Melania Trump's mother has died

CNN
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Amalija Naus, mother of the former First Lady Melania TrumpTrump posted on his social media accounts that he had died.

“Amalija Knaves was a strong woman who always carried herself with grace, warmth and dignity. She was completely devoted to her husband, daughters, grandson and son-in-law. We will miss her immeasurably and will continue to honor and love her legacy,” he said. Wrote in X.

Former President Donald Trump's campaign adviser confirmed Naus' death to CNN.

Knavs is from Slovenia, formerly communist Yugoslavia, and a textile worker. She and her husband Victor lived in the United States and were often seen in Washington after their son-in-law became president in 2017.

The retired couple maintained regular contact with the Trump family during the administration, often traveling with the first family to Mar-a-Lago and Bedminster, New Jersey.

Until 2016, there were Knavses He owned a house in Sevnica, a quiet industrial town of 5,000 people, nestled in a lush wooded valley on the banks of the Sava River in central Slovenia, is where Melania Trump attended elementary school. But since their grandson Barron Trump was born in 2006, they spent more time in New York, neighbors said at the time.

Knavses Became US citizens in 2018, controversially obtaining their citizenship through the sponsorship of their adult daughter — a visa type the Trump administration sought to end. Donald Trump has been a vocal critic of family-based immigration, often referring to it as “chain migration.”

Melania Trump, who became a US citizen in 2006, is the second foreign-born First Lady. She has avoided the public eye since leaving Washington in January 2021, even as her husband pursues another White House bid.

This story has been updated with additional details.

CNN's Jack Forrest, Betsy Klein, Tal Goban, MJ Lee Nick Thompson, Bill BlackMatjaz Krivic and Gašper Andrinek contributed to this report.