Melania Trump delivered an emotional eulogy at her late mother Amalija Knavs’ funeral Thursday morning.
‘Her nurturing spirit had no limits, creating a legacy that will last for generations,’ the former First Lady said of her mother who passed away on January 9, aged 78. ‘With her beauty and impeccable sense of style she turned heads. But it was her unwavering dedication and hard work that made her exceptional.’
She gushed about her mother’s love for grandson Barron, 17, who she ‘showered with affection, illuminating his world with love, tender care and unwavering devotion.’
Her voiced cracked from the podium at Bethesda-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church as she said, ‘Rest in peace, my beloved mother.’
The former President had flown into Florida in the early hours to be at his wife’s side, the pair following closely behind the hearse in one of around a dozen black SUVs.
Melania Trump delivered a touching eulogy for her mother Amalija Knavs, who died January 9, aged 78
Donald Trump stands with his wife Melania, their son Barron, and father-in-law Viktor Knavs, as the coffin carrying the remains of Amalija Knavs is carried into the Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea for her funeral
Melania remained stoic and expressionless behind her black jumbo sunglasses as they turned in unison to watch as Knavs’ coffins, bedecked with a dazzling display of white roses, orchids and lillies was carried from the street to the church
Donald Trump had flown into Florida in the early hours to be at his wife’s side, and they were seen following closely behind the hearse
Melania maintained her steely composure as she emerged from church, watching in silence as the coffin was carried outside, flanked by pallbearers and clergy
Ivanka and Tiffany Trump were among the 100 or so mourners arriving for the 10am funeral service for Knavs on Thursday morning
Donald Trump’s children and their spouses are seen leaving the church on Thursday following the funeral service
Melania maintained her steely composure as she emerged from church, watching in silence as the coffin was carried outside, flanked by pallbearers and clergy.
As the procession reached the road and she watched her mom being loaded back into the hearse, Trump reached out and tenderly squeezed his wife’s hand.
She left in the same vehicle as her dad while Trump followed in another SUV, giving a nod of gratitude to Secret Service agents who closed the road to ensure a smooth getaway for mourners.
‘It was lovely. She spoke artfully and straight from the heart about the elegance of her mother and the extraordinary stewardship she had for the family,’ Melania’s lawyer Michael Wildes told DailyMail.com afterwards.
The former First Lady managed to get through the hour-long service without breaking down, said Wildes, who secured US citizenship for Knavs in 2018.
‘Melania was composed and elegant as always but this was undoubtedly an impactful moment for her,’ he added.
‘The loss of her mother has really shocked her to the core. She relied heavily on her for support and council. She was the epitome of a doting grandmother.’
Melania’s mother will laid to rest today at the same picturesque Palm Beach church where her daughter married Donald Trump nearly two decades earlier
Former First Lady Melania Trump ‘s mother Amalija Knavs, 78, died after being hospitalized in Miami, Florida, over the holidays
Mourners joined Melania and her father Viktor Thursday morning at the same picturesque Palm Beach church where she married Trump nearly two decades earlier.
The hearse bearing Knavs’ casket was accompanied by a massive Secret Service motorcade, arriving just after 10am.
Melania and Trump were accompanied by their son Barron while Knavs’ husband Viktor looked visibly upset but paused to compose himself before joining the others.
They walked slowly towards the church as a foursome, in complete silence, dozens of agents looking on, the three men wearing black suits and ties and Melania in a black suit jacket, black skirt and a silver cross around her neck.
The Rev. Tim Schenck, who joined Bethesda as rector in 2022, stood at the church entrance waiting to greet them with a somber nod of the head and some brief words of comfort.
Melania remained stoic and expressionless behind her black jumbo sunglasses as all four turned in unison to watch as Knavs’ coffins, bedecked with a dazzling display of white roses, orchids and lillies was carried from the street to the church.
Finally they all turned to go inside, the coffin entering behind them, passing another huge pink and white floral display comprised of roses, carnations and daisies.
Ivanka and Tiffany Trump were among the 100 or so mourners arriving for the 10am funeral service for Knavs on Thursday morning.
The pair wore elegant black dresses and Ivanka was sporting dark sunglasses.
They were accompanied by their husbands, Jared Kushner and Michael Boulos, both in black suits with black ties.
Eric and Lara Trump entered moments later, Laura dressed in a black shirt and grey skirt and Eric wearing a grey suit.
Senators Rick Scott and Lindsay Graham were also spotted entering the historic church, greeting one another warmly outside before going inside.
Just ahead of them was Trump’s sister Elizabeth Trump Grau, 82. Donald Trump Jr.’s partner Kimberly Guilfoyle, 54, was also seen.
Donald Trump paid tribute to his late mother-in-law Amalija Knavs and called a New York judge an ‘animal’ for refusing to delay the E. Jean Carroll defamation trial so he can go to her funera
Episcopal Church of Bethesda by the sea in Palm Beach where the funeral service of Amalia Knavs, Melania TrumpÕs mother is believed to take place
The Trumps have been regulars at the 125-year-old chapel since Melania wed then-real estate mogul Donald there in 2005 in front of VIP guests including Hillary and Bill Clinton.
