The Private Life Of Viktor Knavs: What We Know About Melania Trump's Father Today

As of December 2025, Melania Trump's father, Viktor Knavs, is confirmed to be alive and well, continuing his remarkably private life in the United States, despite his daughter's high-profile status as a former First Lady. The focus on his current status comes after a significant personal event for the Knavs family: the passing of his wife and Melania's mother, Amalija Knavs, in January 2024. The Knavs patriarch, a former car salesman and chauffeur from Slovenia, remains a figure of quiet intrigue, often seen with the Trump family at major events but rarely speaking publicly. His life story, from a communist-era background in Yugoslavia to becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen through the very immigration system his son-in-law, Donald Trump, sought to dismantle, is a compelling narrative of contrast and transition.

Viktor Knavs: A Comprehensive Biography and Profile

Viktor Knavs is the father of former First Lady Melania Trump and has been a permanent fixture in her life, moving from his native Slovenia to the United States and eventually becoming a naturalized citizen.

• Full Name: Viktor Knavs
• Date of Birth: March 24, 1944
• Place of Birth: Radeče, Lower Carniola, Slovenia (then part of Yugoslavia)
• Age (as of December 2025): 81 years old
• Spouse: Amalija Knavs (deceased January 9, 2024)
• Children: Melania Trump (née Knavs), Ines Knavs (sister)
• Profession: Former car salesman and chauffeur; worked as a manager at a state-owned car company in Slovenia.
• Residency: Naturalized United States Citizen (since 2018), residing primarily in the U.S.
• Relationship to Donald Trump: Father-in-law (He is only two years older than Donald Trump).
• Notable Public Appearances: Attended the 2020 Republican National Convention and has been seen at various Trump family events, including the funeral of his wife and a hypothetical 2025 inauguration.

The Current Status of Melania’s Father: Navigating a Recent Loss

The most significant and recent development in Viktor Knavs’ life is the loss of his wife of nearly 50 years, Amalija Knavs, who passed away in January 2024 at the age of 78 following a period of illness. This event brought the Knavs family, who are known for their extreme privacy, into the public eye briefly.

Viktor Knavs is Alive: Despite the recent family tragedy, Viktor Knavs is confirmed to be alive and active. He was present at the funeral services for his wife, which were held in New York City. His continued presence at family events, including his daughter’s side, underscores his good health and his enduring role as the Knavs family patriarch.

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A Quiet Presence in the U.S.: Since becoming naturalized U.S. citizens in 2018, Viktor and Amalija Knavs had split their time between their homes, often staying at Trump Tower in New York City or at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. His low-profile lifestyle is a stark contrast to the political and media frenzy that surrounds his daughter and son-in-law. He has been described as a quiet, protective figure, mirroring his daughter’s preference for privacy.

His routine presence at Mar-a-Lago suggests a supportive role for Melania and his grandson, Barron Trump, particularly in the wake of Amalija's death. The loss of his wife, who was a close confidante and dedicated mother, is undoubtedly a major shift, but Viktor Knavs has maintained his private, supportive stance within the extended Trump-Knavs family structure.

From Yugoslavia to U.S. Citizenship: The Knavs Immigration Story

The journey of Viktor and Amalija Knavs from the former Yugoslavia to becoming U.S. citizens is a compelling narrative that unexpectedly intersected with one of the most contentious political debates in America: immigration policy. Their path to naturalization highlights the complex realities of the U.S. immigration system, particularly the process known as "chain migration."

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The Slovenian Roots: Viktor Knavs was born in 1944 in Radeče, Slovenia. In his early career, he worked as a chauffeur for the Communist Party and later became a traveling salesman for a state-owned car company, specializing in auto parts. This background in the communist era of Yugoslavia provided a structured, albeit modest, life for the family, with Amalija working in a textile factory. The couple raised Melania and her sister, Ines, instilling in them a sense of discipline and a neat, polished image that Melania carried into her modeling career.

The Path to Naturalization: Melania Trump became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2006. In 2018, both Viktor and Amalija Knavs took the oath of citizenship in New York City. Their legal route to citizenship was through the family-based immigration system, often referred to pejoratively by critics (including Donald Trump) as "chain migration" or "extended family migration."

This process allowed Melania, as a naturalized citizen, to sponsor her parents for green cards and eventually citizenship. Their successful naturalization, while Donald Trump was actively seeking to limit family-based immigration, created a notable political irony that was widely discussed in media outlets. Their lawyer confirmed they followed the standard, legal procedure.

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The Protective Grandfather: Relationship with Barron Trump

Viktor Knavs has been noted for his close bond with his grandson, Barron Trump. The relationship is often cited as one of the reasons the Knavs couple spent so much time in the U.S., particularly at the White House during Donald Trump's presidency, and later at Mar-a-Lago.

• A Grandfather's Influence: Reports suggest that Viktor and Barron share a close relationship, with Barron reportedly having a good command of the Slovenian language, a possible nod to his grandparents' heritage.
• A Familiar Figure: Viktor Knavs has been photographed with Barron at numerous high-profile events, including the 2025 Presidential Inauguration (in a hypothetical scenario) where he was seen standing next to his grandson. This visible presence highlights the importance of the extended family unit to Melania Trump.
• A Stable Presence: For Barron, who grew up under the intense scrutiny of the White House, his grandfather represents a stable, non-political figure from his mother’s side of the family, offering a connection to his European heritage and a sense of normalcy away from the political spotlight.

In conclusion, Viktor Knavs is not only alive but remains a quiet, pivotal figure in the life of Melania Trump and her son, Barron. His story is a powerful, albeit understated, example of the American immigrant experience, marked by a recent, profound personal loss but supported by the enduring closeness of his family.