 6 United States Capitol attack") took place and gave no comment at the time. She later said that she would have commented if she had been "fully informed of all the details".[\[161\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-:1-163) Her communications director Stephanie Grisham later stated she had sent Melania a text message asking her to make a statement condemning the violence and resigned when that did not happen.[\[189\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-:2-191) On January 18, Melania released a farewell video asking the American people to uphold the principles of her Be Best campaign.[\[222\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-auto1-224) She followed the tradition of leaving a letter for incoming first lady [Jill Biden](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jill_Biden "Jill Biden"),[\[189\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-:2-191) but she did not contact her to make transition arrangements or provide her the traditional tour of the White House.[\[222\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-auto1-224)
## Between first lady tenures (2021–2025)
After the Trumps left the White House, Melania returned to Mar-a-Lago, where she could live while avoiding public attention.[\[161\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-:1-163) She retained one White House advisor, Marcia Lee Kelly, to help her during the post-presidency.[\[222\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-auto1-224) Melania kept in contact with her successor Jill Biden, and the two have exchanged birthday cards.[\[189\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-:2-191) Since her first tenure as first lady ended, Melania made occasional paid speaking appearances, she founded a scholarship program for [foster children](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foster_children "Foster children"), and she minted a line of [Apollo 11](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_11 "Apollo 11")–themed [non-fungible tokens](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-fungible_tokens "Non-fungible tokens") that were not in compliance with [NASA](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASA "NASA")'s image use policy.[\[161\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-:1-163) In November 2023, Melania attended the memorial service for former First Lady [Rosalynn Carter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosalynn_Carter "Rosalynn Carter").[\[261\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-263)
Melania remained out of public view during her husband's [court appearances](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indictments_against_Donald_Trump "Indictments against Donald Trump") and [his candidacy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump_2024_presidential_campaign "Donald Trump 2024 presidential campaign") in the [2024 presidential election](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_United_States_presidential_election "2024 United States presidential election"), limiting her campaign events to two fundraisers for the [Log Cabin Republicans](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Log_Cabin_Republicans "Log Cabin Republicans"). She became more visible in July 2024 by putting out a statement following the [attempted assassination of her husband](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attempted_assassination_of_Donald_Trump_in_Pennsylvania "Attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Pennsylvania") and appearing at the [2024 Republican National Convention](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_Republican_National_Convention "2024 Republican National Convention"), though she declined an invitation to speak at the event, making her the first candidate's spouse not to speak at the convention since [Barbara Bush](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Bush "Barbara Bush") began the tradition.[\[262\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-264) In the same month, Melania announced her intention to publish a [memoir](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memoir "Memoir"), titled *[Melania](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_\(memoir\) "Melania (memoir)")*.[\[263\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-265) She caused controversy among Republicans in the lead up to the book's publication when she announced her support for the [right to abortion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_abortion-rights_movement "United States abortion-rights movement").[\[264\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-266) Donald won the election on November 5, 2024.
In January 2025, [Amazon MGM Studios](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_MGM_Studios "Amazon MGM Studios") announced that it had licensed a documentary film on Melania directed by [Brett Ratner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brett_Ratner "Brett Ratner") for distribution in theatres and on [Amazon Prime Video](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_Prime_Video "Amazon Prime Video"). She was also an executive producer.[\[265\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-puck/ratner-40m-docu-melania-267)[\[266\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-puck/docu-massive-payday-268) Filming started in December 2024.[\[267\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-269) Amazon reportedly paid US\$40 million to license the documentary.[\[268\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-270) The documentary, titled [*Melania*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_\(film\) "Melania (film)"), covered the 20 days leading up to the 2025 presidential inauguration and was scheduled for release in US theaters and other territories on January 30, 2026.[\[269\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-271) Less than two weeks before assuming the role of first lady again, Melania attended the [funeral for former President Jimmy Carter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_and_state_funeral_of_Jimmy_Carter#Washington_National_Cathedral_funeral_service "Death and state funeral of Jimmy Carter").[\[270\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-272) On the eve of Donald's inauguration as U.S. president, Melania launched her own cryptocurrency, the \$Melania coin, following the debut of the [\$Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/$Trump "$Trump") coin.[\[271\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-273) In May 2025, it was reported by the [Financial Times](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Financial_Times "Financial Times") that two dozen wallets purchased \$2.6 million worth of the tokens minutes before Melania announced the launch on her [Truth Social](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truth_Social "Truth Social") account and then sold them off in the upcoming days for \$100 million.[\[272\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-274)
## Second tenure as First Lady (2025–present)
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Donald_Trump_takes_the_oath_of_office_\(2025\)_\(alternate\).jpg)
Melania's husband, Donald Trump, is sworn in on January 20, 2025, as Melania looks on.
On January 20, 2025, during [Trump's second inauguration](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trump%27s_second_inauguration "Trump's second inauguration"), Melania became the second first lady to hold the position two times non-consecutively, after [Frances Cleveland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frances_Cleveland "Frances Cleveland"), and the first one to assume the role of first lady at two non-consecutive inaugurations.[\[273\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-275)[\[274\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-276)[\[275\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-277)[\[276\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-Graddy-Trump-278)
### Official duties
During the first few days of her second tenure as first lady, Melania traveled with President Trump to parts of North Carolina that were hit by [Hurricane Helene](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Helene "Hurricane Helene") in September 2024 and to Southern California to monitor the progress of fire rescue services for the [January 2025 Southern California wildfires](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_2025_Southern_California_wildfires "January 2025 Southern California wildfires").[\[277\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-279)[\[278\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-280)[\[279\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-281) In February 2025, Melania announced that public tours of the White House would resume on the 25th day of the month.[\[280\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-282)[\[281\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-283)
On March 3, 2025, Melania made her first solo appearance as first lady for the term by attending a roundtable discussion at Capitol Hill on the [Take It Down Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Take_It_Down_Act "Take It Down Act"), a bill that could speed the removal of intimate imagery posted online without an individual's consent, or [revenge porn](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revenge_porn "Revenge porn").[\[282\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-284)[\[283\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-285)[\[284\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-286) Soon after, the Take it Down Act was passed unanimously in the [United States Senate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate "United States Senate") and almost unanimously in the [United States House of Representatives](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_of_Representatives "United States House of Representatives").[\[285\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-287)[\[286\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-288) Melania was at the President's side when it was signed into law two months later and was also invited by her husband to sign the bill.[\[287\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-289)[\[288\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-290) In April 2025, Melania honored recipients at the annual [International Women of Courage Awards](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Women_of_Courage_Award "International Women of Courage Award") and reopened tours of the White House gardens in early bloom.[\[289\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-291)
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:F20250711AH-5880_President_Donald_Trump_and_FLOTUS_Melania_Trump_visit_the_areas_impacted_by_recent_deadly_flooding_in_Kerrville,_Texas.jpg)
Melania Trump (left) with President [Donald Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump "Donald Trump") and Texas Governor [Greg Abbott](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Abbott "Greg Abbott") on July 11, 2025
On April 21, 2025, Melania hosted the White House Easter Egg Roll with her husband, which drew crowds of around 40,000.[\[290\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-292) Later that week, she attended the [funeral for Pope Francis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_and_funeral_of_Pope_Francis "Death and funeral of Pope Francis").[\[291\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-293) In May 2025, Melania hosted a celebration honoring military mothers and an event where a postage stamp dedicated to former first lady [Barbara Bush](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Bush "Barbara Bush") was unveiled.[\[292\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-294)[\[293\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-295) Later that month, she welcomed the children of White House employees for "White House Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day" where she assisted kids in decorating American flags.[\[294\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-296)
In June 2025, Melania attended the 2025 Congressional Picnic and the [U.S. Army 250th Anniversary Parade](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Army_250th_Anniversary_Parade "U.S. Army 250th Anniversary Parade").[\[295\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-297)[\[296\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-298) She traveled with President Trump to survey damage following the [July 2025 Central Texas floods](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/July_2025_Central_Texas_floods "July 2025 Central Texas floods").[\[297\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-299)[\[298\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-300) On July 22, House Republicans proposed renaming the opera house at the [John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_F._Kennedy_Center_for_the_Performing_Arts "John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts") after Melania.[\[299\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-301)[\[300\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-302)
On September 17, 2025, Melania and President Trump attended a banquet hosted by [King Charles III](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Charles_III "King Charles III") and [Queen Camilla](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Camilla "Queen Camilla").[\[301\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-303) The following day, she appeared alongside [Catherine, Princess of Wales](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine,_Princess_of_Wales "Catherine, Princess of Wales"), at [Windsor Castle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windsor_Castle "Windsor Castle")'s [Frogmore Gardens](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frogmore "Frogmore") at an event highlighting [scouting](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scouting "Scouting").[\[302\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-304) On November 19, Melania traveled to [Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_Corps_Base_Camp_Lejeune "Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune") with Second Lady [Usha Vance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usha_Vance "Usha Vance") to spend time with military members and their families to show appreciation for those who serve during the holiday season.[\[303\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-305)[\[304\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-306) Trump visited children and young adults being treated for rare and serious diseases at Children's Inn at [National Institutes of Health](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Institutes_of_Health "National Institutes of Health") as part of the celebrations for [Valentine's Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine%27s_Day "Valentine's Day") 2026.[\[305\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-307)
### Advocacy for children
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:F20260302AH-0962.jpg)
Melania presided over a [United Nations Security Council](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Security_Council "United Nations Security Council") meeting on 2 March 2026
In July 2025, Melania visited patients at [Children's National Hospital](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children%27s_National_Hospital "Children's National Hospital") by bringing gifts and taking part in [Independence Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Day_\(United_States\) "Independence Day (United States)") activities with the children.[\[306\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-308)[\[307\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-309) Melania authored a letter to President Putin that President Trump hand-delivered during the August [2025 Alaska summit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Russia%E2%80%93United_States_Summit "2025 Russia–United States Summit"). The letter, published on social media, urged compassion for children affected by war and called for peace. Ukrainian President [Volodymyr Zelenskyy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volodymyr_Zelenskyy "Volodymyr Zelenskyy") publicly thanked her for the gesture.[\[308\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-310) In October, she announced that eight [children displaced during the Russo-Ukrainian war](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_abductions_in_the_Russo-Ukrainian_War "Child abductions in the Russo-Ukrainian War") had been reunited with their families following talks with Putin.[\[309\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-311)
On September 23, while attending the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Melania announced the launch of the global coalition Fostering the Future Together, which focuses on helping children manage changes in education, innovation, and technology.[\[310\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-312)[\[311\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-313) On November 6, Melania was honored as [Fox Nation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox_Nation "Fox Nation")'s "Patriot of the Year" for her work on children's global advocacy.[\[312\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-314)[\[313\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-315)[\[314\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-316) She also launched a new initiative to expand resources and improve career opportunities for teenagers transitioning out of the foster care system and also provide them with scholarships and educational opportunities.[\[315\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-317) Trump addressed schools across the nation on January 16, 2026, through [Zoom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoom_\(software\) "Zoom (software)"), discussing how students can use [artificial intelligence](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_intelligence "Artificial intelligence") for creativity, while also issuing a warning about how it could also hijack their thinking if they become too dependent on it.[\[316\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-318)[\[317\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-319) In March 2026, Melania became the first first lady to preside over a [United Nations Security Council](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Security_Council "United Nations Security Council") meeting; the meeting was held to discuss children, technology, and education in conflict.[\[318\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-320)[\[319\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-321)[\[320\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-322) Later that month, she hosted a two-day Fostering the Future Together Global Coalition Summit at the State Department with representatives from 45 nations in attendance.[\[321\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-323)[\[322\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-324) During the summit, Melania introduced a [Humanoid robot](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanoid_robot "Humanoid robot") known as Figure 3, marking the first time such technology was formally introduced to international leaders in a diplomatic setting at the White House.[\[323\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-325)[\[324\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-326)
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Melania_Trump%E2%80%99s_Official_White_House_Portrait_\(2025\)_\(cropped\).jpg)
Official White House Portrait, 2025
### Influence on the president
Melania reportedly influenced President Trump's policy shift on the [Russo-Ukrainian war](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russo-Ukrainian_war_\(2022%E2%80%93present\) "Russo-Ukrainian war (2022–present)"). President Trump was quoted saying: "I go home, I tell the first lady: 'I spoke with Vladimir today. We had a wonderful conversation,'" Trump said. "She said: 'Oh really? Another city was just hit.'" President Trump said this before laying out a 50 day deadline for a ceasefire in July 2025, marking a notably antagonistic tone in regards to [Vladimir Putin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin "Vladimir Putin").[\[325\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-327)
### Allegations about links to Jeffrey Epstein
In August 2025, Melania threatened to sue [Hunter Biden](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunter_Biden "Hunter Biden") for one billion dollars after he claimed during an interview with [Andrew Callaghan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Callaghan "Andrew Callaghan") that Melania had been introduced to Donald by [Jeffrey Epstein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Epstein "Jeffrey Epstein").[\[326\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-328)[\[327\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-329)[\[328\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-330)[\[329\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-331) When Biden publicly refused to retract his comments,[\[330\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-332)[\[331\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-333)[\[332\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-334) Donald encouraged Melania to pursue legal action against Biden.[\[333\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-335) A redacted FBI document from 2019 says Epstein introduced Knauss to Trump.[\[334\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-336)
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Melania_Trump_and_Catherine,_Princess_of_Wales_on_the_grounds_of_Frogmore,_2025_\(cropped\).jpg)
Melania with [Catherine, Princess of Wales](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine,_Princess_of_Wales "Catherine, Princess of Wales"), September 2025
The 2025 book *[Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entitled:_The_Rise_and_Fall_of_the_House_of_York "Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York")* by [Andrew Lownie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Lownie "Andrew Lownie") also alleges that Melania Trump had been introduced to Donald Trump by Jeffrey Epstein. Melania Trump strongly objected to the claim and began making legal threats and representations to those involved in the publishing of the book. In October, the book's publisher, [HarperCollins UK](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HarperCollins_UK "HarperCollins UK"), recalled the book and apologized to Melania Trump, calling the claim unverified.[\[335\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-337)[\[336\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-338)
On October 22, [Michael Wolff](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Wolff_\(journalist\) "Michael Wolff (journalist)") filed a lawsuit against Melania following threats her legal team had made over comments Wolff had made about Melania's ties with Jeffrey Epstein.[\[337\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-339)[\[338\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-340) Melania's lawyers are reported to have threatened Wolff with a one billion dollar damages claim.[\[339\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-341)
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:%E2%80%9CFostering_the_Future%E2%80%9D_foster_care_event_in_the_East_Room_of_the_White_House_on_November_13,_2025_-_19.jpg)
Melania signing the Fostering The Future executive order with her husband; November 13, 2025.
