We are honored to provide you with our America’s First Ladies video series. America’s First Ladies is a video series that explores the lives and legacies of many remarkable women who transformed the role of first lady in American history. Through interviews, archival footage, and cinematic recreations, the series reveals how each first lady faced the challenges and opportunities of her time and how she influenced the nation and the world. The series features many first ladies who impacted America with their faith and charm. The series is a part of our Identity Politics Series and is produced by Lion of Judah Films.
We hope you are encouraged and blessed by this series. -Dr. Stephen Phinney
Melania Trump is a former model and businesswoman who served as the first lady of the United States from 2017 to 2021. She is the wife of Donald Trump, the 45th president of the United States, and the mother of Barron Trump. She is also the second foreign-born first lady, after Louisa Adams, and the first non-native English speaker to hold the position.
She was born Melanija Knavs on April 26, 1970, in Novo Mesto, Yugoslavia (now Slovenia). Her father was a car dealer, and her mother was a patternmaker for a children’s clothing company. She has an older sister, Ines, and an older half-brother, Denis.
She began modeling at a young age and pursued a career in fashion in Milan and Paris. She moved to New York City in 1996 and worked with several prestigious agencies and photographers. She appeared on the covers of magazines such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and GQ.
She met Donald Trump in 1998 at a fashion industry party in New York City. They dated for several years and got married in 2005 at his estate in Palm Beach, Florida. The wedding was attended by celebrities and politicians.
She gave birth to their son, Barron, in 2006 and became a naturalized U.S. citizen later that year. She described herself as a full-time mom and devoted wife. She also launched her own jewelry and skincare lines and supported various charities and causes.
She became the first lady of the United States in 2017 when her husband was inaugurated as the president. She focused on issues such as cyberbullying, opioid abuse, and children’s welfare. She launched her signature initiative, Be Best, in 2018, which aimed to promote the well-being of children, especially online.
She left the White House in 2021, after her husband lost the re-election to Joe Biden. She and her family moved to Mar-a-Lago, their private club in Florida, where she reportedly plans to resume her private life and continue her philanthropic work. However, with her husband running for president in 2024, she is stepping forward to assist in his campaign.
Melania Trump’s mother, Amalija Knavs, died in January at the age of 78 after a battle with cancer. At her funeral, the former first lady recalled her mother as “my dear friend. An irreplaceable treasure. A gift bestowed upon me by the universe.”
Melania joins her husband in their faith in Jesus Christ. Both are active in faith and politics. Each maintains a view that America can restore its roots in America’s founding fathers and the United States Constitution.
Melania joins her husband in their faith in Jesus Christ. Both are active in faith and politics. Each maintains a view that America can restore its roots in America’s founding fathers and the United States Constitution.
Visit Melania’s online content to learn more HERE.
America's First Ladies