Melania Trump, the former first lady, revealed on social media on Tuesday that her mother, Amalija Knavs, passed away at the age of 78.
“I announce the passing of my beloved mother, Amalija, with deep sadness,” Trump said in a message posted on X, the previous Twitter platform.
“Amalija Knavs was a powerful woman who exuded warmth, dignity, and grace in everything she did. Her husband, children, grandson, and son-in-law all had her undivided attention.
We shall cherish and love her legacy forever, and we will mourn her terribly,” the statement read.
The announcement follows Donald Trump’s use of his Mar-a-Lago New Year’s Eve celebration to address his wife’s absence from Christmas family get-togethers.
Video footage shows that during the former president’s speech to the guests, he declared: “Melania — great first lady, so popular, the people love her — she’s now in a hospital with her mother.” Ources tell PEOPLE that the former first lady was not there for the Trumps’ New Year’s Eve celebration. Amalija, her mother, is quite sick, but ideally she will get well.
Trump, 77, went on: “But she’s been really sick, so I just wanted to say ‘hello’ to the first lady. We just spoke in this wonderful hospital down in Miami, and hopefully they’ll be okay.
However, it’s a difficult one—a very difficult one. She undoubtedly knows ninety-five percent of the folks in this room. All we want is for Amalija to recover as soon as possible.
Melania remained in regular contact with both her mother and her 79-year-old father, Viktor Knavs. In recent years, the Knavses have both been residing at Mar-a-Lago, which is also home to the former president and first lady.
A family-close source told PEOPLE that Amalija “has an excellent relationship with Melania and with Barron.” “They adore her.
She looks out for the family and is selfless. Melania has always gotten along great with Barron and her mother.”
