Melania Trump is again within the White Home as America’s first woman for a second time — however her life and legacy transcend her duties because the commander-in-chief’s spouse.
She made a reputation for herself even earlier than she met President Donald Trump, when she stepped foot on United States soil at age 26.
Born Melania Knauss, she got here to America from Slovenia in 1996 with “youthful confidence.”
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“As an grownup, there comes a second while you turn out to be solely answerable for the life you lead,” she writes in her bestselling memoir, “Melania.”
“You should take cost, embrace that accountability, and turn out to be the architect of your personal future.”
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The official portrait of first woman Melania Trump was captured on Jan. 21, 2025, within the Yellow Oval Room of the residence by esteemed photographer Régine Mahaux. (White Home)
Two years after residing in Manhattan, the longer term Mrs. Trump met the real-estate mogul, Donald J. Trump, at a celebration whereas she was nonetheless deep into her modeling profession.
“He wished my quantity, however he was with a date, so after all I didn’t give it to him,” the primary woman stated in a 2016 interview with Harper’s Bazaar.
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“I stated, ‘I’m not supplying you with my quantity; you give me yours, and I’ll name you.’ I wished to see what sort of quantity he would give me — if it was a enterprise quantity, ‘What is that this? I’m not doing enterprise with you.’”
The long run president gave her all of his telephone numbers, from numbers at Mar-a-Lago to his New York house — and inside per week, she gave him a hoop.
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Melania Knaus moved to America when she was solely 26 years previous and began a profession within the modeling trade. (Diane Freed)
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The Trumps are pictured early on of their relationship. “I used to be struck by his power… He has a tremendous sense of vitality,” Melania Trump stated in {a magazine} interview about her then-future husband. (Ron Galella/Ron Galella Assortment through Getty Pictures)
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American socialite Mary Trump frolicked along with her son, actual property developer Donald Trump, and his then-girlfriend, former mannequin Melania Knauss, as they posed collectively on the Mar-a-Lago membership, Palm Seaside, Florida, Feb. 27, 2000. (Davidoff Studios/Getty Pictures)
“I used to be struck by his power… He has a tremendous sense of vitality,” Melania Trump instructed the journal.
The subsequent few years concerned the finalization of Trump’s second divorce and a short break up between the completely happy couple, however they ultimately reunited, she has stated in interviews.
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In 2004, Trump proposed to the longer term first woman at one of many greatest nights in New York Metropolis: the Met Gala.
The subsequent yr, the Trumps stated “I do” at a most luxurious marriage ceremony, which was publicly described as being match for royalty — from the gorgeous robe worn by the bride to the beautiful reception at Mar-a-Lago.
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The couple is proven celebrating with associates on New 12 months’s Eve earlier than they had been married on Jan. 22, 2005. (Davidoff Studios/Getty Pictures)
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Melania Trump waves after marrying Donald Trump at The Episcopal Church of Bethesda by-the-Sea in West Palm Seaside, on Jan. 22, 2005. (Jeffrey Langlois/Palm Seaside Every day Information/Imagn)
Whereas the $100,000 Christian Dior marriage ceremony robe, 10,000 flowers on show and cooks serving caviar with Cristal champagne might have been highlights of the night, Melania Trump stated she felt like another bride when she walked down the aisle.
“Though my marriage ceremony was grand in scale … what I felt in my coronary heart was what each different bride feels on her special occasion. The strain to make sure all the pieces went easily was actually actual, however finally, my major focus was celebrating Donald and my love and dedication, surrounded by my family members,” she wrote in her memoir.
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On March 20, 2006, the primary woman gave start to the couple’s son, Barron William Trump.
Within the midst of elevating Barron, she continued to seek out different methods work, inorder to set a great instance for her son.