A year later their son Barron was christened at the gothic-revival style venue, which is less than three miles from Trump’s swish Florida residence, Mar-a-Lago.
The Trumps also attended several Christmas services there throughout his Presidency.
It was unclear if Donald Trump would make it after a heated exchange with a New York federal judge overseeing E. Jean Carroll’s defamation case against him. The judge denied an application to delay the trial.
Judge Lewis Kaplan noted that the former President was not legally obliged to be court in person anyway – but was still on the receiving end of a furious tirade on Truth Social, with Trump branding him a ‘terrible, biased, irrationally angry Clinton-appointed judge.’
Trump did deliver a touching tribute to his mother-in-law during his victory speech at the Iowa caucuses Tuesday, hailing her an ‘incredible, beautiful mother.’
‘She’s up there, way up there. She’s looking down and she’s so proud of us. And I just want to say to Amalija, you are special, one of the most special people I’ve ever known,’ he added.
Melania, 53, had missed most of the Christmas and New Year celebrations at Mar-a-Lago to care for her ailing mom, who was raised in an impoverished Slovenian village but lived out her final days as a well-heeled Florida retiree.
It’s unclear whether Donald Trump, 77, will attend the funeral after a heated exchange with NY federal judge overseeing E. Jean Carroll’s defamation case
The Trumps have been regulars at the 125-year-old Palm Beach chapel since Melania wed then-real estate mogul Donald there in 2005
In her own statement announcing the death, she said: ‘Amalija Knavs was a strong woman who always carried herself with grace, warmth, and dignity.
‘She was entirely devoted to her husband, daughters, grandson, and son-in-law. We will miss her beyond measure and continue to honor and love her legacy.’
Knavs was born in 1945 in Judendorf-Strassengel, Austria, before moving to Slovenia when it was still under communist rule.
She spent her humble childhood harvesting onions on her family farm before starting work at a textile factory, which is where she met Viktor, 79.
They welcomed their first daughter, Ines, who now lives in Manhattan, in 1968. Two years later, the couple had Melania, who always said she was inspired by her hardworking mother.
The sisters both moved to Milan to launch their modeling careers and Melania came to the United States in 1996, obtaining a green card in 2001 and becoming a naturalized citizen in 2006.
The Knavs were also often spotted traveling with the first couple, and accompanied them to many big events
Amalija and Viktor continued to live ‘modestly,’ according to a neighbor, and they still own the home they had built in Slovenia the ’80s. They’re seen in 2018
Knavs was a textile factory dealer in her native Slovenia when she met husband Viktor. The pair then moved to the U.S. and have been by Melania’s side during her career from modeling to the East Wing. She is pictured with her daughter in 2004
After Melania and Donald welcomed their son, Barron, in 2006, Amalja and Viktor began to split their time between Slovenia and the US. They’re seen holding Barron in 2007
Amalija and Viktor met Trump for the first time in 2002 when he went to visit them in Slovenia.
It was said that he arrived on his private jet at about 8pm, had dinner with the couple at the Grand Hotel Toplice in Ljubljana, then departed for the US by midnight.
That was the only time the future President ever visited his wife’s home country, and he later joked to Larry King: ‘I was there about 13 minutes.’
Amalija and Viktor continued to live in the home they built for themselves in Slovenia during the 1980s even as Trump ran for the Presidency in 2015, their neighbors telling DailyMail.com they were ‘modest, and were not the kind of people to brag.’
The Knavs eventually moved to the US, however, and became naturalized citizens in August 2018, living it up as well-heeled retirees and Mar-a-Lago residents.
‘My elegant and hardworking mother Amalija introduced me to fashion and beauty,’ Melania said in her speech to the Republican National Convention in 2016.
At just five years old, Melania was recruited to model in the the catalogues of the clothing manufacturer that her mom worked for. She’s seen modeling the clothes as a kid (center)
While Amalija’s dad Anton Ulčnik was one of the most successful onion farmers in all of Slovenia, the family grew up in poverty. She’s pictured in 1965
‘My father, Viktor, instilled in me a passion for business and travel. Their integrity, compassion and intelligence reflect to this day on me and for my love of family and America.’
At the annual Mar-a-Lago New Year’s Eve party, the former president confirmed Melania’s mother was ‘very ill’ but was initially positive about her recovery.
‘She knows about 95 percent of the people in this room,’ he said, prompting cheers from partygoers.
A few minutes’ drive away, the Bethesda-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church was the setting for Melania’s January 22, 2005 wedding to Trump, a larger-than-life business mogul and star of The Apprentice.
The former model wowed in an elaborate Dior gown made from 300 feet of white satin and Ivanka Trump read the scriptures.
Afterwards, guests including the Clintons, Matt Lauer, Rudy Giuliana, Simon Cowell and Tony Bennett attended a lavish Mar-a-Largo reception where they were serenaded by Billy Joel.
Asked what he thought of the entertainment, American Idol judge Cowell told People: I give it a nine.’