### Demolition of East Wing
On October 23, 2025, [CNN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CNN "CNN") revealed that Melania was now "eschewing the nation's capital for [New York](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City "New York City") and [Palm Beach](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_Beach,_Florida "Palm Beach, Florida")", and had been using the [Office of the First Lady of the United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_of_the_First_Lady_of_the_United_States "Office of the First Lady of the United States") far less than she had during her husband's first term and now employing a "skeletal staff".[\[340\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-342) During that month, *[The Wall Street Journal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wall_Street_Journal "The Wall Street Journal")* and *[The Hill](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hill_\(newspaper\) "The Hill (newspaper)")* reported that Melania privately raised concerns over her husband's [demolition](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demolition "Demolition") of the [East Wing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Wing "East Wing") to make room for the [White House State Ballroom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_State_Ballroom "White House State Ballroom").[\[341\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-343)[\[342\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-344) In November 2025, President Trump dismissed these reports saying at first Melania "loved her tiny little office" but quickly came around to support the renovation.[\[343\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-345) Due to the construction of the ballroom and the East Wing's demolition, the White House announced that the 2025 holiday tours featuring Melania's decorations would instead take place on the [State Floor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_Residence#State_floor "Executive Residence") with an updated route and guests entering from the [North Portico](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Lawn "North Lawn").[\[344\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-346)[\[345\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-347)
### Involvement in film
Main article: [Melania (film)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_\(film\) "Melania (film)")
In October 2025, Melania announced Muse Films, her own production company.[\[346\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-348)[\[347\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-349)[\[348\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-melaniafilmcompanyanddocumentary-350) The company's first project, a documentary about Melania herself, titled *[Melania](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_\(film\) "Melania (film)")*, was directed by [Brett Ratner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brett_Ratner "Brett Ratner") and released on January 30, 2026.[\[348\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-melaniafilmcompanyanddocumentary-350) This marked the first time that a self-produced documentary by a sitting first lady was released in theaters,[\[349\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-351) and she reportedly was paid \$28 million for it – 70% of the film's \$40 million production budget.[\[350\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-352) The film debuted in third place at the United States and Canadian box office with over \$7 million, making it the biggest debut for a non-music documentary in a decade.[\[351\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-353)[\[352\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-354)[\[353\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-355)
## Public image
Main article: [Public image of Melania Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_image_of_Melania_Trump "Public image of Melania Trump")
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Women%27s_March_in_San_Francisco_\(32348786991\).jpg)
A [2017 Women's March](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_Women%27s_March "2017 Women's March") protester with a Free Melania sign
Melania limits her interactions with the public, creating a public image heavily influenced by speculation.[\[354\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202026%E2%80%9327-356) Because [Louisa Adams](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisa_Adams "Louisa Adams"), the only other first lady to be born outside of the United States, had an American father, Trump has been seen by the American public as the first foreigner to become first lady.[\[355\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEVidmar_Horvat2021447%E2%80%93448-357)
### First tenure as first lady
In her first tenure as first lady, Trump worked to protect her privacy as first lady,[\[356\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett20192-358) and her staff was instructed not to answer any questions about her whereabouts at a given time.[\[179\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020251-181) With limited information, commentators have portrayed her as being a reluctant companion to her husband or as a woman who has no independence of her own. Several incidents during her husband's presidency led to rumors that she had a secret animosity toward her husband, such as her delay in moving to the White House and allegations that he had committed adultery.[\[213\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019346-215)[\[356\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett20192-358)[\[357\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202027-359) The rumors led to popular use of the [hashtag](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hashtag "Hashtag") \#FreeMelania by those who believed them.[\[358\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202021-360) Though she disliked the idea that people saw her as helpless, Melania found the campaign amusing.[\[359\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020275%E2%80%93276-361) This became less common by 2020 as she had become more publicly associated with the role of first lady.[\[360\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020281%E2%80%93282-362) She is often seen as cold by the public, though people who interact with her describe her as a warm presence.[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-CollinsModel-5)[\[361\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019152-363)
As with previous first ladies, Trump's fashion was heavily scrutinized, and particularly expensive pieces were criticized.[\[187\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019342-189) More than other first ladies, her fashion was scrutinized in the context of her past as a fashion model and her marriage to a billionaire.[\[362\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019247-364) She did her own clothes shopping,[\[363\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201937-365)[\[364\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019227-366) but she was assisted by designer [Hervé Pierre](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herv%C3%A9_Pierre_\(designer\) "Hervé Pierre (designer)"),[\[365\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019226%E2%80%93228-367) hair stylist Mordechai Alvow, and make up artist Nicole Byrl.[\[366\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019243%E2%80%93244-368) When preparing for speeches, she dedicated more attention to her physical appearance than content or delivery, which her staff felt affected her ability to promote her causes.[\[367\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020245%E2%80%93246-369) Despite her experience in fashion, she disliked that it was such a major aspect of news coverage about her as first lady.[\[368\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019251-370)
Having a Slovenian-born woman as the American first lady became a point of national pride in Slovenia, and it gave the nation a sense of recognition on the world stage.[\[369\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEVidmar_Horvat2021448-371)[\[370\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEPu%C5%A1nikJontes2021464%E2%80%93465-372) Trump's hometown Sevnica has developed a small tourist industry around her, and Melania-themed merchandise became common during her first tenure as first lady. These items never used Melania's full name, substituting it with "first lady" or "M", as she is protective of her [personality rights](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personality_rights "Personality rights").[\[371\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201949%E2%80%9350-373)
During the 2016 presidential election, Trump became the only candidate's spouse since polling began in 1988 to have a disapproval rating greater than their approval rating.[\[372\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEElderFrederickBurrell2018107-374) Her approval rating stood at 36 or 37% in the months leading up to becoming first lady in January 2017,[\[373\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019148-375)[\[154\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019341-156) but it increased to 57% in a CNN poll in April 2018 after she received public sympathy amid allegations that her husband had committed adultery.[\[239\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019344-241)[\[374\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019216%E2%80%93217-376) Trump finished her tenure in 2021 as the least popular first lady since polling began with a rating of 42%.[\[375\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-377) Multiple polls during her tenure as first lady showed her as the most popular member of the Trump family.[\[373\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019148-375)[\[376\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-:3-378)[\[377\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-379)
In December 2020, the [Siena College Research Institute](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siena_College_Research_Institute "Siena College Research Institute") released a study surveying scholars and historians on their assessments of American first ladies. It was the fifth such first ladies study that the Institute had conducted since 1982, and the first in which Trump appeared. She was ranked as being the worst of 40 assessed American first ladies,[\[378\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-Siena2020-380) receiving the lowest assessments in all of the metrics that were weighed.[\[379\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-381) In supplementary question asked of respondents (beyond the weighed criteria), Trump was ranked as the first lady who historians and scholars most-believed "could have done more" while first lady, with 34% of respondents selecting Melania as their top-choice for that descriptor. In another supplementary question, Trump's "Be Best" was ranked the least-effective signature initiative among the ten most-recent first ladies.[\[378\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-Siena2020-380)
### Second tenure as first lady
One year after assuming the role of first lady again, an [*Economist*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Economist "The Economist")/[YouGov](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YouGov "YouGov") poll showed that Trump had a 41% favorable rating, and a 47% unfavorable rating, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.2%.[\[380\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-382) Writing for *[The Guardian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Guardian "The Guardian")*, Xan Brooks described her as "a latter-day [Eva Braun](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eva_Braun "Eva Braun")".[\[381\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-383) Melanie McDonagh, writing for [*The Standard*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Standard_\(London_newspaper\) "The Standard (London newspaper)"), said that Trump is "an enigma" with "steely self discipline".[\[382\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-384)
## Notes
1. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-2)** Pronounced [/məˈlɑːniə/](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/English "Help:IPA/English") [*mə-LAH\-nee-ə*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Pronunciation_respelling_key "Help:Pronunciation respelling key").
2. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-4)**
[Name prior to her marriage](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C3%A9e "Née"): **Melania Knauss** (German: [\[meˈlaːni̯a ˈknaʊs\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Standard_German "Help:IPA/Standard German")), a [Germanization](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthographic_transcription "Orthographic transcription") of her Slovene birth name **Melanija Knavs** (
Slovene: [\[mɛˈlaːnija ˈknaːws\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Slovene "Help:IPA/Slovene")).
## References
1. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-1)**
- ["Melania Trump votes in N.Y. primary"](https://www.washingtonpost.com/video/politics/melania-trump-casts-her-vote/2016/04/19/8b952cd6-0675-11e6-bfed-ef65dff5970d_video.html). *The Washington Post*. April 19, 2016. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
- ["Former President Trump, Melania Trump cast votes in Palm Beach"](https://cbs12.com/news/local/former-president-donald-trump-melania-trump-cast-votes-in-palm-beach-county-florida-march-19-2024). *CBS12*. March 19, 2024. Retrieved November 21, 2024. "Republican Presidential candidate former President Donald Trump and former First Lady Melania Trump cast their votes at a polling location in Palm Beach in Florida's Presidential Preference Primary on Tuesday."
- ["Melania Trump's Florida Voter Registration"](https://voterrecords.com/voter/89576277/melania-trump). *VoterRecords.com*. Retrieved January 10, 2025.
2. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-3)**
["Meet the First Ladies of the U.S."](https://firstladies.org/home/first-ladies/melania-trump) *firstladies.org*. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
3. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-CollinsModel_5-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-CollinsModel_5-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-CollinsModel_5-2) [***d***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-CollinsModel_5-3) [***e***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-CollinsModel_5-4) [***f***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-CollinsModel_5-5)
Collins, Lauren (May 9, 2016). ["The Model American: Melania Trump Is the Exception to Her Husband's Nativist Politics"](http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/05/09/who-is-melania-trump). *The New Yorker*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20181119152650/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/05/09/who-is-melania-trump) from the original on November 19, 2018. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
4. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBennett201948%E2%80%9349_6-0)** [Bennett 2019](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#CITEREFBennett2019), pp. 48–49.
5. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-7)**
["O Melaniji Je Prvi Poročal Dolenjski List"](http://www.dolenjskilist.si/2016/11/10/165255/novice/dolenjska/O_Melaniji_je_prvi_porocal_Dolenjski_list/) \[The First to Report about Melania was Dolenjski List\]. *Dolenjski list \[Lower Carniola Newspaper\]* (in Slovenian). November 10, 2016. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20161111154144/http://www.dolenjskilist.si/2016/11/10/165255/novice/dolenjska/O_Melaniji_je_prvi_porocal_Dolenjski_list/) from the original on November 11, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
6. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBennett201951_8-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBennett201951_8-1) [Bennett 2019](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#CITEREFBennett2019), p. 51.
7. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECaroli2019336_9-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECaroli2019336_9-1) [Caroli 2019](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#CITEREFCaroli2019), p. 336.
8. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEJordan202056_10-0)** [Jordan 2020](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#CITEREFJordan2020), p. 56.
9. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEJordan202050_11-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEJordan202050_11-1) [Jordan 2020](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#CITEREFJordan2020), p. 50.
10. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-Ioffe_12-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-Ioffe_12-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-Ioffe_12-2) [***d***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-Ioffe_12-3) [***e***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-Ioffe_12-4) [***f***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-Ioffe_12-5) [***g***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-Ioffe_12-6) [***h***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-Ioffe_12-7) [***i***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-Ioffe_12-8) [***j***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-Ioffe_12-9) [***k***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-Ioffe_12-10) [***l***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-Ioffe_12-11)
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Novak, Marja (February 12, 2016). ["Melania Trump's Past Took Her From A River Town In Slovenia To Trump Tower"](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/melania-trump-history_n_56bdf3b5e4b0c3c55050db11). *[HuffPost](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HuffPost "HuffPost")*. [Reuters](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reuters "Reuters"). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160215110114/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/melania-trump-history_us_56bdf3b5e4b0c3c55050db11) from the original on February 15, 2016. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
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377. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-379)**
De Liz, Ana (August 25, 2020). ["As Trump Family Dominates RNC, Poll Shows They're Most Popular GOP Figures"](https://www.newsweek.com/trump-family-dominates-rnc-poll-shows-most-popular-gop-figures-1527350). *[Newsweek](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newsweek "Newsweek")*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20221225135127/https://www.newsweek.com/trump-family-dominates-rnc-poll-shows-most-popular-gop-figures-1527350) from the original on December 25, 2022. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
378. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-Siena2020_380-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-Siena2020_380-1)
["Siena College First Ladies Poll"](https://scri.siena.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/FirstLadies2020Release.pdf) (PDF). *scri.siena.edu*. Siena College Research Institute. December 9, 2020. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240308234420/https://scri.siena.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/FirstLadies2020Release.pdf) (PDF) from the original on March 8, 2024. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
379. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-381)**
["Copy of FirstLadies\_Full Rankings\_working\_dl\_2.xls"](https://scri.siena.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/First-Ladies-Full-Rankings-2020.pdf) (PDF). *scri.siena.edu*. Siena College Research Institute. December 2020. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20240330064515/https://scri.siena.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/First-Ladies-Full-Rankings-2020.pdf) (PDF) from the original on March 30, 2024. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
380. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-382)**
Stevenson, Sam (February 4, 2026). ["How Melania and Donald Trump's Favorability Ratings Compare"](https://www.newsweek.com/melania-donald-trump-favorability-rating-compare-11463652). *Newsweek*. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
381. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-383)**
Brooks, Xan (January 30, 2026). ["Melania review – Trump film is a gilded trash remake of The Zone of Interest"](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/jan/30/melania-review-trump-film-is-a-gilded-trash-remake-of-the-zone-of-interest). *The Guardian*. [ISSN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISSN_\(identifier\) "ISSN (identifier)") [0261-3077](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0261-3077). Retrieved February 20, 2026.
382. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-384)**
McDonagh, Melanie (January 31, 2026). ["Melania film review: She's not Princess Di but she wants us to know she cares"](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/melania-film-review-b1269002.html). *The Standard*. Retrieved February 28, 2026.
## Bibliography
- Baker, Peter; Glasser, Susan (2022). [*The Divider: Trump in the White House, 2017-2021*](https://archive.org/details/dividertrumpinwh0000bake/). Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)")
[978-0-385-54654-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-385-54654-6 "Special:BookSources/978-0-385-54654-6")
.
- Bennett, Kate (2019). [*Free, Melania*](https://archive.org/details/freemelaniaunaut0000benn/). Flatiron Books. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)")
[978-1-250-30737-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-250-30737-8 "Special:BookSources/978-1-250-30737-8")
.
- [Caroli, Betty Boyd](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betty_Boyd_Caroli "Betty Boyd Caroli") (2019). "Chapter 11: The Ever-Changing Role of First Lady". *First Ladies: The Ever Changing Role, from Martha Washington to Melania Trump*. Oxford University Press. pp. 333–348\. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)")
[978-0-19-066913-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-19-066913-3 "Special:BookSources/978-0-19-066913-3")
.
- Elder, Laurel; Frederick, Brian; [Burrell, Barbara](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Burrell "Barbara Burrell") (2018). [*American Presidential Candidate Spouses: The Public's Perspective*](https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-319-73879-6). Palgrave Macmillan. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.1007/978-3-319-73879-6](https://doi.org/10.1007%2F978-3-319-73879-6). [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)")
[978-3-319-73878-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-3-319-73878-9 "Special:BookSources/978-3-319-73878-9")
.
- [Jordan, Mary](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Jordan_\(journalist\) "Mary Jordan (journalist)") (2020). [*The Art of Her Deal: The Untold Story of Melania Trump*](https://archive.org/details/artofherdealunto0000jord/). Simon and Schuster. [ISBN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISBN_\(identifier\) "ISBN (identifier)")
[978-1-9821-1340-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-9821-1340-7 "Special:BookSources/978-1-9821-1340-7")
.
- Požar, Bojan (February 18, 2016). *Melania Trump – The Inside Story: The Potential First Lady*. Zalozba Ombo d.o.o. Ljubljana. pp. 111–113\.
- Pušnik, Maruša; Jontes, Dejan (2021). ["Mediji in Spontani Nacionalizem: Primer Melanie Trump"](https://www.fdv.uni-lj.si/docs/default-source/tip/mediji-in-spontani-nacionalizem-primer-melanie-trump.pdf) \[Media and Spontaneous Nationalism: The Case of Melania Trump\] (PDF). *[Teorija in Praksa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teorija_in_Praksa "Teorija in Praksa")* (in Slovenian). **58** (2): 464–480\. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.51936/tip.58.2.464-480](https://doi.org/10.51936%2Ftip.58.2.464-480). [ISSN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISSN_\(identifier\) "ISSN (identifier)") [0040-3598](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0040-3598).
- Vidmar Horvat, Ksenija (2021). ["Postimperialni Patriarhat In Karnevaleskna Periferija: Melania Trump V Transnacionalni Javnosti"](https://www.fdv.uni-lj.si/docs/default-source/tip/postimperialni-patriarhat-in-karnevaleskna-periferija-melania-trump-v-transnacionalni-javnosti.pdf) \[Post-Imperial Patriarchy and the Carnivalesque Periphery: Melania Trump Within a Transnational Public\] (PDF). *[Teorija in Praksa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teorija_in_Praksa "Teorija in Praksa")* (in Slovenian). **58** (2): 447–463\. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.51936/tip.58.2.447-463](https://doi.org/10.51936%2Ftip.58.2.447-463). [ISSN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISSN_\(identifier\) "ISSN (identifier)") [0040-3598](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0040-3598).
## External links
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Commons-logo.svg)
Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Melania Trump](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Melania_Trump "commons:Category:Melania Trump").
Wikiquote has quotations related to ***[Melania Trump](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Special:Search/Melania_Trump "q:Special:Search/Melania Trump")***.
