Former First Lady Melania Trump Bids Farewell to Beloved Mother, Amalija Knavs, at Solemn Funeral Service

A Heartfelt Tribute to a Guiding Light

In the heart of Palm Beach, Florida, a solemn gathering unfolded on a somber Thursday as former First Lady Melania Trump bid farewell to her beloved mother, Amalija Knavs, at a poignant funeral service held at The Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea. The church, imbued with memories of Melania Trump’s 2005 marriage to former President Donald Trump, became the setting for a deeply personal and heartfelt tribute to a mother who had been a guiding light in her daughter’s life.

A Bond Unbreakable

With her husband, the former President, seated nearby, Melania Trump took to the pulpit, her voice tinged with both sorrow and gratitude. She spoke of her mother as a radiant presence, a source of unwavering support and unconditional love. In her eulogy, she painted a vivid portrait of a woman who had instilled in her a deep appreciation for family, resilience, and the enduring power of human connection.

“In her presence, the world seemed to shimmer with radiance and joy,” Melania Trump said, her words echoing through the hushed sanctuary. “Our bond was unbreakable.”

With tears glistening in her eyes, she recalled the laughter-filled travels, the intimate conversations, and the shared triumphs and tribulations that had forged an unbreakable bond between mother and daughter. She spoke of her mother’s unwavering belief in her family, her unwavering support during challenging times, and her unwavering optimism that had carried them through life’s inevitable storms.

A Final Farewell

“Rest in peace, my beloved mother,” Melania Trump concluded, her voice trembling with emotion as she stepped down from the pulpit, her heart heavy with loss.

As she approached her mother’s casket, Melania Trump paused, her eyes fixed upon the serene face that had graced her life for 78 years. With a gentle touch, she brought her fingers to her lips, then pressed them against the polished wood of the casket, a silent farewell, a final gesture of love and devotion.

Notable Attendees Pay Their Respects

Among the mourners who had gathered to pay their respects were several notable figures, including Tiffany Trump and Ivanka Trump, the former President’s daughters from previous marriages, along with Ivanka Trump’s husband, Jared Kushner. Republican U.S. Senators Rick Scott of Florida and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina also attended the private service, their presence a testament to the esteem in which the Knavs family was held.

A Somber Procession

As the morning sun cast long shadows across the church grounds, a hearse solemnly pulled up in front of the church, followed by an SUV carrying the former President and First Lady and two other vehicles with their Secret Service detail. Melania Trump, clad in a black dress and sunglasses, alighted from the vehicle, her father, Viktor Knavs, by her side. Together, they led a somber procession up to the church, followed by the former President and their son, Barron.

With heads bowed and hearts heavy, they stood on the steps of the church as the coffin, draped in a pall of white, was reverently lifted from the hearse and carried into the church, the final resting place of Amalija Knavs, a woman who had touched so many lives with her kindness, her strength, and her unwavering love.

A Lasting Legacy

After the service, a priest, his voice resonating with solemnity, waved an urn of incense, while a man held aloft a cross as the coffin was carried out of the church. Melania Trump and her father followed, their faces etched with grief, their footsteps echoing in the hushed silence. Behind them walked Donald Trump and their son, Barron, their expressions a mix of sorrow and remembrance.

As the coffin was gently placed back into the hearse, the former President and First Lady exchanged brief pleasantries with the priest, their words barely audible above the soft rustling of the wind. Donald Trump then escorted his wife to an SUV, where she was joined by her father. He then boarded a separate vehicle, his heart heavy with the loss of a woman who had been a constant presence in his life for over two decades.

A Dedicated Mother, Grandmother, and Friend

During the Trump presidency, Amalija Knavs had resided in New York alongside her husband, occasionally gracing the White House with her presence. She had been present at the 2018 ceremony where Melania Trump unveiled her “Be Best” public awareness campaign, an initiative aimed at promoting the well-being of children.

The Knavses had raised Melania and her older sister, Ines, in the rural industrial town of Sevnica, Slovenia, during a time when the country was under Communist rule as part of Yugoslavia. Amalija Knavs had worked as a textile worker and homemaker, while her husband had initially been a chauffeur before transitioning to a career as a car dealer.

A Serendipitous Encounter

Melania, born Melanija, had attended high school in the Slovenian capital, Ljubljana, and later changed her name to Melania Knauss when she embarked on a modeling career. In 1996, she settled in New York, where she met Donald Trump in 1998, their paths crossing in a serendipitous encounter that would forever change the course of their lives.

A Journey of Love and Remembrance

Melania Trump had sponsored her parents’ immigration to the United States, and in 2018, while Donald Trump was President, they became naturalized citizens at a New York City courthouse. Their lawyer had clarified that they had applied for citizenship independently and had not received any preferential treatment.

As fate would have it, Donald Trump found himself embroiled in a defamation trial in New York on Tuesday and Wednesday, facing a lawsuit filed by former advice columnist E. Jean Carroll, who had accused him of rape. Trump’s lawyers had petitioned the judge to postpone the trial for a day to allow him to attend the funeral, but their request was denied. Faced with this dilemma, Trump chose to forgo the Thursday court session rather than miss the funeral or reschedule it to Friday, when the trial was not scheduled to convene.

A Farewell Filled with Love and Sorrow

The funeral of Amalija Knavs was a somber occasion, a time for reflection, remembrance, and farewell. It was a day when a family, bound by love and grief, gathered to honor the memory of a woman who had been the heart and soul of their lives. As the sun began to set over Palm Beach, casting long shadows across the land, the Knavs family bid a final farewell to their beloved mother, grandmother, and friend, knowing that her spirit would live on forever in their hearts.