The Private Life Of Viktor Knavs: 5 Shocking Facts About Melania Trump's Father In 2025
The world's focus on Melania Trump’s family has intensified, particularly on her father, Viktor Knavs, whose quiet life suddenly became a topic of global discussion when his daughter became the First Lady of the United States. As of December 2025, the 81-year-old Slovenian-American patriarch continues to maintain a low-key profile, yet his life has been marked by recent, profound changes, including the tragic loss of his beloved wife and a highly visible role at a major political event.
The story of Viktor Knavs is a fascinating blend of communist-era life in Yugoslavia and the ultra-wealthy political sphere of modern America. From his humble beginnings as a car salesman in Sevnica, Slovenia, to becoming the grandfather of a presidential son and a fixture at Mar-a-Lago, his journey is as unique as his daughter's. The most current and pressing details of his life center on his resilience following a personal tragedy and his continued, quiet presence in the Trump family's inner circle.
Viktor Knavs: A Complete Biography and Family Profile
Viktor Knavs’ life is a testament to dramatic geopolitical and personal shifts, moving from a socialist state to the heart of American political power. His history provides deep context for the former First Lady’s own story.
- Full Name: Viktor Knavs
- Date of Birth: March 24, 1944
- Place of Birth: Radeče, Slovenia (then part of Yugoslavia)
- Age (as of Dec 2025): 81 years old
- Spouse: Amalija Knavs (née Ulčnik), married 1966. (Died: January 9, 2024)
- Children: Melania Trump (née Melanija Knavs), Ines Knavs (sister)
- Grandchildren: Barron Trump
- Former Occupations in Slovenia: Chauffeur for a local mayor, traveling car salesman for a state-owned car company, and owner of a bicycle and car parts shop.
- Political Affiliation in Yugoslavia: Reportedly a card-carrying member of the Sevnica Communist Party.
- U.S. Citizenship: Naturalized U.S. citizen in August 2018.
Born just before the end of World War II, Viktor Knavs was raised and built his career within the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. His early life in the small, industrial town of Sevnica, where he met and married his wife, Amalija, stands in stark contrast to his current life splitting time between luxury residences in New York and Florida.
The Profound Impact of Amalija Knavs’ Death in 2024
The most significant and recent event in Viktor Knavs’ life was the passing of his wife of nearly six decades, Amalija Knavs, on January 9, 2024, at the age of 78. This personal tragedy brought the private family into the public eye in a moment of grief.
Amalija Knavs, a former textile worker and pattern maker, was a constant presence alongside her husband and daughter. The couple had been living primarily in the United States since the mid-2000s, dedicating much of their later years to helping raise their grandson, Barron Trump. Her death, following an undisclosed illness, was announced by Melania Trump, who described her mother as a "strong woman who always carried herself with grace, warmth, and dignity."
The loss of Amalija is understood to have been devastating for Viktor, who had been inseparable from his wife since their marriage in 1966. Their bond was the foundation of the family's stability, and her passing marks a new, solitary chapter for the Knavs patriarch.
Viktor Knavs’ Current Life: Residence, Role, and 2025 Public Appearance
Despite the personal loss, Viktor Knavs remains an integral part of the extended Trump family. His current life is characterized by privacy, a luxury lifestyle, and a continued closeness to his daughter and grandson.
A Grandfather's Role and Dual Residences
The Knavs couple were known to split their time between an apartment in the prestigious Trump Tower in New York City and the opulent Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida. Following Amalija's death, Viktor is believed to maintain this dual-residency, ensuring he is never far from Melania and Barron Trump, whose upbringing he heavily influenced.
His role as a grandfather to Barron Trump has often been highlighted, with reports suggesting he and Amalija provided a sense of normalcy and stability for the boy during the tumultuous years of Donald Trump's first presidency.
The 2025 Inauguration and Political Visibility
A significant, very recent public appearance that confirms his continued relevance in the political sphere was his presence at the 60th Presidential Inauguration on January 20, 2025. Viktor Knavs was photographed sitting next to his grandson, Barron Trump, in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol, a clear sign of his status within the family’s inner sanctum, even after his wife's passing.
This appearance underscores the fact that Viktor Knavs, despite his non-political background, remains a permanent fixture at the highest levels of American political life, a journey that began with his naturalization as a U.S. citizen in 2018.
From Communist Party Member to U.S. Citizen: The "Chain Migration" Controversy
The process by which Viktor and Amalija Knavs obtained their American citizenship in 2018 was a source of significant media attention and political irony. Their immigration journey highlighted the complex nature of U.S. immigration law and the political rhetoric surrounding it.
The 'Chain Migration' Path
The Knavs became U.S. citizens through a process known as "chain migration," or family-based immigration, which allows naturalized citizens to sponsor their close relatives for permanent residency. Melania Trump, a naturalized citizen herself, sponsored her parents.
The irony stems from the fact that Donald Trump, during his presidency, was a vocal critic of this very system, referring to it as "horrible" and "a disaster," and pushing for its elimination. The Knavs' immigration lawyer, Michael Wildes, confirmed that they followed all legal procedures, but the political optics were undeniable.
The Sevnica Communist Link
Further adding to the complexity of his background is the revelation that Viktor Knavs was reportedly a card-carrying member of the Sevnica Communist Party in Yugoslavia. This history, while common for a successful businessman in the former socialist state, stands in sharp contrast to the anti-communist stance often championed by the American right wing. This juxtaposition—a former communist party member obtaining citizenship via a process his son-in-law sought to end—makes Viktor Knavs a figure of enduring curiosity and political discussion.
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