- [White House website](https://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/melania-trump/)
- [Official website](https://melaniatrump.com/)
- [Melania Trump](https://www.fashionmodeldirectory.com/models/melania_knauss/) at [Fashion Model Directory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fashion_Model_Directory "Fashion Model Directory") [](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q432473#P2266 "Edit this at Wikidata")
- [Melania Trump](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1514936/) at [IMDb](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IMDb_\(identifier\) "IMDb (identifier)")
- [Appearances](https://www.c-span.org/person/?101478) on [C-SPAN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C-SPAN "C-SPAN")
| Honorary titles | | |
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by[Michelle Obama](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelle_Obama "Michelle Obama") | **[First Lady of the United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Lady_of_the_United_States "First Lady of the United States")** 2017–2021 | Succeeded by[Jill Biden](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jill_Biden "Jill Biden") |
| Preceded byJill Biden | **First Lady of the United States** 2025–present | **Incumbent** |
| [v](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Melania_Trump "Template:Melania Trump") [t](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template_talk:Melania_Trump "Template talk:Melania Trump") [e](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Melania_Trump "Special:EditPage/Template:Melania Trump")[Melania Trump]() | | |
|---|---|---|
| [First Lady of the United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Lady_of_the_United_States "First Lady of the United States") (2017–2021, 2025–present) | | |
| Life and work | [Modeling career](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#Early_modeling_career) [Trump Tower](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trump_Tower "Trump Tower") ([Penthouse](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trump_Tower_penthouse_of_Donald_Trump "Trump Tower penthouse of Donald Trump")) (New York City, New York residence) [Trump National Golf Club Bedminster](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trump_National_Golf_Club_Bedminster "Trump National Golf Club Bedminster") (Bedminster, New Jersey residence) [Mar-a-Lago](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mar-a-Lago "Mar-a-Lago") (Palm Beach, Florida residence) [Be Best](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Be_Best "Be Best") [TAKE IT DOWN Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TAKE_IT_DOWN_Act "TAKE IT DOWN Act") | [](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Melania_Trump_official_portrait.jpg) |
| Books | *[Melania](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_\(memoir\) "Melania (memoir)")* (2024) | |
| [Family](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_of_Donald_Trump "Family of Donald Trump") | [Donald Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump "Donald Trump") (husband) [Barron Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barron_Trump "Barron Trump") (son) [Viktor Knavs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viktor_Knavs "Viktor Knavs") (father) [Amalija Knavs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amalija_Knavs "Amalija Knavs") (mother) | |
| [Public image](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_image_of_Melania_Trump "Public image of Melania Trump") | | |
| | | |
| Books | *[Melania and Me](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_and_Me "Melania and Me")* (2020) | |
| Film | *[Melania](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_\(film\) "Melania (film)")* (2026) | |
| Television | *[Our Cartoon President](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Cartoon_President "Our Cartoon President")* (2018) | |
| Other | [Statue of Melania Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statue_of_Melania_Trump "Statue of Melania Trump") (2019) | |
| Related | [Melania Trump replacement conspiracy theory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump_replacement_conspiracy_theory "Melania Trump replacement conspiracy theory") | |
|  [Category](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Melania_Trump "Category:Melania Trump") | | |
| [v](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:First_ladies_of_the_United_States_navbox "Template:First ladies of the United States navbox") [t](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template_talk:First_ladies_of_the_United_States_navbox "Template talk:First ladies of the United States navbox") [e](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:First_ladies_of_the_United_States_navbox "Special:EditPage/Template:First ladies of the United States navbox")[First ladies of the United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_first_ladies_of_the_United_States "List of first ladies of the United States") |
|---|
| [Martha Washington](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martha_Washington "Martha Washington") [Abigail Adams](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abigail_Adams "Abigail Adams") [Martha Jefferson Randolph](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martha_Jefferson_Randolph "Martha Jefferson Randolph") [Dolley Madison](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolley_Madison "Dolley Madison") [Elizabeth Monroe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Monroe "Elizabeth Monroe") [Louisa Adams](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisa_Adams "Louisa Adams") [Emily Donelson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emily_Donelson "Emily Donelson") [Sarah Jackson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Yorke_Jackson "Sarah Yorke Jackson") [Angelica Van Buren](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angelica_Singleton_Van_Buren "Angelica Singleton Van Buren") [Anna Harrison](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Harrison "Anna Harrison") [Jane Harrison](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Irwin_Harrison "Jane Irwin Harrison") [Letitia Tyler](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letitia_Christian_Tyler "Letitia Christian Tyler") [Priscilla Tyler](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priscilla_Cooper_Tyler "Priscilla Cooper Tyler") [Julia Tyler](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julia_Gardiner_Tyler "Julia Gardiner Tyler") [Sarah Polk](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Childress_Polk "Sarah Childress Polk") [Margaret Taylor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Taylor "Margaret Taylor") [Abigail Fillmore](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abigail_Fillmore "Abigail Fillmore") [Jane Pierce](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Pierce "Jane Pierce") [Harriet Lane](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harriet_Lane "Harriet Lane") [Mary Todd Lincoln](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Todd_Lincoln "Mary Todd Lincoln") [Eliza Johnson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eliza_McCardle_Johnson "Eliza McCardle Johnson") [Julia Grant](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julia_Grant "Julia Grant") [Lucy Hayes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucy_Webb_Hayes "Lucy Webb Hayes") [Lucretia Garfield](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucretia_Garfield "Lucretia Garfield") [Mary McElroy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Arthur_McElroy "Mary Arthur McElroy") [Rose Cleveland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_Cleveland "Rose Cleveland") [Frances Cleveland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frances_Cleveland "Frances Cleveland") [Caroline Harrison](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caroline_Harrison "Caroline Harrison") [Mary Harrison](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Harrison_McKee "Mary Harrison McKee") [Frances Cleveland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frances_Cleveland "Frances Cleveland") [Ida McKinley](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ida_Saxton_McKinley "Ida Saxton McKinley") [Edith Roosevelt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edith_Roosevelt "Edith Roosevelt") [Helen Taft](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Herron_Taft "Helen Herron Taft") [Ellen Wilson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellen_Axson_Wilson "Ellen Axson Wilson") [Margaret Wilson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Woodrow_Wilson "Margaret Woodrow Wilson") [Edith Wilson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edith_Wilson "Edith Wilson") [Florence Harding](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence_Harding "Florence Harding") [Grace Coolidge](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_Coolidge "Grace Coolidge") [Lou Hoover](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou_Henry_Hoover "Lou Henry Hoover") [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleanor_Roosevelt "Eleanor Roosevelt") [Bess Truman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bess_Truman "Bess Truman") [Mamie Eisenhower](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mamie_Eisenhower "Mamie Eisenhower") [Jacqueline Kennedy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacqueline_Kennedy_Onassis "Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis") [Lady Bird Johnson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Bird_Johnson "Lady Bird Johnson") [Pat Nixon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Nixon "Pat Nixon") [Betty Ford](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betty_Ford "Betty Ford") [Rosalynn Carter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosalynn_Carter "Rosalynn Carter") [Nancy Reagan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nancy_Reagan "Nancy Reagan") [Barbara Bush](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Bush "Barbara Bush") [Hillary Clinton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillary_Clinton "Hillary Clinton") [tenure](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hillary_Clinton_as_First_Lady_of_the_United_States "Hillary Clinton as First Lady of the United States") [Laura Bush](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laura_Bush "Laura Bush") [Michelle Obama](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelle_Obama "Michelle Obama") [Melania Trump]() [Jill Biden](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jill_Biden "Jill Biden") [Melania Trump]() |
| [First Lady of the United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Lady_of_the_United_States "First Lady of the United States") [bibliographies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bibliography_of_United_States_presidential_spouses_and_first_ladies "Bibliography of United States presidential spouses and first ladies") [families](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_family_of_the_United_States "First family of the United States") [firsts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_First_Lady_of_the_United_States_firsts "List of First Lady of the United States firsts") [memoirs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_memoirs_by_first_ladies_of_the_United_States "List of memoirs by first ladies of the United States") [National Historic Site](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Ladies_National_Historic_Site "First Ladies National Historic Site") [Category](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:First_ladies_of_the_United_States "Category:First ladies of the United States") |
| [v](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Trump_family "Template:Trump family") [t](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template_talk:Trump_family "Template talk:Trump family") [e](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Trump_family "Special:EditPage/Template:Trump family")[Family](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trump_family "Trump family") of [Donald Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump "Donald Trump") | |
|---|---|
| Children | [Donald Trump Jr.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump_Jr. "Donald Trump Jr.") (son) [Ivanka Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivanka_Trump "Ivanka Trump") (daughter) [Eric Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Trump "Eric Trump") (son) [Tiffany Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiffany_Trump "Tiffany Trump") (daughter) [Barron Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barron_Trump "Barron Trump") (son) |
| Grandchildren | [Kai Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kai_Trump "Kai Trump") (granddaughter) |
| Parents | [Fred Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Trump "Fred Trump") (father) [Mary Anne MacLeod Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Anne_MacLeod_Trump "Mary Anne MacLeod Trump") (mother) |
| Siblings | [Maryanne Trump Barry](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryanne_Trump_Barry "Maryanne Trump Barry") (sister) [Fred Trump Jr.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Trump_Jr. "Fred Trump Jr.") (brother) [Robert Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Trump "Robert Trump") (brother) |
| Grandparents | [Frederick Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Trump "Frederick Trump") (grandfather) [Elizabeth Christ Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_Christ_Trump "Elizabeth Christ Trump") (grandmother) |
| In-laws | [Jared Kushner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jared_Kushner "Jared Kushner") (son-in-law) [Lara Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lara_Trump "Lara Trump") (daughter-in-law) [Michael Boulos](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Boulos "Michael Boulos") (son-in-law) [Amalija Knavs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amalija_Knavs "Amalija Knavs") (mother-in-law) |
| Others | [John G. Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_G._Trump "John G. Trump") (uncle) [Mary L. Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_L._Trump "Mary L. Trump") (niece) [Fred Trump III](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Trump_III "Fred Trump III") (nephew) [John W. Walter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_W._Walter "John W. Walter") (cousin) [Melania Trump]() (wife) |
| [Authority control databases](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Authority_control "Help:Authority control") [](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q432473#identifiers "Edit this at Wikidata") | |
|---|---|
| International | [ISNI](https://isni.org/isni/0000000454327877) [VIAF](https://viaf.org/viaf/139145067461366630849) [GND](https://d-nb.info/gnd/1123849889) [FAST](https://id.worldcat.org/fast/1994587) [WorldCat](https://id.oclc.org/worldcat/entity/E39PBJkMGpV7x8R8xWRW6XxRrq) |
| National | [United States](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/n2017018517) [Czech Republic](https://aleph.nkp.cz/F/?func=find-c&local_base=aut&ccl_term=ica=jo20231183237&CON_LNG=ENG) [Netherlands](http://data.bibliotheken.nl/id/thes/p444502424) [Norway](https://authority.bibsys.no/authority/rest/authorities/html/1593520724088) [Latvia](https://kopkatalogs.lv/F?func=direct&local_base=lnc10&doc_number=000272959&P_CON_LNG=ENG) [Poland](https://dbn.bn.org.pl/descriptor-details/9810575599805606) [Israel](https://www.nli.org.il/en/authorities/987012502427005171) |
| Artists | [MusicBrainz](https://musicbrainz.org/artist/817ca621-a1cd-47b7-8360-2363e2d8ed06) |
| Other | [Yale LUX](https://lux.collections.yale.edu/view/person/d5d4e24a-991e-47a4-b15b-aed58bb5ce4d) |
[Portals](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Contents/Portals "Wikipedia:Contents/Portals"):
-  [Fashion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Fashion "Portal:Fashion")
- [](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_New_York_City.svg) [New York City](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:New_York_City "Portal:New York City")
- [](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:A_coloured_voting_box.svg) [Politics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Politics "Portal:Politics")
-  [Slovenia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Slovenia "Portal:Slovenia")
-  [United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:United_States "Portal:United States")
Retrieved from "<https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Melania_Trump&oldid=1346986521>"
[Categories](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Category "Help:Category"):
- [Melania Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Melania_Trump "Category:Melania Trump")
- [1970 births](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:1970_births "Category:1970 births")
- [Living people](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Living_people "Category:Living people")
- [20th-century Roman Catholics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:20th-century_Roman_Catholics "Category:20th-century Roman Catholics")
- [21st-century Roman Catholics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:21st-century_Roman_Catholics "Category:21st-century Roman Catholics")
- [21st-century American women civil servants](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:21st-century_American_women_civil_servants "Category:21st-century American women civil servants")
- [Activists from New York City](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Activists_from_New_York_City "Category:Activists from New York City")
- [American women founders](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:American_women_founders "Category:American women founders")
- [American founders](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:American_founders "Category:American founders")
- [American people of Slovenian descent](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:American_people_of_Slovenian_descent "Category:American people of Slovenian descent")
- [American Roman Catholics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:American_Roman_Catholics "Category:American Roman Catholics")
- [American women jewellers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:American_women_jewellers "Category:American women jewellers")
- [Anti-bullying activists](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Anti-bullying_activists "Category:Anti-bullying activists")
- [Anti-cyberbullying activists](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Anti-cyberbullying_activists "Category:Anti-cyberbullying activists")
- [Catholics from New York (state)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Catholics_from_New_York_\(state\) "Category:Catholics from New York (state)")
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Melania Trump
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| Readable Markdown | | Melania Trump | |
|---|---|
| [](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:F20251106AH-2437_First_Lady_Melania_Trump_delivers_remarks_after_receiving_the_%E2%80%9CPatriot_of_the_Year%E2%80%9D_award_\(cropped\).jpg)Trump in 2025 | |
| [First Lady of the United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Lady_of_the_United_States "First Lady of the United States") | |
| **Current** | |
| **Assumed role** January 20, 2025 | |
| President | [Donald Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump "Donald Trump") |
| Preceded by | [Jill Biden](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jill_Biden "Jill Biden") |
| **In role** January 20, 2017 – January 20, 2021 | |
| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | [Michelle Obama](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelle_Obama "Michelle Obama") |
| Succeeded by | Jill Biden |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Melanija Knavs April 26, 1970 (age 55) [Novo Mesto](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novo_Mesto "Novo Mesto"), SR Slovenia, Yugoslavia |
| Citizenship | [Yugoslavia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialist_Federal_Republic_of_Yugoslavia "Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia") (until 1991) [Slovenia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovenia "Slovenia") (from 1991) U.S. (from 2006) |
| [Party](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_party "Political party") | [Republican](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party_\(United_States\) "Republican Party (United States)")[\[1\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-1) |
| Spouse | [Donald Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump "Donald Trump") (m. ) |
| Children | [Barron Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barron_Trump "Barron Trump") |
| Parents | Viktor Knavs (father) [Amalija Knavs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amalija_Knavs "Amalija Knavs") (mother) |
| Relatives | [Trump family](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trump_family "Trump family") |
| Signature | [](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Melania_Knauss-Trump_signature.svg "Melania Trump's signature") |
| Trump on her family's departure from the White House Recorded January 18, 2021 | |
**Melania Knauss Trump**[\[a\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-2)[\[2\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-3) (born **Melanija Knavs**;[\[b\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-4) April 26, 1970) is a [Slovenian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovenes "Slovenes") and American former model serving as the [first lady of the United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_lady_of_the_United_States "First lady of the United States") since 2025, a role she previously held from 2017 to 2021 as the wife of [Donald Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump "Donald Trump"), the 45th and 47th [president of the United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_the_United_States "President of the United States"). She is the first [naturalized citizen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naturalized_citizen "Naturalized citizen") and the first non-native English speaker to become first lady; the second foreign-born first lady, after [Louisa Adams](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisa_Adams "Louisa Adams"); the second [Roman Catholic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic "Roman Catholic") first lady, after [Jacqueline Kennedy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacqueline_Kennedy "Jacqueline Kennedy"); and the second to hold the position nonconsecutively, after [Frances Cleveland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frances_Cleveland "Frances Cleveland").
Melanija Knavs was born in [Yugoslavia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialist_Federal_Republic_of_Yugoslavia "Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia"), where she began working as a fashion model at the age of 16 while pursuing her education. She changed the spelling of her name to **Melania Knauss** and traveled to [Paris](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_fashion#Paris "French fashion") and [Milan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fashion_in_Milan "Fashion in Milan") to seek modeling work before meeting [Paolo Zampolli](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paolo_Zampolli "Paolo Zampolli"), who hired her and sponsored her immigration to the United States in 1996. She worked as a model in [Manhattan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manhattan "Manhattan"), where she began dating Donald Trump shortly after Zampolli introduced them in 1998. Trump worked to get Knauss more modeling jobs, and she supported him during his [2000 presidential campaign](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump_2000_presidential_campaign "Donald Trump 2000 presidential campaign"). They married in 2005, and the following year had a son, [Barron Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barron_Trump "Barron Trump"). Knauss started her own jewelry brand, *Melania*, in 2009.
After encouraging her husband to [run for president](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump_2016_presidential_campaign "Donald Trump 2016 presidential campaign") in the [2016 presidential election](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_United_States_presidential_election "2016 United States presidential election"), Melania Trump made only rare campaign appearances, instead helping Donald with strategy. She received major press coverage during the campaign when erotic photos from her modeling years were republished, and again when a [speech she gave](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speeches_by_spouses_of_nominees_at_United_States_presidential_nominating_conventions "Speeches by spouses of nominees at United States presidential nominating conventions") at the [2016 Republican National Convention](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_Republican_National_Convention "2016 Republican National Convention") was found to be plagiarized from a similar speech by [Michelle Obama](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelle_Obama "Michelle Obama"). In the month leading up to the election, she defended her husband following the release of the [*Access Hollywood* tape](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump_Access_Hollywood_tape "Donald Trump Access Hollywood tape") that mired his campaign in scandal.
For the early months of her tenure as first lady, Trump stayed in Manhattan to allow Barron to finish school there and to renegotiate her [prenuptial agreement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prenuptial_agreement "Prenuptial agreement"). She performed minimal official activities after moving into the [White House](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House "White House") and held fewer events than previous first ladies. Trump faced several challenges in 2018, including [allegations of extramarital affairs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stormy_Daniels%E2%80%93Donald_Trump_scandal "Stormy Daniels–Donald Trump scandal") committed by her husband, surgery for [kidney disease](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kidney_disease "Kidney disease"), and a tour of Africa that was overshadowed by scrutiny of her wardrobe and personal conduct. As first lady, Trump prioritized children's issues, launching the [Be Best](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Be_Best "Be Best") campaign to promote children's welfare and visiting many children's hospitals. She was also a close advisor to her husband, influencing his decisions to end the Trump administration's [family separation policy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trump_administration_family_separation_policy "Trump administration family separation policy") and to ban fruit-flavored [electronic cigarette](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_cigarette "Electronic cigarette") cartridges. In the final months of her initial tenure as first lady, Trump endorsed her husband's [false claims of election fraud](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attempts_to_overturn_the_2020_United_States_presidential_election "Attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election") in the [2020 presidential election](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_United_States_presidential_election "2020 United States presidential election"). After leaving the White House in 2021, she largely stayed out of the public view before assuming the role of first lady again in 2025.
