Ivanka Trump and Tiffany Trump showed their support for their stepmother, former First Lady Melania Trump, at her mother Amalija Knavs’ funeral on Thursday morning.
The service was held near former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate at the Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea in Palm Beach, Florida, where he and his wife wed in 2005. Knavs died on January 9 at the age of 78.
The half-sisters arrived at the church separately, with their respective spouses, wearing black midi dresses for the somber occasion.
Ivanka, 42, donned a long-sleeve lace pencil dress with a matching belt that cinched her waist, which she paired with classic black heels.
Ivanka Trump, 42, and her husband, Jared Kushner, 43, were seen arriving at the funeral for former First Lady Melania Trump’s mother, Amalija Knavs, in Palm Beach, Florida, on Thursday
Ivanka (L) and her half-sister, Tiffany Trump, 30, (R) showed their support for their stepmother in black midi dresses and classic black pumps
Melania was joined by her husband, former President Donald Trump, and her teenage son, Barron, at the service held at the Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea
The former White House senior advisor’s long blonde hair was styled loose around her shoulders, and she covered her eyes with a pair of glamorous black sunglasses.
Ivanka held hands with her husband, Jared Kushner, 43, who was sporting a dark suit and matching tie, as well as a scruffy beard.
The couple was talking with another man in a suit as they headed toward the church’s entrance together.
Tiffany, 30, looked like the spitting image of her older sister in a sleeveless black pencil dress with lace detailing across the chest and black pumps.
Her blonde hair was blown out and loose around her shoulders. She wore gold hoop earrings and carried a black handbag with a gold chain strap.
The former first daughter walked alongside her husband of one year, Michael Boulos, 26, the heir to the multi-billion dollar Nigerian conglomerate Boulos Enterprises.
Like Jared, Michael was also wearing a dark suit paired with a white button-down shirt and a matching tie.
Inside the church, Ivanka and Tiffany reunited with their other siblings, as well as their nieces and nephews.
Former President Trump, 77, has three children — Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric — with his first wife, Ivana Trump, who passed away in July 2022 at the age of 73.
Tiffany is his only child with his second wife, actress Marla Maples, who recently hinted that she will be voting for him in the 2024 presidential election.
Ivanka donned a long-sleeve lace pencil dress with a matching belt that cinched her waist
The former White House senior advisor paired the look with classic black heels and sunglasses
Ivanka’s long blonde hair was styled loose around her shoulders, and she had on a pair of diamond stud earrings
Ivanka held hands with her husband as she chatted with another attendee outside the church
Jared was sporting a dark suit and matching tie, as well as a scruffy beard
Donald also has a younger son, Barron, 17, with Melania, his third wife.
The former first lady delivered an emotional eulogy at her late mother’s funeral.
‘Her nurturing spirit had no limits, creating a legacy that will last for generations,’ she said. ‘With her beauty and impeccable sense of style she turned heads. But it was her unwavering dedication and hard work that made her exceptional.’
Melania gushed about her mother’s love for her grandson, Barron, whom she ‘showered with affection, illuminating his world with love, tender care, and unwavering devotion.’
Her voiced cracked from church’s podium as she said, ‘Rest in peace, my beloved mother.’
Donald had flown to Florida in the early hours of the morning to be at his wife’s side, the pair following closely behind the hearse in one of around a dozen black SUVs.
Melania maintained her steely composure as she emerged from the church, watching in silence as the coffin was carried outside, flanked by pallbearers and clergy.
Tiffany looked like the spitting image of her older sister in a sleeveless black pencil dress with lace detailing across the chest and black pumps
The former first daughter walked alongside her husband of one year, Michael Boulos, 26, the heir to the multi-billion dollar Nigerian conglomerate Boulos Enterprises
Tiffany’s blonde hair was blown out and loose around her shoulders
Tiffany wore gold hoop earrings and carried a black handbag with a gold chain strap
Ivanka’s brother Eric Trump and his wife, Lara, walked close behind them
As the procession reached the road and she watched her mom being loaded back into the hearse, the former president reached out and tenderly squeezed her hand.
She left in the same vehicle as her father, Viktor Knavs, while her husband 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 afterward.
The former first lady managed to get through the hour-long service without breaking down, said Wildes, who secured U.S. 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 counsel. She was the epitome of a doting grandmother.’
Mourners joined Melania and her father on Thursday morning at the same picturesque Palm Beach church where she got married nearly two decades earlier.
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 Donald’s Florida residence, Mar-a-Lago.
Melania remained stoic and expressionless behind her black sunglasses as she watched her mother’s coffin be carried from the street to the church
Former President Trump had flown to Florida in the early hours of the morning to be at his wife’s side at her mother’s funeral
Melania delivered a touching eulogy for her mother, Knavs, who died on January 9 at age 78
Melania gushed about her mother’s love for her grandson, Barron, whom she ‘showered with affection.’ They are pictured with Knavs at the White House in 2018
The family also attended several Christmas services there throughout his presidency.
The hearse bearing Knavs’ casket was accompanied by a massive Secret Service motorcade, arriving just after 10 a.m.
Melania and Donald were accompanied by their son, Barron, and her father, who looked visibly upset but paused to compose himself before joining them.
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.
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 sunglasses as all four of them turned in unison to watch as Knavs’ coffin, bedecked with a dazzling display of white roses, orchids, and lilies 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.
Senators Rick Scott and Lindsay Graham were spotted entering the historic church, greeting one another warmly outside before going inside.
The former president’s sister Elizabeth Trump Grau, 82, and Don Jr.’s partner, Kimberly Guilfoyle, 54, were also seen.
The Trumps have been regulars at the Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea for nearly two decades
Melania wed then-real estate mogul Donald at the church in 2005 in front of VIP guests, including Hillary and Bill Clinton
Melania maintained her steely composure as she emerged from the 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, the former president reached out and tenderly squeezed her hand
Former President Trump’s older children and their spouses were seen leaving the church together after the funeral service
Ivanka and Jared stood between her brother Don Dr. and his partner, Kimberly Guilfoyle, at the church. Eric and Lara were behind them, next to Don Jr.’s ex-wife, Vanessa Trump
It was unclear if Donald 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 he was still on the receiving end of a furious tirade on Truth Social, with Donald branding him a ‘terrible, biased, irrationally angry Clinton-appointed judge.’
Donald did deliver a touching tribute to his mother-in-law during his victory speech at the Iowa caucuses Tuesday, hailing her as 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.
Ivanka paid tribute to the former first lady’s mother on Instagram Stories the day after she died.
‘I am deeply saddened by the passing of Melania’s beloved mother, Amalija Knavs, a remarkable woman who brought immense joy and love into the lives of all around her,’ she wrote.
‘Her spirit, strength, and compassion will be profoundly missed but live on in the hearts of all those whose lives she touched so dearly. Rest in Peace Amalija.
Melania 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.
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.’