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Melania Trump, younger Barron Trump and Donald Trump attend the sixteenth Annual Bunny Hop at FAO Schwartz to profit the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Most cancers Heart in 2007. (Peter Kramer/Getty Pictures for MSKCC)
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Melania Trump and son Barron Trump are proven on the nineteenth annual Bunny Hop hosted by the Associates Committee of The Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Most cancers Heart at FAO Schwarz 2010. (Bryan Bedder/Getty Pictures)
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The Trumps with younger son Barron on Nov. 30, 2011, in New York Metropolis. (Gary Gershoff/Getty Pictures for NBC)
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The couple in the course of the thirteenth Annual Elton John AIDS Basis Oscar Get together in 2011, co-hosted by Chopard – Arrivals at Pacific Design Heart in L.A. (Jean-Paul Aussenard/WireImage)
“It’s crucial that we present our youngsters that we’re working, too. To provide them an instance [of] how life is,” she stated in an unique interview with “Fox & Buddies.”
“That they see us as productive. We’ve got concepts and these concepts come to life,” she stated.
After 10 years of elevating her son, being the spouse of a enterprise mogul and dealing on her personal endeavors, a brand new title was added to her lengthy checklist of achievements: first woman of the USA.
She stated she had no concept she would turn out to be a outstanding determine within the political highlight when she got here to America.
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“I believe nothing ready me extra to be first woman in entrance of the world than the style trade… It is glamorous, however it’s on the identical time very robust,” Melania Trump shared in her interview with “Fox & Buddies.”
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President Trump and first woman Melania Trump stroll within the inaugural parade on Jan. 20, 2017, in Washington, D.C., after he was sworn in because the nation’s forty fifth president. (Kevin Dietsch – Pool/Getty Pictures)
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The president and first woman pose for a photograph as they go to members of the army at a eating corridor at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, Dec. 26, 2018. (AP Picture/Andrew Harnik)
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Melania Trump visits the Kids’s Inn at Nationwide Institutes of Well being on Valentine’s Day on on Feb. 14, 2020, in Bethesda, Maryland. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Pictures)
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The primary woman is proven subsequent to the entrance cowl of her new guide, a “deeply private and reflective journey for me,” she wrote in it. (Drew Angerer/Getty Pictures;Amazon)
“Everyone judges you, [looks] at you a sure method … It may be a imply world as effectively. So nothing ready me extra for this world than vogue. It provides you a thick pores and skin.”
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Throughout her time as first woman, she has been an avid supporter of America’s army, saying, “Supporting our army is a elementary perception of mine,” Fox Information Digital beforehand reported.
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President-elect Donald Trump kisses Melania Trump as he arrives for the inauguration ceremony earlier than he’s sworn in as forty seventh president within the U.S. Capitol Rotunda in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 20, 2025. (Saul Loeb/Pool through REUTERS)
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The Trumps attend the Commander-In-Chief Inaugural Ball on the Walter E. Washington Conference Heart in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 20, 2025. President Trump was elected because the nation’s forty seventh president on Nov. 5, 2024 — solely the second president ever to serve two non-consecutive phrases. (JIM WATSON/AFP through Getty Pictures)
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Barron Trump, youngest baby of the president, gestures throughout an indoor inauguration parade at Capital One Area on Jan. 20, 2025, in D.C. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Pictures)
Her love and respect for this nation was additionally clearly on show as she labored to protect the manager mansion, seeing it as her method of “contributing one thing lasting and delightful to the American folks, transcending politics and partisanship.”
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Melania Trump not too long ago visited a neighborhood affected by Hurricane Helene in Swannanoa, North Carolina, whereas President Trump spoke about hurricane aid. (MANDEL NGAN/AFP through Getty Pictures)
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Melania Trump and the president on a go to to California on Jan. 24, 2025, to see the area devastated by the Palisades and Eaton fires. (MANDEL NGAN/AFP through Getty Pictures)
Having already served the nation on this position, she is aware of what is anticipated of a primary woman.
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That earlier expertise is a bonus she’s going to have the ability to use for the subsequent 4 years.
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From mannequin to first woman, Melania Trump is again within the White Home. (Getty Pictures; White Home)
“I’ve rather more expertise, rather more information. I used to be within the White Home earlier than. So while you go in, you realize precisely what to anticipate. what sort of folks you could get,” she instructed “Fox & Buddies.”
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She has an understanding of this position and stated she’s crammed with nice delight — writing in her memoir that she has a “stronger sense of responsibility to make use of my platform as first woman for good.”