Early life and education
Melanija Knavs was born on April 26, 1970, in [Novo Mesto](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novo_Mesto "Novo Mesto"), a city in the [Lower Carniola](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lower_Carniola "Lower Carniola") region of [Slovenia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovenia "Slovenia"). At the time, Slovenia, known by the [Socialist Republic of Slovenia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialist_Republic_of_Slovenia "Socialist Republic of Slovenia"), was part of the [Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialist_Federal_Republic_of_Yugoslavia "Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia").[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-CollinsModel-5) Her father, Viktor Knavs, first worked as a chauffeur; eventually, he sold car parts for a state-owned vehicle manufacturer as he made connections with the [League of Communists of Yugoslavia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/League_of_Communists_of_Yugoslavia "League of Communists of Yugoslavia").[\[4\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201948%E2%80%9349-6) Her mother, [Amalija Knavs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amalija_Knavs "Amalija Knavs"),[\[5\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-7) worked as a [patternmaker](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pattern_\(sewing\) "Pattern (sewing)") at the children's clothing manufacturer Jutranjka in [Sevnica](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sevnica "Sevnica").[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-CollinsModel-5)[\[6\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201951-8) In Sevnica, the family lived in the state-run housing complex Naselje Heroja Maroka.[\[7\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019336-9) Melanija has an older sister, Ines,[\[8\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202056-10) and an older half-brother from her father's previous relationship, Denis Cigelnjak, whom she reportedly has never met.[\[9\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202050-11)
The family was well-off relative to most who lived in communist societies. They frequently went on vacations to other parts of Europe,[\[10\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-Ioffe-12) and their apartment was decorated with brightly colored walls.[\[10\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-Ioffe-12)[\[9\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202050-11)
As a child, Melanija, like other children of workers at the factory, participated in fashion shows that featured children's clothing.[\[11\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019337-13)[\[6\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201951-8)[\[12\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-VanityFair-14) Textiles were Sevnica's primary industry. Students were excused from school to participate in the shows.[\[13\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202052%E2%80%9353-15) From a young age, Melanija expressed an interest in fashion, and she began customizing and sewing her own clothes.[\[7\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019336-9) She developed a skill for it by watching her mother work.[\[14\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201952-16) Melanija did well in school, where she was appointed school [treasurer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treasurer "Treasurer").[\[15\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202054-17)
When Melanija was a teenager, she moved to a two-story house in Sevnica with her family.[\[16\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-18) Soon after [Tito](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tito "Tito")'s death, she was inspired by [Ronald Reagan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Reagan "Ronald Reagan")'s *[Morning in America](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morning_in_America "Morning in America")*, sensing that "morning" was spreading across the world, even into her own country.[\[17\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202055%E2%80%9357-19) Of particular interest to Melanija was the new exposure to global fashion.[\[14\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201952-16) At the age of fifteen, she began attending the Secondary School for Design and Photography in [Ljubljana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ljubljana "Ljubljana"), making the long commute from her hometown to the capital and back each day by train. After her first year, she and Ines moved to the capital together in an apartment paid for by their father.[\[18\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201953%E2%80%9354-20) After graduating at age nineteen, Melanija enrolled in the Faculty of Architecture and Civil and Geodetic Engineering at the [University of Ljubljana](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Ljubljana "University of Ljubljana") to further study design, leaving after a few months without finishing her degree.[\[19\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019338-21)[\[20\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201957-22)
Trump has said that she can speak English, Italian, French, and German in addition to her native Slovene, but in public she has fluently spoken only English and Slovene.[\[21\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020238%E2%80%93241-23)
Early modeling career
European career
Knavs was discovered by Slovenian fashion photographer [Stane Jerko](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stane_Jerko "Stane Jerko") when she was sixteen, after modeling in a school-sponsored show.[\[22\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201954%E2%80%9355-24)[\[23\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202057%E2%80%9360-25) At the time, she had wanted to be a fashion designer rather than a model.[\[10\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-Ioffe-12) She won a modeling contest with the Italian studio [Cinecittà](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinecitt%C3%A0 "Cinecittà") that entitled her to a movie role, but rejected the prize after a producer sexually propositioned her.[\[24\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202061%E2%80%9363-26) As her modeling career progressed, Knavs took on the alternate spelling of her surname as, "Knauss" and of her given name as "Melania".[\[25\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-27) She traveled in Europe to find modeling work.[\[19\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019338-21)[\[26\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202063-28) Except for a few close relatives, she did not maintain contact with anyone she knew in Slovenia.[\[27\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202025%E2%80%9326-29) In 1992, she was named [runner-up](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Runner-up "Runner-up") in the *Jana Magazine* [Look of the Year](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elite_Model_Look "Elite Model Look") contest, which promised its top three contestants an international modeling contract.[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-CollinsModel-5)[\[19\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019338-21)[\[10\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-Ioffe-12) She signed with RVR Reclame in Milan, but left the organization a few months later.[\[28\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202067%E2%80%9369-30)
Knauss spent the following years traveling in Europe for modeling jobs, including one in which she portrayed the first female president of the United States in 1993.[\[29\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202072%E2%80%9373-31) Around age 23 or 24, she made Paris her primary residence, where she lived with her roommate [Victoria Silvstedt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_Silvstedt "Victoria Silvstedt").[\[30\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202076%E2%80%9377-32) Knauss modeled for fashion houses in Paris and Milan, where in 1995 she met Metropolitan Models co-owner [Paolo Zampolli](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paolo_Zampolli "Paolo Zampolli"), who was on a scouting trip in Europe. Zampolli, a friend of her future husband [Donald Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump "Donald Trump"),[\[12\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-VanityFair-14) became one of her few long-time acquaintances.[\[31\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202083-33)
Relocating to New York
Zampolli urged Knauss to travel to the United States, where he said he would like to represent her.[\[12\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-VanityFair-14) In 1996, Knauss moved to Manhattan.[\[12\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-VanityFair-14)[\[10\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-Ioffe-12) By this time, she was already 26 years old, much older than most aspiring models.[\[32\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201959-34) Zampolli encouraged Knauss to live near and socialize with people in the fashion industry,[\[33\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019334-35) and he arranged for her to share an apartment with photographer Matthew Atanian in [Zeckendorf Towers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeckendorf_Towers "Zeckendorf Towers") in [Union Square](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Square,_Manhattan "Union Square, Manhattan").[\[34\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202081%E2%80%9382-36)[\[12\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-VanityFair-14) Her rent was taken from her pay with Zampolli's agency.[\[35\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201963-37) Once she resided in the United States, she made only rare and brief visits to her country of origin.[\[36\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019335-38) She lived a healthy lifestyle, managing her diet carefully,[\[37\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201964-39) and avoided the drinking and partying that often consumed the lives of the models around her.[\[38\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202086%E2%80%9389-40) She did not lead an active social life and rarely went out.[\[38\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202086%E2%80%9389-40)[\[37\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201964-39) Knauss was featured in a nude photo shoot for a 1997 issue of *[Max](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_\(French_magazine\) "Max (French magazine)")*, a French men's magazine, with another female model. The photos were shot by the photographer Alexandre Ale de Basseville, and the work was unpaid, instead promising Knauss exposure in a prominent magazine. The photos were largely forgotten until they were published by the *[New York Post](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Post "New York Post")* in 2016.[\[39\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202089%E2%80%9392-41)
For her first weeks in the United States, her [travel visa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travel_visa "Travel visa") did not allow her to work in the country. Despite this, she accepted ten modeling jobs that earned her approximately \$20,000 (equivalent to \$41,000 in 2025). She then received an [H-1B visa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H-1B_visa "H-1B visa") that allowed her to work.[\[33\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019334-35) She received her first major job when she posed for a [Camel cigarette](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camel_\(cigarette\) "Camel (cigarette)") ad shot by [Ellen von Unwerth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellen_von_Unwerth "Ellen von Unwerth"), which was displayed as a [Times Square](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Times_Square "Times Square") billboard and ran in *[Rolling Stone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolling_Stone "Rolling Stone")*. The opportunity was facilitated by a law that restricted cigarette ads to only depict people above the age of 25, excluding most aspiring models.[\[40\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202095%E2%80%9396-42) When her roommate Atanian left New York, Knauss moved to an apartment off of [Park Avenue](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Park_Avenue "Park Avenue").[\[41\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202097-43)
Marriage and family
Meeting Donald Trump
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Donald_and_Melania_1999.jpg)
Donald Trump and Melania Knauss in 1999
In September 1998, Zampolli introduced Knauss to the real estate mogul Donald Trump at a party.[\[42\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-44) Donald had a date to the event, [Celina Midelfart](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celina_Midelfart "Celina Midelfart"). When he asked Knauss for her phone number, she refused. Instead, she insisted that he give her his own number. He passed her test when he gave her multiple personal numbers instead of an office number.[\[43\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020109-45)[\[44\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201966-46) She later said that giving her own number would make her "just one of the women he calls".[\[43\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020109-45) The exact details of when and where this took place are unclear, though the Kit Kat Club is often described as where they met.[\[45\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020109%E2%80%93110-47)
After a week, Knauss called Trump and they went on a date.[\[46\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201966%E2%80%9367-48) She intentionally responded with indifference to his advances, knowing this would pique his interest.[\[47\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020112-49) Not only was Trump's personality similar to that of her father,[\[11\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019337-13)[\[48\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202048-50)[\[49\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201972-51) but they were of similar ages and had similar physical appearances.[\[10\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-Ioffe-12)[\[48\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202048-50)[\[50\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201967,_72-52) When they began dating, Knauss had access to his book *[Trump: The Art of the Comeback](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trump:_The_Art_of_the_Comeback "Trump: The Art of the Comeback")*, in which he detailed what he wanted from a relationship.[\[51\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202029%E2%80%9330-53)[\[52\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201993%E2%80%9394-54)
Knauss held a press conference on September 8, spending the event recounting her successes and telling reporters that she was "world famous", "among the top 50" highest-paid models in the world, and set to appear in a movie alongside [Mickey Rourke](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mickey_Rourke "Mickey Rourke").[\[53\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202099%E2%80%93102-55) The intention was to build her profile in anticipation of another, ultimately unsuccessful, cigarette ad campaign.[\[54\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020106%E2%80%93107-56) This was unusual behavior for a woman who typically kept a quiet and professional presence,[\[55\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020108-57) and reporters were unable to verify the claims she made.[\[56\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020101,_104%E2%80%93105-58) The Trumps have stated that they met at the [New York Fashion Week](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Fashion_Week "New York Fashion Week") shortly after this conference but, according to biographer [Mary Jordan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Jordan_\(journalist\) "Mary Jordan (journalist)"), rumors in the industry suggested that their relationship had already developed by then.[\[55\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020108-57) Their relationship initially only lasted a few weeks. Knauss left Trump after she saw his ex-girlfriend [Kara Young](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kara_Young_\(model\) "Kara Young (model)") leaving [Trump Tower](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trump_Tower "Trump Tower"), but she reunited with him the following week.[\[57\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201968-59)
Relationship with Donald Trump
Donald Trump's fame and connections gave Melania Knauss new career opportunities.[\[58\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020113-60) Shortly after the death of [Jacqueline Kennedy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacqueline_Kennedy "Jacqueline Kennedy"), whom Knauss and her mother had deeply admired, Knauss met the [Kennedy family](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kennedy_family "Kennedy family") at a gala.[\[59\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020114-61) She continued to encounter celebrities while attending events with Trump.[\[60\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020115,_118%E2%80%93119-62)
Knauss continued her modeling career after meeting Trump,[\[12\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-VanityFair-14) though she took fewer jobs as time went on and she dedicated more time to him.[\[61\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201974-63) In 1999, the couple gained attention after an interview with [shock jock](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shock_jock "Shock jock") [Howard Stern](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Stern "Howard Stern") on his show, in which he asked them lewd sexual questions.[\[62\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020141%E2%80%93144-64) Trump often brought Knauss to meetings to show her off, praising her beauty. He did not let her participate in the business, citing the conflict he had with his first wife after giving her an executive role.[\[63\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020199%E2%80%93200-65)
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bill_Clinton_and_Donald_Trump_at_the_U.S._Open_in_2000,_Flushing_Meadows%E2%80%93Corona_Park.jpg)
Melania Knauss (on the right) with then-president [Bill Clinton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Clinton "Bill Clinton"), Donald Trump, and [Kylie Bax](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kylie_Bax "Kylie Bax") (listed right to left) in 2000
Trump announced [his candidacy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump_2000_presidential_campaign "Donald Trump 2000 presidential campaign") for the [Reform Party presidential nomination](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000_Reform_Party_presidential_primaries "2000 Reform Party presidential primaries") on October 7, 1999. Knauss strongly supported the move.[\[64\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020128%E2%80%93129-66) When asked by *[The New York Times](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_York_Times "The New York Times")* what her role would be if Trump were to become president, Knauss replied: "I would be very traditional, like [Betty Ford](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betty_Ford "Betty Ford") or Jackie Kennedy."[\[65\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020144%E2%80%93145-67) Knauss saw extensive media attention as [tabloids](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tabloid_journalism "Tabloid journalism") considered the idea of a model as first lady.[\[66\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020139%E2%80%93140-68)
Knauss was one of the first models recruited to Trump's modeling agency, [Trump Model Management](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trump_Model_Management "Trump Model Management"), after its creation in February 1999. The following months, she appeared in several magazines and advertisements organized by individuals close to Trump.[\[67\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020119%E2%80%93123-69) While Trump was organizing his campaign, Knauss appeared in the February edition of *[Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sports_Illustrated_Swimsuit_Issue "Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue")*. The image featured her in a bikini alongside a large inflatable whale; the shoot was run by [Antoine Verglas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antoine_Verglas "Antoine Verglas"), an associate of Zampolli's.[\[68\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020129%E2%80%93130-70) Shortly after the shoot, Verglas called Knauss back for another project where he had her pose nude in a [Bond girl](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bond_girl "Bond girl") aesthetic.[\[69\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020132%E2%80%93135-71) Knauss later said that she stood 'proudly behind \[her\] nude modeling work' in a post on X ([Twitter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitter "Twitter")) in September 2024.[\[70\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-72) Trump had lobbied for her inclusion in a *[GQ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GQ "GQ")* spread,[\[71\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201974%E2%80%9375-73) and her relationship with him allowed the shoot access to his [Boeing 727](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_727 "Boeing 727") aircraft. Images from the shoot were included in the January 2000 edition of *GQ* magazine.[\[69\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020132%E2%80%93135-71) At the time, Trump's involvement was not made known.[\[33\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019334-35) She then appeared in another sexualized photoshoot, where she was posted in a mock-up of the [Oval Office](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oval_Office "Oval Office").[\[72\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201978%E2%80%9379-74)
In January 2000, it was reported that Knauss and Trump had broken up, with conflicting accounts of who ended the relationship. Many photos and publicity pieces the two had done together were quickly edited before publication to accommodate the change.[\[73\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020151%E2%80%93156-75) They kept in contact, and they reunited a few months later.[\[74\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201980-76) Knauss received her [green card](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_card "Green card") in 2001, granting her [permanent residency](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permanent_residency "Permanent residency") in the United States.[\[33\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019334-35)[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-CollinsModel-5) Knauss and Trump moved in together at Trump Tower in 2002.[\[75\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201981-77) She made her first appearance on Trump's game show [*The Apprentice*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Apprentice_\(American_TV_series\) "The Apprentice (American TV series)") in April 2004 when an episode had the contestants visit their [penthouse](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penthouse_apartment "Penthouse apartment").[\[76\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201983-78)
Engagement and wedding
Trump proposed to Knauss on April 26, 2004, on her birthday as they were leaving to attend the [Met Gala](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Met_Gala "Met Gala").[\[77\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201986%E2%80%9387-79) He reasoned that he was more willing to wed as she had not insisted on marriage, and he felt she had been an influence in his success over the previous years.[\[78\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201984-80) She also signed his [prenuptial agreement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prenuptial_agreement "Prenuptial agreement") without issue.[\[79\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201991-81) A few months before the wedding, Knauss traveled to Paris with [Anna Wintour](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Wintour "Anna Wintour") and [André Leon Talley](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andr%C3%A9_Leon_Talley "André Leon Talley") to find a wedding dress, deciding on a dress by [John Galliano](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Galliano "John Galliano").[\[80\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019100-82) In the days leading up to the wedding, she appeared on the front cover of [*Vogue*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vogue_\(magazine\) "Vogue (magazine)") in her dress.[\[81\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019101-83)[\[82\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020178%E2%80%93179-84)
Trump and Knauss married on January 22, 2005, at the [Bethesda-by-the-Sea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bethesda-by-the-Sea "Bethesda-by-the-Sea") church in [Palm Beach](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_Beach,_Florida "Palm Beach, Florida"), Florida.[\[83\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020176-85) The ceremony was followed by a reception in the [ballroom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballroom "Ballroom") at Trump's [Mar-a-Lago](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mar-a-Lago "Mar-a-Lago") estate, which Knauss planned with Preston Bailey.[\[84\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201996%E2%80%9397-86) Numerous celebrities were present, including musicians, athletes, media executives, and television personalities.[\[85\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020176%E2%80%93177-87) She had one [bridesmaid](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridesmaid "Bridesmaid"), her sister Ines, who had moved to New York so they could be closer together.[\[36\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019335-38) Knauss arranged all of the details of the wedding with her planner. She let Trump make decisions about the event, but she refused his suggestion that the wedding be broadcast on [NBC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBC "NBC").[\[86\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020177%E2%80%93178-88)
Marriage and motherhood
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Donald_Trump_and_wife_Melania.jpg)
Donald Trump and Melania Trump in 2006
The Trumps had [three residences](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Residences_of_Donald_Trump "Residences of Donald Trump") that they traveled between: Trump Tower in New York, [Trump National Golf Club Bedminster](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trump_National_Golf_Club_Bedminster "Trump National Golf Club Bedminster") in New Jersey, and Mar-a-Lago in Florida.[\[36\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019335-38)[\[87\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020185-89) To have her own private accommodation, Melania had a private spa constructed on the top floor of Trump Tower.[\[87\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020185-89) As a couple, the two did not spend much direct time together, preferring to live adjacently.[\[88\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020210%E2%80%93213-90) According to Donald, their passive relationship suited him because he worked for a living and did not "want to go home and work at a relationship".[\[10\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-Ioffe-12)[\[89\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201987%E2%80%9388-91) Melania accepted a transactional element in their relationship, though she cared about Donald and did not believe that she was a [gold digger](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_digger "Gold digger").[\[90\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201992%E2%80%9393-92) When she attended events with her husband at Trump facilities, she often stayed for only a few minutes to make an appearance before returning to the private residence.[\[91\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020214-93) Donald did not learn to speak Melania's native language, which she said she accepted because she is "not a nagging wife".[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-CollinsModel-5)
Upon marrying Donald, Melania became stepmother to his four children: [Donald Trump Jr.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump_Jr. "Donald Trump Jr."), [Eric Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Trump "Eric Trump") and [Ivanka Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivanka_Trump "Ivanka Trump") from his first marriage to [Ivana Zelníčková](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivana_Trump "Ivana Trump"), and [Tiffany Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiffany_Trump "Tiffany Trump") from his second marriage to [Marla Maples](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marla_Maples "Marla Maples").[\[92\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020183-94) Melania had especially bonded with Tiffany, who was six when Melania began dating her father, and made sure she felt included among her half-siblings.[\[93\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201973-95) Melania's pregnancy was widely covered in the media.[\[94\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019110%E2%80%93111-96) She again appeared on the cover of *Vogue*, showing her pregnant body in a bikini and an open coat.[\[95\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019113%E2%80%93114-97) Melania's sister and their parents frequently visited her throughout the pregnancy. She oversaw the construction of a nursery in Trump Tower[\[96\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019112-98) and had a [baby shower](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby_shower "Baby shower") at the [FAO Schwarz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FAO_Schwarz "FAO Schwarz") toy store, insisting that the toys and gifts she received be donated to a children's hospital.[\[97\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019114-99)
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Melania_Trump_2011.jpg)
Melania Trump in 2011
On March 20, 2006, Melania and Donald had a son, [Barron William Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barron_William_Trump "Barron William Trump").[\[98\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020183%E2%80%93184-100) Melania chose her son's middle name, while Donald chose his first name.[\[99\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-Schneider1May-101) Donald had previously used the name Barron as a [pseudonym](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudonym "Pseudonym") when he posed as his own public relations agent.[\[100\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019114%E2%80%93115-102) After Barron was born, Melania was active in his life and accordingly spent less time attending events with her husband.[\[101\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020184-103)[\[102\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019118-104) Donald had made it clear to her that if they had a child, he would not be actively involved in the child's life.[\[102\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019118-104) Melania later said she approved of this, stating that she "didn't want him changing diapers or putting Barron to bed".[\[10\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-Ioffe-12) She avoided the use of nannies, with a few exceptions in Barron's earliest years, insisting on raising him herself.[\[103\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201924,_117-105) Due to this decreased social activity Donald began courting supermodels again, which made Melania uncomfortable. According to biographer Mary Jordan, Melania did not know about the women who later alleged that they had extramarital affairs with him.[\[87\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020185-89)
Melania stayed out of the public spotlight after she settled into her life as a Trump, excepting occasional charity work and an appearance in an [Aflac](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aflac "Aflac") commercial.[\[104\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019125-106) She became a citizen of the United States on July 28, 2006.[\[105\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020186-107) She then sponsored her parents using the "[chain migration](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chain_migration "Chain migration")" immigration process that her husband later repeatedly criticized.[\[106\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020193%E2%80%93194-108)[\[107\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019112%E2%80%93113-109) Melania and Barron maintain [dual citizenship](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple_citizenship "Multiple citizenship"), of the United States and Slovenia.[\[108\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020191%E2%80%93192-110) Spending most of her time at Trump residences, she rarely kept companions besides her parents and her son.[\[91\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020214-93)
As her son reached childhood, Melania found herself with more time for other pursuits.[\[109\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019125%E2%80%93126-111) She trademarked her name, Melania, in 2009 as a jewelry brand, which she used to sell less expensive jewelry pieces on [QVC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QVC "QVC").[\[110\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020200%E2%80%93201-112) She was intentional about not using the Trump name in her branding, correcting reporters who called it Melania Trump.[\[111\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019126%E2%80%93127-113) She drew the designs herself,[\[10\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-Ioffe-12) based on three places where she had lived: New York, Palm Beach, and Paris. Over the following years she released additional *Melania* collections, which all sold out.[\[111\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019126%E2%80%93127-113) Melania then developed a line of [caviar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caviar "Caviar")\-infused skincare products under the brand Melania Marks Skincare in 2011.[\[112\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020204%E2%80%93205-114) The brand never launched, and Melania sued the company selling the products, New Sunshine, for [US\$](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US$ "US$")50 million in lost revenue[\[113\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019128-115) after it underwent management changes and voided the contract. The company alleged that one executive had given a [sweetheart deal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sweetheart_deal "Sweetheart deal") to the Trumps because Donald was a family friend. The case was decided in Melania's favor, and the amount to be paid to her was settled out of court.[\[114\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020207%E2%80%93209-116)
Donald Trump 2016 presidential campaign
Personal life during the campaign
Melania was the one who finally convinced Donald [to campaign for president](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump_2016_presidential_campaign "Donald Trump 2016 presidential campaign") in the [2016 presidential election](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_United_States_presidential_election "2016 United States presidential election"), telling him that he either needed to do it or stop talking about it.[\[115\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202022-117)[\[116\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201920%E2%80%9322-118) When the campaign began, Melania made it clear to her husband that she would not be pressured into campaigning or attending events, and that she would only make appearances when she wanted to. She subsequently played a relatively small role in the campaign, which had been atypical of spouses of presidential candidates since the early 20th century.[\[117\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201923-119) Explaining her absence, she cited the need to stay home with her son Barron.[\[118\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019339-120)[\[119\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEElderFrederickBurrell2018108-121) Her daily routine was nonetheless altered by the campaign, as she had to take security arrangements into account when she traveled, and she could not post about her activities online in real time.[\[120\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019120%E2%80%93121-122) Once a prolific user of [Instagram](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instagram "Instagram") and [Twitter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitter "Twitter"), she became less active on her social media accounts when the campaign began.[\[10\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-Ioffe-12)
While many people doubted Donald's chances at the presidency, including his own inner circle, Melania believed he would win.[\[121\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan20203%E2%80%934-123)[\[122\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201922-124) Unlike Donald's advisors, Melania encouraged him to follow his instincts and say what he felt he should say, with the exception that she does not like his use of profane language.[\[123\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020227%E2%80%93228-125) She analyzed the campaign closely from home, following polling and watching how her husband interacted with his opponents.[\[124\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201927-126) She spoke to him on the phone regularly throughout the campaign, including a conversation after each rally in which she gave a candid evaluation of how he did.[\[125\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020224,_226-127)
Campaign involvement
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:First_Lady_Melania_Trump_speaking_in_2015_\(cropped2\).jpg)
Melania Trump at a campaign event with Donald and Barron in November 2015
Melania's career as a model was an advantage during the campaign, as she was prepared for photographers and did not need to hire a fashion consultant.[\[19\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019338-21) As a model, she was required to be deliberate in all of her movement, including how she stood and walked.[\[126\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202018-128) She resented being called shy during the campaign, saying that this was an impression spread by people who only briefly met her and wanted their "[15 minutes of fame](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/15_minutes_of_fame "15 minutes of fame")".[\[127\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020222%E2%80%93223-129) Melania's earliest speaking appearances in November 2015 and February 2016 were prompted by Donald calling on her to speak to the crowd. Both times, she only said a few sentences.[\[128\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201925%E2%80%9326-130) Her first scheduled speech during the campaign did not take place until April 2016.[\[119\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEElderFrederickBurrell2018108-121)
The campaign reportedly wanted to get Melania more active, as she was in a unique position to humanize Donald and to appeal to the [American Dream](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Dream "American Dream") from an immigrant's perspective.[\[129\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201924%E2%80%9325,_42-131) [Hope Hicks](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hope_Hicks "Hope Hicks") was the campaign's main liaison with Melania, facilitating any appearances that she wished to make. Melania trusted Hicks's judgement and allowed her to weigh the importance of a given appearance.[\[130\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201928-132) Her rare appearances brought her to [swing states](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swing_states "Swing states") where her husband needed extra support, and her speeches celebrated his personal traits instead of policy.[\[118\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019339-120)
Melania was involved in the [vice presidential selection process](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_Republican_Party_vice_presidential_candidate_selection "2016 Republican Party vice presidential candidate selection"), meeting with the top contenders, and her approval of [Mike Pence](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Pence "Mike Pence") contributed to his selection. The deciding factor, in her mind, was that Pence was not as ambitious as the other contenders and would not seek to undermine Donald.[\[131\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202042%E2%80%9343-133)
Media coverage
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Melania_Trump_\(8_February_2016\).jpg)
Melania Trump in 2016
An [attack ad](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_ad "Attack ad") against the Trumps was produced by a [super PAC](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_PAC "Super PAC") that supported Donald's opponent [Ted Cruz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ted_Cruz "Ted Cruz") featuring Melania's nude *GQ* photo with the caption "Meet Melania Trump. Your next first lady. Or you could support Ted Cruz on Tuesday", intensifying the rivalry between the two candidates in the [2016 Republican Party presidential primaries](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_Republican_Party_presidential_primaries "2016 Republican Party presidential primaries").[\[118\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019339-120)[\[132\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201977-134)[\[10\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-Ioffe-12) More nude images of Melania were published on the front page of the *New York Post* in July 2016 in a story titled "The Ogle Office". The images did not have a major effect on the campaign, as Melania was seen as the victim, but they were humiliating and she spent the following two months away from the public.[\[133\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201929%E2%80%9331-135)
[On July 18, 2016](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump_speech_plagiarism_controversy "Melania Trump speech plagiarism controversy"), Melania [gave a speech](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speeches_by_spouses_of_nominees_at_United_States_presidential_nominating_conventions "Speeches by spouses of nominees at United States presidential nominating conventions") at the [2016 Republican National Convention](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_Republican_National_Convention "2016 Republican National Convention"). A controversy emerged after it became apparent that a paragraph of the speech had been plagiarized from [Michelle Obama](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelle_Obama "Michelle Obama")'s speech at the [2008 Democratic National Convention](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Democratic_National_Convention "2008 Democratic National Convention").[\[134\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019340-136)[\[135\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett20197%E2%80%938-137) When asked about it, Melania said she wrote the speech herself "with as little help as possible".[\[136\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-138) Despite political campaigns typically having several people to scrutinize such speeches, no one in the Trump campaign had reviewed the speech.[\[137\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett20198-139) Donald was furious with his staff and felt he had failed Melania, while Melania felt she herself had failed the campaign through the scandal.[\[138\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201911%E2%80%9312-140) It was the only major speech she delivered during the campaign.[\[139\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-141) Two days later, Trump staff writer [Meredith McIver](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meredith_McIver "Meredith McIver") took responsibility, saying there was a misunderstanding when Melania read passages of Obama's speech as examples.[\[134\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019340-136)[\[140\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201915%E2%80%9316-142) The speech also included a rare statement on her past, describing her family in Slovenia and her early modeling career.[\[137\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett20198-139) After giving the speech, Melania stayed out of public view until Election Day approached.[\[141\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEElderFrederickBurrell2018110-143)
*Access Hollywood* tape
On October 7, a month before the election, the [*Access Hollywood* tape](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump_Access_Hollywood_tape "Donald Trump Access Hollywood tape") was leaked. The tape had been recorded in 2005, shortly after their marriage, and it featured audio of Donald making lewd remarks about his treatment of women.[\[142\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-144) Immediately after its release, the campaign's primary concern was Melania's reaction. It took Donald two hours before he went to see Melania. Upon their meeting, Melania reportedly told him "Now you could lose, you could have blown this for us", and then left the room after he apologized.[\[143\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan20201%E2%80%933-145) In 2024, her husband's former personal counsel Michael Cohen testified during *[The People of the State of New York v. Donald J. Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_People_of_the_State_of_New_York_v._Donald_J._Trump "The People of the State of New York v. Donald J. Trump")* trial that Donald had privately credited her as having suggested that the campaign's response strategy should best characterize the conversation on the tape as ["locker room talk"](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/locker_room_talk "wikt:locker room talk").[\[144\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-146)
Melania kept her distance from him, angry that he may have ended his candidacy with his comments, and she waited a day before making a comment.[\[145\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201934%E2%80%9335-147) When asked by the campaign to make a scripted appearance alongside Donald as damage control, she refused, deciding that she was going to respond her own way.[\[146\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan20204-148) She also refused to sit beside him during his recorded apology as politicians' spouses often did in these situations.[\[147\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201935-149) Melania released a statement saying that the tape did not show "the man I know" and said those who [accused him of sexual misconduct](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump_sexual_misconduct_allegations "Donald Trump sexual misconduct allegations") are liars.[\[134\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019340-136) Melania received significantly more attention from the press following the incident,[\[148\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan20207-150) and she was frustrated by the pity she received.[\[146\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan20204-148) A few days later, she attended a [presidential debate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_United_States_presidential_debates "2016 United States presidential debates") wearing a [pussy bow](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pussy_bow "Pussy bow"), causing widespread speculation about her intention (as her husband's comments on the Access Hollywood tape had included, "Grab them by the pussy" (or [vulva](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vulva "Vulva")).[\[149\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201932-151)[\[148\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan20207-150)
First tenure as First Lady of the United States (2017–2021)
Melania was the first [naturalized citizen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naturalized_citizen "Naturalized citizen") to become first lady[\[150\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-152) and the second foreign-born woman to hold the title, after [Louisa Adams](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisa_Adams "Louisa Adams"), who was born in England.[\[151\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-:0-153) She was also the second [Roman Catholic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church "Catholic Church") first lady of the United States, after Jacqueline Kennedy.[\[152\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-Sieczkowski-154)[\[153\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-catholicherald.co.uk-155)
First lady in Manhattan
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Donald_Trump_and_Melania_Trump_at_Liberty_Ball_Inauguration_2017.jpg)
Melania Trump with Donald Trump at the Liberty Ball, January 20, 2017
After [Donald's inauguration](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_inauguration_of_Donald_Trump "First inauguration of Donald Trump") as president on January 20, 2017,[\[151\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-:0-153) Melania announced that she would not move to [Washington, D.C.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington,_D.C. "Washington, D.C."), with him, instead staying in Manhattan so Barron could finish the school year there.[\[154\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019341-156) Remaining in New York also allowed her to introduce her son to the [White House](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House "White House") gradually so as not to overwhelm him.[\[155\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019144-157) According to biographer Mary Jordan, a Pulitzer Prize-winning *Washington Post* journalist, "Melania also used this time to negotiate new terms for her prenuptial agreement with Donald to reflect the changes in their lives since it was signed and to ensure that Barron would receive a suitable inheritance."[\[156\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202034-158) (Mrs. Trump's spokesperson dismissed Jordan's book as "belonging in the fiction genre".)[\[157\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-159)
Melania's absence from the White House caused speculation that her stepdaughter Ivanka would serve as an acting first lady.[\[154\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019341-156)[\[158\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202030-160)[\[159\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019161-161) As time went by, members of the administration's staff like her assistant, [Stephanie Winston Wolkoff](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephanie_Winston_Wolkoff "Stephanie Winston Wolkoff"), grew unhappy with Melania's absence, as it gave the impression of marital issues and prevented her from exercising a calming influence over the president.[\[160\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202034%E2%80%9335-162)[\[161\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-:1-163) She also stoked resentment among many of the people in New York, who predominantly opposed the Trumps, because of the costs and traffic issues caused by the [Secret Service](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Secret_Service "United States Secret Service") presence.[\[162\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202036-164)[\[163\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019144%E2%80%93145-165) The Secret Service itself also faced logistical issues from the repeated travel to New York. Having a Secret Service detail was not a major adjustment for Melania though, as she had spent years around her husband's security team.[\[164\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019134-166) She was given the [Secret Service code name](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secret_Service_code_name "Secret Service code name") "Muse" to go along with the president's name "Mogul".[\[165\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019137-167) Being first lady came with another drawback for Melania, as she was expected to speak on serious topics such as immigration policy and had little control over how her media appearances were handled, which was a different experience than she had as a model.[\[166\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202037-168)
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Donald_Trump_Pope_Francis_Melania_Trump_in_2017.jpg)
Melania Trump with Pope Francis, the Vatican, May 2017
When the Trump administration's [White House website](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_website "White House website") was posted, Melania's biographical information caused controversy because it listed her jewelry business. Though it had already ceased operation, critics alleged that it was an attempt to promote her business with government resources.[\[167\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019128%E2%80%93129-169) Another allegation of attempting to profit from her role as first lady came up in February, when she sued the *[Daily Mail](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daily_Mail "Daily Mail")* for libel after it alleged in 2016 that she had worked for an [escort agency](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escort_agency "Escort agency").[\[168\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-Puente-170) The suit was initially for lost career opportunities, but this was changed to emotional distress when she received questions about why she expected to have career opportunities as first lady.[\[169\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-171)
On March 8, 2017, Melania hosted her first White House event, a luncheon for [International Women's Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Women%27s_Day "International Women's Day"). She spoke to an audience of women about her life as a female immigrant and about working towards [gender equality](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_equality "Gender equality") both domestically and abroad, noting the role of education as a tool against [gender inequality](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_inequality "Gender inequality").[\[170\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-172)[\[171\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-173) The Trumps visited [Vatican City](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vatican_City "Vatican City") in May 2017. As Melania was visiting as a Roman Catholic, [Pope Francis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Francis "Pope Francis") blessed her rosary beads, and she placed flowers at the feet of a statue of the [Madonna](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary,_mother_of_Jesus "Mary, mother of Jesus") at the Vatican's [Bambino Gesù](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bambino_Ges%C3%B9_Hospital "Bambino Gesù Hospital") children's hospital.[\[172\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-174)
The first major public attention Melania received was after an incident in May 2017 while the Trumps were visiting Israel. Donald had forgotten that Melania was by his side when he was walking with Prime Minister [Benjamin Netanyahu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Netanyahu "Benjamin Netanyahu"), and she fell behind from the group. Humiliated, she slapped away his hand when he reached out behind him to grab hers. This was the first time press coverage of Melania took notice of an independent streak.[\[173\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019257%E2%80%93262-175)[\[174\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBakerGlasser2022145-176)
East Wing staff
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Melania_Trump_official_portrait.jpg)
Official White House portrait, 2017
The lack of staff appointments in the [East Wing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Wing "East Wing") during the first months of the Trump administration—typically the domain of the first lady—caused a backlog of tour requests to develop. In February several hires were made for the [Office of the First Lady](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_of_the_First_Lady_of_the_United_States "Office of the First Lady of the United States"): [Anna Cristina Niceta Lloyd](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Cristina_Niceta_Lloyd "Anna Cristina Niceta Lloyd") as social secretary, [Lindsay Reynolds](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lindsay_Reynolds "Lindsay Reynolds") as the first lady's chief of staff, Tham Kannalikham as her decorator, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff as the first lady's assistant, and [Stephanie Grisham](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephanie_Grisham "Stephanie Grisham") as communications director.[\[175\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019341%E2%80%93342-177) Melania retained the head florist appointed by Michelle Obama, Hedieh Ghaffarian.[\[176\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019138-178) The [chief usher](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_Chief_Usher "White House Chief Usher") appointed under the [Obama administration](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obama_administration "Obama administration"), [Angella Reid](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angella_Reid "Angella Reid"), was replaced by [Trump International Hotel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trump_International_Hotel_\(Washington_D.C.\) "Trump International Hotel (Washington D.C.)") employee [Timothy Harleth](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_Harleth "Timothy Harleth"), breaking the norm of the chief usher serving under multiple presidencies.[\[175\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019341%E2%80%93342-177) Reid had been broadly unpopular with the staff, and the firing earned Melania their goodwill.[\[177\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019139%E2%80%93140-179)
The first lady's staff remained small relative to those of her predecessors.[\[175\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019341%E2%80%93342-177) This was in part because she did not want to have any employees speaking on her behalf. Instead, she answered her correspondences herself.[\[178\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019156-180) Melania had a reputation in the White House for being "drama-free",[\[179\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020251-181) and for treating the staff well.[\[180\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019139-182) According to her husband's campaign manager [Corey Lewandowski](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corey_Lewandowski "Corey Lewandowski"), her staff had "100 percent loyalty to her".[\[181\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020243-183) Melania had a close, trusting relationship with her staff, and she was protective of them when conflict arose.[\[182\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019185185%E2%80%93186-184) Before moving in, Melania worked with Kannalikham to redecorate the White House, as first ladies typically do. She had most of the Obama-era decor replaced, and like the Obamas, the Trumps paid for it out of pocket instead of using the allotted funding.[\[183\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019211%E2%80%93212-185)
Life in the White House
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Juliana_Awada_and_Melania_Trump_walk_along_the_Colonnade_of_the_White_House,_April_2017_\(cropped\).jpg)
Melania Trump with Argentine first lady [Juliana Awada](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juliana_Awada "Juliana Awada") in 2017
Melania and her son, Barron, moved into the White House on June 11, 2017.[\[184\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202044-186) Like they had throughout their marriage, Melania and Donald chose to sleep in separate bedrooms.[\[185\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019208-187) In her first year, Melania gave only eight speeches, compared to 74 by Michelle Obama and 42 by [Laura Bush](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laura_Bush "Laura Bush").[\[186\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020244-188) Instead of frequent public appearances, she communicated her activities through video.[\[181\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020243-183) Most of Melania's appearances as first lady in 2017 were in Manhattan and Washington, and she typically spoke about women's and children's issues.[\[187\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019342-189)
After moving to the White House, Melania opted to spend most of her time in the private quarters, running the White House staff from there instead of the first lady's East Wing offices. She oversaw restorations of several rooms in the building, including the bowling alley in the [White House basement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_basement "White House basement") and the first lady's hairdresser's room.[\[188\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020241%E2%80%93242-190) She kept one office, called the "swag room" by aides, in which she kept trinkets she collected while she was first lady.[\[189\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-:2-191) To accommodate Barron's soccer practice, she had a net installed on the White House grounds and had a coach practice with him.[\[190\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020255-192) Barron remained Melania's top priority when she was first lady, and she worked to keep him free from politics to the point that staffers referred to her as "The Protector".[\[191\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020271-193) Even after arriving at the White House, Melania spent extensive time away each year, visiting Mar-a-Lago on major holidays and over many weekends.[\[192\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019156%E2%80%93157-194)
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:White_House_Christmas_2018_\(46060476411\).jpg)
Melania Trump examining the 2018 White House Christmas decorations
Melania personally involved herself in decorations and planning within the White House.[\[193\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019142-195) She was particular about how things were designed and arranged whenever events were planned, but she would take on a calm and relaxed demeanor once the event began.[\[194\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019105-196) Whenever a foreign dignitary arrived at the White House, Melania had the [Blue Room](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Room_\(White_House\) "Blue Room (White House)") set aside where she ate lunch or drank tea with the dignitary's spouse.[\[195\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019150-197) When choosing which [presidential china set](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_china "White House china") to use, Melania often chose the [Clinton administration](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinton_administration "Clinton administration") china with its gold embroidery.[\[196\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019151-198) She held events less frequently than her predecessors, with a typical week featuring three or fewer events, all under one hour long.[\[197\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019157-199) Among her most ambitious projects was planning the White House Christmas decorations in 2018. Moving away from traditional designs, she filled the [East Colonnade](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Wing#/media/File:WHComplex.svg "East Wing") with red cranberry-laden trees set atop a green carpet. The design was widely derided, which Melania ascribed to personal taste.[\[198\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019142%E2%80%93144-200)
To protect use of her image and maintain an income, Melania licensed photos from her photoshoots through [Getty Images](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Getty_Images "Getty Images"). This allowed her to choose how they were used by reporters, and she received royalties for each use. The [Office of Government Ethics](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Office_of_Government_Ethics "United States Office of Government Ethics") reported that she made \$100,000 to \$1,000,000 in royalties in 2017, though other estimates put it at over \$10,000,000.[\[199\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019130-201)
As one of her official duties, Melania was the honorary chair of the [John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_F._Kennedy_Center_for_the_Performing_Arts "John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts"). Because of political tension with the arts communities, she was not initially active in the role. She made her first appearances at the Kennedy Center in 2019.[\[200\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020237%E2%80%93238-202) Trump unveiled the abstract sculpture *[Floor Frame](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floor_Frame "Floor Frame")* by [Isamu Noguchi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isamu_Noguchi "Isamu Noguchi") in the [White House Rose Garden](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_Rose_Garden "White House Rose Garden") in November 2020.[\[201\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-Artnet-203) She described it as "embodying themes of resilience and renewal" in her eponymous memoir.[\[202\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-Mel24-204)
Tribulations in early 2018
A scandal broke in January 2018 when it was alleged that Donald had [had an extramarital affair](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stormy_Daniels%E2%80%93Donald_Trump_scandal "Stormy Daniels–Donald Trump scandal") with the pornographic actress [Stormy Daniels](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stormy_Daniels "Stormy Daniels"). The affair was said to have taken place in July 2006, after the Trumps' marriage and the birth of their son. Melania's public appearances became more infrequent after the news emerged, and she canceled several events that she was to attend with her husband.[\[203\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019343%E2%80%93344-205) This included the [2018 State of the Union Address](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_State_of_the_Union_Address "2018 State of the Union Address"), where Melania made the unprecedented decision to ride separately from him on the way there.[\[204\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019194%E2%80%93195-206) Michael Cohen, who had arranged the silencing of the alleged affair, stated that his greatest regret was lying to Melania, saying that she did not deserve it.[\[205\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202011-207) The next month, the story of a second affair in 2006 with the model [Karen McDougal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_McDougal "Karen McDougal") was made public.[\[203\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019343%E2%80%93344-205)[\[206\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019202-208) To Melania, the worst part was that she felt Donald had publicly humiliated her.[\[207\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019196%E2%80%93197-209)[\[161\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-:1-163)
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Arrival_Ceremony_-_The_Official_State_Visit_of_France_\(39892882240\).jpg)
Left to right: [Brigitte Macron](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brigitte_Macron "Brigitte Macron"), Melania Trump, [Emmanuel Macron](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmanuel_Macron "Emmanuel Macron"), [Donald Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump "Donald Trump")
Melania learned in April 2018 that she was afflicted with kidney disease, but she only told her parents, her husband, and her sister.[\[208\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019215%E2%80%93216-210) On May 14, she began treatment at [Walter Reed National Military Medical Center](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Reed_National_Military_Medical_Center "Walter Reed National Military Medical Center").[\[209\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019218%E2%80%93219-211) While her husband had wished to join her, his presence would have risked the press discovering her condition.[\[210\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019218-212) The official statement said that she underwent an [embolization](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embolization "Embolization"), a [minimally invasive procedure](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimally_invasive_procedure "Minimally invasive procedure") that deliberately blocks a blood vessel.[\[211\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019220-213)[\[211\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019220-213) A statement was released after the procedure was finished without complication,[\[209\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019218%E2%80%93219-211) and she recovered in the hospital over the following five days.[\[212\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019345-214) The extended stay led to false rumors and conspiracy theories that she had gotten [plastic surgery](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_surgery "Plastic surgery").[\[213\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019346-215)[\[214\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019220%E2%80%93221-216) After leaving the hospital, she continued to stay out of the public eye until the beginning of June.[\[215\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019222%E2%80%93223-217) At this point, the president let slip that the surgery had been more serious than initially suggested.[\[216\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019224-218)
Those around Melania noticed that she was generally happier by mid-2018. By this time, she had reached a more advantageous marital agreement that ensured Barron would be given a fair inheritance.[\[217\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020234-219) Her public position, and the corresponding influence she had over her husband's political career, had given her the advantage in negotiations.[\[218\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020236-220) After several months of problems, Melania received positive coverage for a large custom-made white hat that she wore during a visit by French president [Emmanuel Macron](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emmanuel_Macron "Emmanuel Macron").[\[219\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019226%E2%80%93230-221) On August 9, 2018, Melania's parents were granted American citizenship. This revitalized accusations of hypocrisy by the Trumps regarding Melania's parents, as Donald had spoken out against the chain migration process that allowed them to enter the [United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States "United States").[\[220\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019347-222)
2018 Africa tour
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:First_Lady_Melania_Trump%27s_Visit_to_Kenya_14.jpg)
Melania Trump wearing a [pith helmet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pith_helmet "Pith helmet") in Kenya
In October 2018, Melania took a tour of Africa without Donald, visiting Ghana, Malawi, Kenya and Egypt. She spent much of her time with children in schools, orphanages, and hospitals. She used the trip to tout relief work being carried out by the [United States Agency for International Development](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Agency_for_International_Development "United States Agency for International Development"), which raised questions about her husband's intention to cut its funding. Melania also received criticism for her fashion choices, where a photo opportunity in front of the [Great Sphinx of Giza](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Sphinx_of_Giza "Great Sphinx of Giza") was seen as exploitive and a [pith helmet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pith_helmet "Pith helmet") she wore in Kenya was criticized for its association with [colonialism in Africa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonialism_in_Africa "Colonialism in Africa"). To these criticisms, she responded that people should pay more attention to her actions instead of her outfits.[\[221\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020261%E2%80%93263-223) Perception of the trip grew worse when she responded to criticisms by saying that she was "the most bullied person in the world".[\[222\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-auto1-224)
Throughout Melania's tour of Africa, personality conflicts took place between her team and [Mira Ricardel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mira_Ricardel "Mira Ricardel"), the [deputy national security advisor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deputy_National_Security_Advisor "Deputy National Security Advisor").[\[223\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020264%E2%80%93267-225) Ricardel's staffer had been bumped from the first lady's plane on the flight to Africa to make room for a journalist, and Ricardel subsequently became less cooperative with providing logistical information needed for the tour.[\[224\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019184%E2%80%93185-226) Upon returning, Ricardel gave a thoroughly negative report on Melania's staff, describing them as embarrassing the White House with their partying.[\[225\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019186-227) Melania twice complained to the president, but no immediate action was taken.[\[225\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019186-227) The following month, the Office of the First Lady issued an official statement calling for Ricardel to be removed from her position. Publicly commenting on such a thing was unprecedented for a first lady.[\[226\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019183%E2%80%93184-228) No one in the administration had been told in advance about the statement, including the president.[\[225\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019186-227) Ricardel was fired the following day.[\[227\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019187-229) A dispute over the trip arose between Melania and Ivanka a few months later when the latter made her own trip to the continent. Melania felt that in taking such a similar trip, Ivanka was intruding on the first lady's role.[\[228\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019170%E2%80%93172-230)
Political influence
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:White_House_Christmas_\(38121595104\).jpg)
Trump working with children at a 2017 Christmas event; she has said that children's welfare was among the most important issues to her.
Trump was the one person exempt from the criticism and distrust that her husband leveled against those around him in the White House. He held her opinion in high regard, often agreeing with her when she made it known, and he valued her loyalty as she did not seek public attention of her own.[\[229\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202040%E2%80%9341-231) She said she believed that it was not her duty as first lady to take policy positions in her own right, but simply to advise Donald regarding his.[\[10\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-Ioffe-12) She was the only person among those around him who could critique him directly without repercussion.[\[230\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett20192%E2%80%933-232) Donald frequently asked for her opinion about issues he was considering or people who he interacted with, calling her over the phone when she was not in the same room.[\[231\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019213-233)
Trump paid close attention to media coverage throughout her husband's presidency, providing her input on what would make good optics and maintain his image.[\[232\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202041-234)[\[233\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019154%E2%80%93156-235) She also provided advice on how to pose for pictures and has given him suggestions on how to appear when moving.[\[234\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020274-236) The nature of their relationship allowed her to overlook erratic behavior from her husband, as she had long believed that there was no use in trying to change someone's personality, especially her husband's.[\[178\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019156-180)
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:White_House_Historical_Association_Tree_Planting_\(42515028540\).jpg)
Trump planting a tree on the [South Lawn](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Lawn "South Lawn") during a summit hosted by the [White House Historical Association](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_Historical_Association "White House Historical Association")
Trump had influence over her husband's staff, and Donald sometimes fired individuals on her advice.[\[184\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202044-186)[\[235\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett20193-237) The welfare of children is a subject of interest for her, and she routinely made visits to children's hospitals throughout her tenure as first lady.[\[236\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020253-238) According to her biographer Kate Bennett, interacting with children is one of the rare things that causes Trump to shift away from her usual stoic demeanor.[\[237\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019200%E2%80%93201-239) Her advocacy was a major factor in her husband's decision to ban fruit-flavored [electronic cigarette](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_cigarette "Electronic cigarette") cartridges.[\[238\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020254,_269%E2%80%93271-240) About one year into her tenure, she hired Reagan Thompson as a policy advisor, though she had yet to adopt any official initiatives at the time.[\[239\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019344-241)
Family separation policy
Trump was openly critical of her husband's ["zero tolerance" policy of denying asylum](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trump_administration_family_separation_policy "Trump administration family separation policy") at the [Mexico–United States border](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexico%E2%80%93United_States_border "Mexico–United States border") in 2018, where children were being separated from their parents. Her official position was that she hated to see families separated and hoped for successful immigration reform.[\[240\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020259-242)[\[241\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019176-243) Out of public view, she made her opposition clear to the president and influenced his decision to end it.[\[242\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett20193,_176-244) Leaked tapes in 2020 featured Trump making statements defending some of the practices, expressing grief about family separation but questioning the validity of [asylum claims](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asylum_in_the_United_States "Asylum in the United States") and dismissing concerns that children were kept in substandard conditions.[\[243\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-CNNTapes-245)
Trump was upset when her stepdaughter Ivanka began receiving the credit for changing the president's mind on the issue.[\[244\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019178-246) She visited the border herself, ignoring her husband's worries about keeping media attention on the border and the Secret Service's need of advance notice to plan her trip.[\[245\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019178%E2%80%93179-247) She arrived at the border on June 21, where she visited the family separation facilities in Texas and attended a [roundtable](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roundtable "Roundtable") with doctors, medical staff, social workers, and other experts at Upbring New Hope Children's Shelter.[\[246\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-248) On the way to the border facility, she caused controversy by wearing a jacket that read, "I really don't care, do u?" After much speculation about the jacket's message, including criticism that she may have been expressing indifference toward the families separated at the border, she stated that the jacket was aimed at people and media who were criticizing her.[\[247\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020260%E2%80%93261-249) The jacket dominated media coverage of her visit.[\[248\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019179-250)
Be Best campaign
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:First_Lady_Melania_Trump_Participates_in_a_Zoom_Call_with_Students_for_the_Second_Anniversary_of_Be_Best_\(49883203437\).jpg)
Melania Trump celebrating the second anniversary of the Be Best campaign
On May 7, 2018, Melania held a press conference in the [White House Rose Garden](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_Rose_Garden "White House Rose Garden") to announce her official public initiative as first lady, the Be Best awareness campaign. The initiative was created to support the welfare of children, advocate against [cyberbullying](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyberbullying "Cyberbullying"), and prevent [opioid abuse](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opioid_abuse "Opioid abuse").[\[212\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019345-214)[\[249\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020247-251) The initiative's name drew ridicule in the press for its grammatical structure.[\[250\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019216-252) Instead of creating new programs like previous first ladies' projects, Be Best promoted existing initiatives and organizations that worked toward the cause. Public awareness of the initiative remained low, and it was often regarded solely as an anti-cyberbullying campaign.[\[251\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019158-253)
The Be Best campaign drew criticism for its perceived hypocrisy, challenging cyberbullying when her husband was well known for attacking people online.[\[252\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020247%E2%80%93248-254)[\[251\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019158-253) Even Donald had warned her before the campaign's launch that the contrast may provoke criticism.[\[251\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019158-253) She acknowledged the discrepancy but insisted that she would continue because she felt it was a good cause.[\[252\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020247%E2%80%93248-254) This received more attention in 2019 when the president made Twitter posts critical of [Greta Thunberg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greta_Thunberg "Greta Thunberg"), a teenage environmental activist diagnosed on the [autism spectrum](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism_spectrum "Autism spectrum"). This came days after Melania had criticized [Pamela Karlan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pamela_Karlan "Pamela Karlan") for invoking Barron in a speech against the president. The first lady's office responded that spouses can have different communication styles, and said that Barron was not "an activist who travels the globe giving speeches".[\[253\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020271%E2%80%93272-255)
COVID-19 and 2020 presidential campaign
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_First_Lady_Visits_with_First_Responders_\(50123337337\).jpg)
Melania Trump with first responders during the [COVID-19 pandemic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic "COVID-19 pandemic")
Melania carried out a major reorganization of her staff in April 2020 in anticipation of [her husband's reelection campaign](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump_2020_presidential_campaign "Donald Trump 2020 presidential campaign"). She appointed Marcia Lee Kelly as her senior advisor and [Emma Doyle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emma_Doyle "Emma Doyle") as her policy advisor. Melania's chief of staff, Lindsay Reynolds, was removed; her responsibilities went to Melania's communications director, Stephanie Grisham.[\[181\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020243-183) Melania became an active campaigner for her husband during the [2020 presidential election](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_United_States_presidential_election "2020 United States presidential election"), which was a strong contrast to her 2016 activity.[\[254\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020276%E2%80%93277-256)
When the [COVID-19 pandemic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic "COVID-19 pandemic") began, Melania was criticized for promoting a White House renovation project. She took the topic more seriously after the [COVID-19 lockdowns](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19_lockdowns "COVID-19 lockdowns") began, using her Twitter account to encourage [social distancing during the pandemic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_distancing_measures_related_to_the_COVID-19_pandemic "Social distancing measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic") and promote official medical advice. Much of what she posted directly contradicted what her husband posted, as he discouraged many of the recommended practices.[\[255\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020279%E2%80%93281-257)[\[256\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-258)
On October 1, 2020, Melania's former advisor Stephanie Winston Wolkoff released audiotapes that featured Melania making profane statements about her image and role as first lady. In the tapes, she condemned the media for not giving her positive coverage, questioned why people wanted her to speak out against her husband when she supported his policies, and expressed frustration with her responsibility to oversee Christmas decorations in the White House. She also mentioned her "I really don't care, do u" jacket in the tapes, admitting that she wore it to irritate [liberals](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberalism_in_the_United_States "Liberalism in the United States"). Winston Wolkoff had released the tapes alongside a [tell-all](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tell-all "Tell-all") book, *[Melania and Me](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_and_Me "Melania and Me")*.[\[243\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-CNNTapes-245)[\[257\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-259) The Justice Department filed a [civil suit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawsuit "Lawsuit") against Winston Wolkoff in October 2019, alleging breach of a [nondisclosure agreement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nondisclosure_agreement "Nondisclosure agreement"), but it was dropped in February 2021 under the Biden administration.[\[258\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-260) In September 2022, Melania said in an interview with *[Breitbart News](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breitbart_News "Breitbart News")* that the audiotapes had been strategically edited to make people believe that her duties in the White House had been unimportant to her.[\[259\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-261)
Despite Donald's loss of the 2020 election,[\[260\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-262) Melania ended her tenure by endorsing his false statement that he had been the legitimate election winner.[\[189\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-:2-191)[\[222\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-auto1-224) For her final months in the White House, she stopped visiting her office in the East Wing and remained in the White House residence. Her focus at this time was on compiling photo albums of the decorations and renovations she had overseen through her tenure.[\[189\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-:2-191) Melania was managing photography at the White House when the [January 6 United States Capitol attack](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_6_United_States_Capitol_attack "January 6 United States Capitol attack") took place and gave no comment at the time. She later said that she would have commented if she had been "fully informed of all the details".[\[161\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-:1-163) Her communications director Stephanie Grisham later stated she had sent Melania a text message asking her to make a statement condemning the violence and resigned when that did not happen.[\[189\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-:2-191) On January 18, Melania released a farewell video asking the American people to uphold the principles of her Be Best campaign.[\[222\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-auto1-224) She followed the tradition of leaving a letter for incoming first lady [Jill Biden](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jill_Biden "Jill Biden"),[\[189\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-:2-191) but she did not contact her to make transition arrangements or provide her the traditional tour of the White House.[\[222\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-auto1-224)
Between first lady tenures (2021–2025)
After the Trumps left the White House, Melania returned to Mar-a-Lago, where she could live while avoiding public attention.[\[161\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-:1-163) She retained one White House advisor, Marcia Lee Kelly, to help her during the post-presidency.[\[222\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-auto1-224) Melania kept in contact with her successor Jill Biden, and the two have exchanged birthday cards.[\[189\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-:2-191) Since her first tenure as first lady ended, Melania made occasional paid speaking appearances, she founded a scholarship program for [foster children](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foster_children "Foster children"), and she minted a line of [Apollo 11](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_11 "Apollo 11")–themed [non-fungible tokens](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-fungible_tokens "Non-fungible tokens") that were not in compliance with [NASA](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASA "NASA")'s image use policy.[\[161\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-:1-163) In November 2023, Melania attended the memorial service for former First Lady [Rosalynn Carter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosalynn_Carter "Rosalynn Carter").[\[261\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-263)
Melania remained out of public view during her husband's [court appearances](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indictments_against_Donald_Trump "Indictments against Donald Trump") and [his candidacy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump_2024_presidential_campaign "Donald Trump 2024 presidential campaign") in the [2024 presidential election](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_United_States_presidential_election "2024 United States presidential election"), limiting her campaign events to two fundraisers for the [Log Cabin Republicans](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Log_Cabin_Republicans "Log Cabin Republicans"). She became more visible in July 2024 by putting out a statement following the [attempted assassination of her husband](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attempted_assassination_of_Donald_Trump_in_Pennsylvania "Attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Pennsylvania") and appearing at the [2024 Republican National Convention](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_Republican_National_Convention "2024 Republican National Convention"), though she declined an invitation to speak at the event, making her the first candidate's spouse not to speak at the convention since [Barbara Bush](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Bush "Barbara Bush") began the tradition.[\[262\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-264) In the same month, Melania announced her intention to publish a [memoir](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memoir "Memoir"), titled *[Melania](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_\(memoir\) "Melania (memoir)")*.[\[263\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-265) She caused controversy among Republicans in the lead up to the book's publication when she announced her support for the [right to abortion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_abortion-rights_movement "United States abortion-rights movement").[\[264\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-266) Donald won the election on November 5, 2024.
In January 2025, [Amazon MGM Studios](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_MGM_Studios "Amazon MGM Studios") announced that it had licensed a documentary film on Melania directed by [Brett Ratner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brett_Ratner "Brett Ratner") for distribution in theatres and on [Amazon Prime Video](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_Prime_Video "Amazon Prime Video"). She was also an executive producer.[\[265\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-puck/ratner-40m-docu-melania-267)[\[266\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-puck/docu-massive-payday-268) Filming started in December 2024.[\[267\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-269) Amazon reportedly paid US\$40 million to license the documentary.[\[268\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-270) The documentary, titled [*Melania*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_\(film\) "Melania (film)"), covered the 20 days leading up to the 2025 presidential inauguration and was scheduled for release in US theaters and other territories on January 30, 2026.[\[269\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-271) Less than two weeks before assuming the role of first lady again, Melania attended the [funeral for former President Jimmy Carter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_and_state_funeral_of_Jimmy_Carter#Washington_National_Cathedral_funeral_service "Death and state funeral of Jimmy Carter").[\[270\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-272) On the eve of Donald's inauguration as U.S. president, Melania launched her own cryptocurrency, the \$Melania coin, following the debut of the [\$Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/$Trump "$Trump") coin.[\[271\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-273) In May 2025, it was reported by the [Financial Times](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Financial_Times "Financial Times") that two dozen wallets purchased \$2.6 million worth of the tokens minutes before Melania announced the launch on her [Truth Social](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truth_Social "Truth Social") account and then sold them off in the upcoming days for \$100 million.[\[272\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-274)
Second tenure as First Lady (2025–present)
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Donald_Trump_takes_the_oath_of_office_\(2025\)_\(alternate\).jpg)
Melania's husband, Donald Trump, is sworn in on January 20, 2025, as Melania looks on.
On January 20, 2025, during [Trump's second inauguration](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trump%27s_second_inauguration "Trump's second inauguration"), Melania became the second first lady to hold the position two times non-consecutively, after [Frances Cleveland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frances_Cleveland "Frances Cleveland"), and the first one to assume the role of first lady at two non-consecutive inaugurations.[\[273\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-275)[\[274\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-276)[\[275\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-277)[\[276\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-Graddy-Trump-278)
Official duties
During the first few days of her second tenure as first lady, Melania traveled with President Trump to parts of North Carolina that were hit by [Hurricane Helene](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Helene "Hurricane Helene") in September 2024 and to Southern California to monitor the progress of fire rescue services for the [January 2025 Southern California wildfires](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_2025_Southern_California_wildfires "January 2025 Southern California wildfires").[\[277\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-279)[\[278\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-280)[\[279\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-281) In February 2025, Melania announced that public tours of the White House would resume on the 25th day of the month.[\[280\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-282)[\[281\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-283)
On March 3, 2025, Melania made her first solo appearance as first lady for the term by attending a roundtable discussion at Capitol Hill on the [Take It Down Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Take_It_Down_Act "Take It Down Act"), a bill that could speed the removal of intimate imagery posted online without an individual's consent, or [revenge porn](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revenge_porn "Revenge porn").[\[282\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-284)[\[283\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-285)[\[284\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-286) Soon after, the Take it Down Act was passed unanimously in the [United States Senate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate "United States Senate") and almost unanimously in the [United States House of Representatives](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_of_Representatives "United States House of Representatives").[\[285\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-287)[\[286\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-288) Melania was at the President's side when it was signed into law two months later and was also invited by her husband to sign the bill.[\[287\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-289)[\[288\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-290) In April 2025, Melania honored recipients at the annual [International Women of Courage Awards](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Women_of_Courage_Award "International Women of Courage Award") and reopened tours of the White House gardens in early bloom.[\[289\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-291)
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:F20250711AH-5880_President_Donald_Trump_and_FLOTUS_Melania_Trump_visit_the_areas_impacted_by_recent_deadly_flooding_in_Kerrville,_Texas.jpg)
Melania Trump (left) with President [Donald Trump](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump "Donald Trump") and Texas Governor [Greg Abbott](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_Abbott "Greg Abbott") on July 11, 2025
On April 21, 2025, Melania hosted the White House Easter Egg Roll with her husband, which drew crowds of around 40,000.[\[290\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-292) Later that week, she attended the [funeral for Pope Francis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_and_funeral_of_Pope_Francis "Death and funeral of Pope Francis").[\[291\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-293) In May 2025, Melania hosted a celebration honoring military mothers and an event where a postage stamp dedicated to former first lady [Barbara Bush](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Bush "Barbara Bush") was unveiled.[\[292\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-294)[\[293\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-295) Later that month, she welcomed the children of White House employees for "White House Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day" where she assisted kids in decorating American flags.[\[294\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-296)
In June 2025, Melania attended the 2025 Congressional Picnic and the [U.S. Army 250th Anniversary Parade](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Army_250th_Anniversary_Parade "U.S. Army 250th Anniversary Parade").[\[295\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-297)[\[296\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-298) She traveled with President Trump to survey damage following the [July 2025 Central Texas floods](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/July_2025_Central_Texas_floods "July 2025 Central Texas floods").[\[297\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-299)[\[298\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-300) On July 22, House Republicans proposed renaming the opera house at the [John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_F._Kennedy_Center_for_the_Performing_Arts "John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts") after Melania.[\[299\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-301)[\[300\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-302)
On September 17, 2025, Melania and President Trump attended a banquet hosted by [King Charles III](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Charles_III "King Charles III") and [Queen Camilla](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Camilla "Queen Camilla").[\[301\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-303) The following day, she appeared alongside [Catherine, Princess of Wales](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine,_Princess_of_Wales "Catherine, Princess of Wales"), at [Windsor Castle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windsor_Castle "Windsor Castle")'s [Frogmore Gardens](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frogmore "Frogmore") at an event highlighting [scouting](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scouting "Scouting").[\[302\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-304) On November 19, Melania traveled to [Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_Corps_Base_Camp_Lejeune "Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune") with Second Lady [Usha Vance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usha_Vance "Usha Vance") to spend time with military members and their families to show appreciation for those who serve during the holiday season.[\[303\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-305)[\[304\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-306) Trump visited children and young adults being treated for rare and serious diseases at Children's Inn at [National Institutes of Health](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Institutes_of_Health "National Institutes of Health") as part of the celebrations for [Valentine's Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine%27s_Day "Valentine's Day") 2026.[\[305\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-307)
Advocacy for children
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:F20260302AH-0962.jpg)
Melania presided over a [United Nations Security Council](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Security_Council "United Nations Security Council") meeting on 2 March 2026
In July 2025, Melania visited patients at [Children's National Hospital](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children%27s_National_Hospital "Children's National Hospital") by bringing gifts and taking part in [Independence Day](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence_Day_\(United_States\) "Independence Day (United States)") activities with the children.[\[306\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-308)[\[307\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-309) Melania authored a letter to President Putin that President Trump hand-delivered during the August [2025 Alaska summit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Russia%E2%80%93United_States_Summit "2025 Russia–United States Summit"). The letter, published on social media, urged compassion for children affected by war and called for peace. Ukrainian President [Volodymyr Zelenskyy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volodymyr_Zelenskyy "Volodymyr Zelenskyy") publicly thanked her for the gesture.[\[308\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-310) In October, she announced that eight [children displaced during the Russo-Ukrainian war](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_abductions_in_the_Russo-Ukrainian_War "Child abductions in the Russo-Ukrainian War") had been reunited with their families following talks with Putin.[\[309\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-311)
On September 23, while attending the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Melania announced the launch of the global coalition Fostering the Future Together, which focuses on helping children manage changes in education, innovation, and technology.[\[310\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-312)[\[311\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-313) On November 6, Melania was honored as [Fox Nation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox_Nation "Fox Nation")'s "Patriot of the Year" for her work on children's global advocacy.[\[312\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-314)[\[313\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-315)[\[314\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-316) She also launched a new initiative to expand resources and improve career opportunities for teenagers transitioning out of the foster care system and also provide them with scholarships and educational opportunities.[\[315\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-317) Trump addressed schools across the nation on January 16, 2026, through [Zoom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoom_\(software\) "Zoom (software)"), discussing how students can use [artificial intelligence](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_intelligence "Artificial intelligence") for creativity, while also issuing a warning about how it could also hijack their thinking if they become too dependent on it.[\[316\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-318)[\[317\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-319) In March 2026, Melania became the first first lady to preside over a [United Nations Security Council](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Security_Council "United Nations Security Council") meeting; the meeting was held to discuss children, technology, and education in conflict.[\[318\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-320)[\[319\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-321)[\[320\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-322) Later that month, she hosted a two-day Fostering the Future Together Global Coalition Summit at the State Department with representatives from 45 nations in attendance.[\[321\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-323)[\[322\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-324) During the summit, Melania introduced a [Humanoid robot](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanoid_robot "Humanoid robot") known as Figure 3, marking the first time such technology was formally introduced to international leaders in a diplomatic setting at the White House.[\[323\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-325)[\[324\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-326)
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Melania_Trump%E2%80%99s_Official_White_House_Portrait_\(2025\)_\(cropped\).jpg)
Official White House Portrait, 2025
Influence on the president
Melania reportedly influenced President Trump's policy shift on the [Russo-Ukrainian war](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russo-Ukrainian_war_\(2022%E2%80%93present\) "Russo-Ukrainian war (2022–present)"). President Trump was quoted saying: "I go home, I tell the first lady: 'I spoke with Vladimir today. We had a wonderful conversation,'" Trump said. "She said: 'Oh really? Another city was just hit.'" President Trump said this before laying out a 50 day deadline for a ceasefire in July 2025, marking a notably antagonistic tone in regards to [Vladimir Putin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin "Vladimir Putin").[\[325\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-327)
Allegations about links to Jeffrey Epstein
In August 2025, Melania threatened to sue [Hunter Biden](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunter_Biden "Hunter Biden") for one billion dollars after he claimed during an interview with [Andrew Callaghan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Callaghan "Andrew Callaghan") that Melania had been introduced to Donald by [Jeffrey Epstein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Epstein "Jeffrey Epstein").[\[326\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-328)[\[327\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-329)[\[328\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-330)[\[329\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-331) When Biden publicly refused to retract his comments,[\[330\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-332)[\[331\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-333)[\[332\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-334) Donald encouraged Melania to pursue legal action against Biden.[\[333\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-335) A redacted FBI document from 2019 says Epstein introduced Knauss to Trump.[\[334\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-336)
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Melania_Trump_and_Catherine,_Princess_of_Wales_on_the_grounds_of_Frogmore,_2025_\(cropped\).jpg)
Melania with [Catherine, Princess of Wales](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine,_Princess_of_Wales "Catherine, Princess of Wales"), September 2025
The 2025 book *[Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entitled:_The_Rise_and_Fall_of_the_House_of_York "Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York")* by [Andrew Lownie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Lownie "Andrew Lownie") also alleges that Melania Trump had been introduced to Donald Trump by Jeffrey Epstein. Melania Trump strongly objected to the claim and began making legal threats and representations to those involved in the publishing of the book. In October, the book's publisher, [HarperCollins UK](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HarperCollins_UK "HarperCollins UK"), recalled the book and apologized to Melania Trump, calling the claim unverified.[\[335\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-337)[\[336\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-338)
On October 22, [Michael Wolff](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Wolff_\(journalist\) "Michael Wolff (journalist)") filed a lawsuit against Melania following threats her legal team had made over comments Wolff had made about Melania's ties with Jeffrey Epstein.[\[337\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-339)[\[338\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-340) Melania's lawyers are reported to have threatened Wolff with a one billion dollar damages claim.[\[339\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-341)
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:%E2%80%9CFostering_the_Future%E2%80%9D_foster_care_event_in_the_East_Room_of_the_White_House_on_November_13,_2025_-_19.jpg)
Melania signing the Fostering The Future executive order with her husband; November 13, 2025.
Demolition of East Wing
On October 23, 2025, [CNN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CNN "CNN") revealed that Melania was now "eschewing the nation's capital for [New York](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City "New York City") and [Palm Beach](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_Beach,_Florida "Palm Beach, Florida")", and had been using the [Office of the First Lady of the United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_of_the_First_Lady_of_the_United_States "Office of the First Lady of the United States") far less than she had during her husband's first term and now employing a "skeletal staff".[\[340\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-342) During that month, *[The Wall Street Journal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wall_Street_Journal "The Wall Street Journal")* and *[The Hill](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hill_\(newspaper\) "The Hill (newspaper)")* reported that Melania privately raised concerns over her husband's [demolition](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demolition "Demolition") of the [East Wing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Wing "East Wing") to make room for the [White House State Ballroom](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_State_Ballroom "White House State Ballroom").[\[341\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-343)[\[342\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-344) In November 2025, President Trump dismissed these reports saying at first Melania "loved her tiny little office" but quickly came around to support the renovation.[\[343\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-345) Due to the construction of the ballroom and the East Wing's demolition, the White House announced that the 2025 holiday tours featuring Melania's decorations would instead take place on the [State Floor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Executive_Residence#State_floor "Executive Residence") with an updated route and guests entering from the [North Portico](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Lawn "North Lawn").[\[344\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-346)[\[345\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-347)
Involvement in film
In October 2025, Melania announced Muse Films, her own production company.[\[346\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-348)[\[347\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-349)[\[348\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-melaniafilmcompanyanddocumentary-350) The company's first project, a documentary about Melania herself, titled *[Melania](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_\(film\) "Melania (film)")*, was directed by [Brett Ratner](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brett_Ratner "Brett Ratner") and released on January 30, 2026.[\[348\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-melaniafilmcompanyanddocumentary-350) This marked the first time that a self-produced documentary by a sitting first lady was released in theaters,[\[349\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-351) and she reportedly was paid \$28 million for it – 70% of the film's \$40 million production budget.[\[350\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-352) The film debuted in third place at the United States and Canadian box office with over \$7 million, making it the biggest debut for a non-music documentary in a decade.[\[351\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-353)[\[352\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-354)[\[353\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-355)
Public image
[](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Women%27s_March_in_San_Francisco_\(32348786991\).jpg)
A [2017 Women's March](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_Women%27s_March "2017 Women's March") protester with a Free Melania sign
Melania limits her interactions with the public, creating a public image heavily influenced by speculation.[\[354\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202026%E2%80%9327-356) Because [Louisa Adams](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisa_Adams "Louisa Adams"), the only other first lady to be born outside of the United States, had an American father, Trump has been seen by the American public as the first foreigner to become first lady.[\[355\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEVidmar_Horvat2021447%E2%80%93448-357)
First tenure as first lady
In her first tenure as first lady, Trump worked to protect her privacy as first lady,[\[356\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett20192-358) and her staff was instructed not to answer any questions about her whereabouts at a given time.[\[179\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020251-181) With limited information, commentators have portrayed her as being a reluctant companion to her husband or as a woman who has no independence of her own. Several incidents during her husband's presidency led to rumors that she had a secret animosity toward her husband, such as her delay in moving to the White House and allegations that he had committed adultery.[\[213\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019346-215)[\[356\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett20192-358)[\[357\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202027-359) The rumors led to popular use of the [hashtag](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hashtag "Hashtag") \#FreeMelania by those who believed them.[\[358\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan202021-360) Though she disliked the idea that people saw her as helpless, Melania found the campaign amusing.[\[359\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020275%E2%80%93276-361) This became less common by 2020 as she had become more publicly associated with the role of first lady.[\[360\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020281%E2%80%93282-362) She is often seen as cold by the public, though people who interact with her describe her as a warm presence.[\[3\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-CollinsModel-5)[\[361\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019152-363)
As with previous first ladies, Trump's fashion was heavily scrutinized, and particularly expensive pieces were criticized.[\[187\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019342-189) More than other first ladies, her fashion was scrutinized in the context of her past as a fashion model and her marriage to a billionaire.[\[362\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019247-364) She did her own clothes shopping,[\[363\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201937-365)[\[364\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019227-366) but she was assisted by designer [Hervé Pierre](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herv%C3%A9_Pierre_\(designer\) "Hervé Pierre (designer)"),[\[365\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019226%E2%80%93228-367) hair stylist Mordechai Alvow, and make up artist Nicole Byrl.[\[366\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019243%E2%80%93244-368) When preparing for speeches, she dedicated more attention to her physical appearance than content or delivery, which her staff felt affected her ability to promote her causes.[\[367\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEJordan2020245%E2%80%93246-369) Despite her experience in fashion, she disliked that it was such a major aspect of news coverage about her as first lady.[\[368\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019251-370)
Having a Slovenian-born woman as the American first lady became a point of national pride in Slovenia, and it gave the nation a sense of recognition on the world stage.[\[369\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEVidmar_Horvat2021448-371)[\[370\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEPu%C5%A1nikJontes2021464%E2%80%93465-372) Trump's hometown Sevnica has developed a small tourist industry around her, and Melania-themed merchandise became common during her first tenure as first lady. These items never used Melania's full name, substituting it with "first lady" or "M", as she is protective of her [personality rights](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personality_rights "Personality rights").[\[371\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett201949%E2%80%9350-373)
During the 2016 presidential election, Trump became the only candidate's spouse since polling began in 1988 to have a disapproval rating greater than their approval rating.[\[372\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEElderFrederickBurrell2018107-374) Her approval rating stood at 36 or 37% in the months leading up to becoming first lady in January 2017,[\[373\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019148-375)[\[154\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019341-156) but it increased to 57% in a CNN poll in April 2018 after she received public sympathy amid allegations that her husband had committed adultery.[\[239\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTECaroli2019344-241)[\[374\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019216%E2%80%93217-376) Trump finished her tenure in 2021 as the least popular first lady since polling began with a rating of 42%.[\[375\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-377) Multiple polls during her tenure as first lady showed her as the most popular member of the Trump family.[\[373\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-FOOTNOTEBennett2019148-375)[\[376\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-:3-378)[\[377\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-379)
In December 2020, the [Siena College Research Institute](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siena_College_Research_Institute "Siena College Research Institute") released a study surveying scholars and historians on their assessments of American first ladies. It was the fifth such first ladies study that the Institute had conducted since 1982, and the first in which Trump appeared. She was ranked as being the worst of 40 assessed American first ladies,[\[378\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-Siena2020-380) receiving the lowest assessments in all of the metrics that were weighed.[\[379\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-381) In supplementary question asked of respondents (beyond the weighed criteria), Trump was ranked as the first lady who historians and scholars most-believed "could have done more" while first lady, with 34% of respondents selecting Melania as their top-choice for that descriptor. In another supplementary question, Trump's "Be Best" was ranked the least-effective signature initiative among the ten most-recent first ladies.[\[378\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-Siena2020-380)
Second tenure as first lady
One year after assuming the role of first lady again, an [*Economist*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Economist "The Economist")/[YouGov](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YouGov "YouGov") poll showed that Trump had a 41% favorable rating, and a 47% unfavorable rating, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.2%.[\[380\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-382) Writing for *[The Guardian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Guardian "The Guardian")*, Xan Brooks described her as "a latter-day [Eva Braun](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eva_Braun "Eva Braun")".[\[381\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-383) Melanie McDonagh, writing for [*The Standard*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Standard_\(London_newspaper\) "The Standard (London newspaper)"), said that Trump is "an enigma" with "steely self discipline".[\[382\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_note-384)
Notes
1. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-2)** Pronounced [*mə-LAH\-nee-ə*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Pronunciation_respelling_key "Help:Pronunciation respelling key").
2. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-4)** [Name prior to her marriage](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C3%A9e "Née"): **Melania Knauss** (German: [\[meˈlaːni̯a ˈknaʊs\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Standard_German "Help:IPA/Standard German")), a [Germanization](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthographic_transcription "Orthographic transcription") of her Slovene birth name **Melanija Knavs** (Slovene: [\[mɛˈlaːnija ˈknaːws\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Slovene "Help:IPA/Slovene")).
References
1. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-1)**
- ["Melania Trump votes in N.Y. primary"](https://www.washingtonpost.com/video/politics/melania-trump-casts-her-vote/2016/04/19/8b952cd6-0675-11e6-bfed-ef65dff5970d_video.html). *The Washington Post*. April 19, 2016. Retrieved June 14, 2018.
- ["Former President Trump, Melania Trump cast votes in Palm Beach"](https://cbs12.com/news/local/former-president-donald-trump-melania-trump-cast-votes-in-palm-beach-county-florida-march-19-2024). *CBS12*. March 19, 2024. Retrieved November 21, 2024. "Republican Presidential candidate former President Donald Trump and former First Lady Melania Trump cast their votes at a polling location in Palm Beach in Florida's Presidential Preference Primary on Tuesday."
- ["Melania Trump's Florida Voter Registration"](https://voterrecords.com/voter/89576277/melania-trump). *VoterRecords.com*. Retrieved January 10, 2025.
2. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-3)**
["Meet the First Ladies of the U.S."](https://firstladies.org/home/first-ladies/melania-trump) *firstladies.org*. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
3. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-CollinsModel_5-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-CollinsModel_5-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-CollinsModel_5-2) [***d***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-CollinsModel_5-3) [***e***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-CollinsModel_5-4) [***f***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-CollinsModel_5-5)
Collins, Lauren (May 9, 2016). ["The Model American: Melania Trump Is the Exception to Her Husband's Nativist Politics"](http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/05/09/who-is-melania-trump). *The New Yorker*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20181119152650/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/05/09/who-is-melania-trump) from the original on November 19, 2018. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
4. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBennett201948%E2%80%9349_6-0)** [Bennett 2019](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#CITEREFBennett2019), pp. 48–49.
5. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-7)**
["O Melaniji Je Prvi Poročal Dolenjski List"](http://www.dolenjskilist.si/2016/11/10/165255/novice/dolenjska/O_Melaniji_je_prvi_porocal_Dolenjski_list/) \[The First to Report about Melania was Dolenjski List\]. *Dolenjski list \[Lower Carniola Newspaper\]* (in Slovenian). November 10, 2016. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20161111154144/http://www.dolenjskilist.si/2016/11/10/165255/novice/dolenjska/O_Melaniji_je_prvi_porocal_Dolenjski_list/) from the original on November 11, 2016. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
6. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBennett201951_8-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBennett201951_8-1) [Bennett 2019](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#CITEREFBennett2019), p. 51.
7. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECaroli2019336_9-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECaroli2019336_9-1) [Caroli 2019](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#CITEREFCaroli2019), p. 336.
8. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEJordan202056_10-0)** [Jordan 2020](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#CITEREFJordan2020), p. 56.
9. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEJordan202050_11-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEJordan202050_11-1) [Jordan 2020](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#CITEREFJordan2020), p. 50.
10. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-Ioffe_12-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-Ioffe_12-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-Ioffe_12-2) [***d***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-Ioffe_12-3) [***e***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-Ioffe_12-4) [***f***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-Ioffe_12-5) [***g***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-Ioffe_12-6) [***h***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-Ioffe_12-7) [***i***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-Ioffe_12-8) [***j***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-Ioffe_12-9) [***k***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-Ioffe_12-10) [***l***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-Ioffe_12-11)
Ioffe, Julia (April 27, 2016). ["Melania Trump on Her Rise, Her Family Secrets, And Her True Political Views: "Nobody Will Ever Know""](https://www.gq.com/story/melania-trump-gq-interview). *GQ*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170906042714/https://www.gq.com/story/melania-trump-gq-interview) from the original on September 6, 2017. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
11. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECaroli2019337_13-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECaroli2019337_13-1) [Caroli 2019](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#CITEREFCaroli2019), p. 337.
12. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-VanityFair_14-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-VanityFair_14-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-VanityFair_14-2) [***d***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-VanityFair_14-3) [***e***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-VanityFair_14-4) [***f***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-VanityFair_14-5)
Peretz, Evgenia (April 21, 2017). ["Inside the Trump Marriage: Melania's Burden"](https://web.archive.org/web/20170718230215/http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2017/04/donald-melania-trump-marriage). *[Vanity Fair](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanity_Fair_\(magazine\) "Vanity Fair (magazine)")*. Archived from [the original](http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2017/04/donald-melania-trump-marriage) on July 18, 2017.
13. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEJordan202052%E2%80%9353_15-0)** [Jordan 2020](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#CITEREFJordan2020), pp. 52–53.
14. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBennett201952_16-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBennett201952_16-1) [Bennett 2019](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#CITEREFBennett2019), p. 52.
15. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEJordan202054_17-0)** [Jordan 2020](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#CITEREFJordan2020), p. 54.
16. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-18)**
Novak, Marja (February 12, 2016). ["Melania Trump's Past Took Her From A River Town In Slovenia To Trump Tower"](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/melania-trump-history_n_56bdf3b5e4b0c3c55050db11). *[HuffPost](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HuffPost "HuffPost")*. [Reuters](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reuters "Reuters"). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160215110114/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/melania-trump-history_us_56bdf3b5e4b0c3c55050db11) from the original on February 15, 2016. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
17. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEJordan202055%E2%80%9357_19-0)** [Jordan 2020](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#CITEREFJordan2020), pp. 55–57.
18. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBennett201953%E2%80%9354_20-0)** [Bennett 2019](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#CITEREFBennett2019), pp. 53–54.
19. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECaroli2019338_21-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECaroli2019338_21-1) [***c***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECaroli2019338_21-2) [***d***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-FOOTNOTECaroli2019338_21-3) [Caroli 2019](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#CITEREFCaroli2019), p. 338.
20. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBennett201957_22-0)** [Bennett 2019](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#CITEREFBennett2019), p. 57.
21. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEJordan2020238%E2%80%93241_23-0)** [Jordan 2020](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#CITEREFJordan2020), pp. 238–241.
22. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBennett201954%E2%80%9355_24-0)** [Bennett 2019](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#CITEREFBennett2019), pp. 54–55.
23. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEJordan202057%E2%80%9360_25-0)** [Jordan 2020](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#CITEREFJordan2020), pp. 57–60.
24. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEJordan202061%E2%80%9363_26-0)** [Jordan 2020](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#CITEREFJordan2020), pp. 61–63.
25. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-27)**
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Brunner, Raven (December 21, 2025). ["Brett Ratner, Director of Upcoming Melania Trump Documentary, Seen in Photo Released from Epstein Files"](https://people.com/melania-trump-launches-muse-films-before-documentary-release-11858785). People. Retrieved December 22, 2025.
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McClintock, Pamela (January 27, 2026). ["Weekend Preview: Rachel McAdams to be First Lady of the Box Office Despite Melania Trump's Lavishly Backed Doc"](https://web.archive.org/web/20260223014026/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/melania-trump-documentary-box-oice-1236486305/). *The Hollywood Reporter*. Archived from [the original](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/melania-trump-documentary-box-oice-1236486305/) on February 23, 2026. Retrieved January 28, 2026. "Amazon MGM shelled out a hefty \$40 million to license the history-making documentary — it's the first time a film featuring and made by a sitting First Lady has appeared on the big screen — along with a docu-series for Prime from Melania Trump and Ratner."
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Hartmann, Margaret. ["The Melania Movie, Explained: Box Office, Reviews, and What She Made"](https://web.archive.org/web/20260302145309/https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/melania-trump-documentary-amazon.html). *Intelligencer*. Archived from [the original](https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/melania-trump-documentary-amazon.html) on March 2, 2026. Retrieved March 14, 2026.
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Whitten, Sarah (February 1, 2026). ["'Melania' earns a surprising \$7 million, the highest opening for a nonmusic documentary in a decade"](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/01/melania-documentary-posts-7-million-domestic-opening.html). *CNBC*. Retrieved February 2, 2026.
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354. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEJordan202026%E2%80%9327_356-0)** [Jordan 2020](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#CITEREFJordan2020), pp. 26–27.
355. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEVidmar_Horvat2021447%E2%80%93448_357-0)** [Vidmar Horvat 2021](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#CITEREFVidmar_Horvat2021), pp. 447–448.
356. ^ [***a***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBennett20192_358-0) [***b***](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEBennett20192_358-1) [Bennett 2019](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#CITEREFBennett2019), p. 2.
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369. **[^](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEVidmar_Horvat2021448_371-0)** [Vidmar Horvat 2021](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melania_Trump#CITEREFVidmar_Horvat2021), p. 448.
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- Požar, Bojan (February 18, 2016). *Melania Trump – The Inside Story: The Potential First Lady*. Zalozba Ombo d.o.o. Ljubljana. pp. 111–113\.
- Pušnik, Maruša; Jontes, Dejan (2021). ["Mediji in Spontani Nacionalizem: Primer Melanie Trump"](https://www.fdv.uni-lj.si/docs/default-source/tip/mediji-in-spontani-nacionalizem-primer-melanie-trump.pdf) \[Media and Spontaneous Nationalism: The Case of Melania Trump\] (PDF). *[Teorija in Praksa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teorija_in_Praksa "Teorija in Praksa")* (in Slovenian). **58** (2): 464–480\. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.51936/tip.58.2.464-480](https://doi.org/10.51936%2Ftip.58.2.464-480). [ISSN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISSN_\(identifier\) "ISSN (identifier)") [0040-3598](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0040-3598).
- Vidmar Horvat, Ksenija (2021). ["Postimperialni Patriarhat In Karnevaleskna Periferija: Melania Trump V Transnacionalni Javnosti"](https://www.fdv.uni-lj.si/docs/default-source/tip/postimperialni-patriarhat-in-karnevaleskna-periferija-melania-trump-v-transnacionalni-javnosti.pdf) \[Post-Imperial Patriarchy and the Carnivalesque Periphery: Melania Trump Within a Transnational Public\] (PDF). *[Teorija in Praksa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teorija_in_Praksa "Teorija in Praksa")* (in Slovenian). **58** (2): 447–463\. [doi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doi_\(identifier\) "Doi (identifier)"):[10\.51936/tip.58.2.447-463](https://doi.org/10.51936%2Ftip.58.2.447-463). [ISSN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISSN_\(identifier\) "ISSN (identifier)") [0040-3598](https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0040-3598).
External links
- [White House website](https://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/melania-trump/)
- [Official website](https://melaniatrump.com/)
- [Melania Trump](https://www.fashionmodeldirectory.com/models/melania_knauss/) at [Fashion Model Directory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fashion_Model_Directory "Fashion Model Directory") [](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q432473#P2266 "Edit this at Wikidata")
- [Melania Trump](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1514936/) at [IMDb](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IMDb_\(identifier\) "IMDb (identifier)")
- [Appearances](https://www.c-span.org/person/?101478) on [C-SPAN](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C-SPAN "C-SPAN") |
| Shard | 152 (laksa) |
| Root Hash | 17790707453426894952 |
| Unparsed URL | org,wikipedia!en,/wiki/Melania_Trump s443 |