Immigration lawyer for Melania Trump’s late mother Amalija Knavs remembers her as ‘gracious’ and ‘kind’ and how ‘excited’ and ‘elegantly dressed’ she acquired US citizenship in emotional tribute to the Daily Mail

Melania Trump’s late mother, Amalija Knavs, was “gracious and kind” and “cherished the journey” of becoming an American, her immigration lawyer told DailyMail.com.

“She was friendly and kind and had a very sweet character,” attorney Michael Wildes said in a statement.

“She loved her family deeply and cherished the journey to becoming an American citizen. I remember the excitement she and her husband Viktor had the day they received citizenship. She was dressed so elegantly and was so grateful for her new status. She always had a smile on her face and was a loving wife, mother and grandmother.”

Melania Trump announced her mother’s death in a social media post late Tuesday without disclosing the cause.

“It is with deep sadness that I announce the passing of my beloved mother, Amalija,” Trump wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. ‘Amalija Knavs was a strong woman who always carried herself with grace, warmth and dignity. She was completely devoted to her husband, daughters, grandson and son-in-law. We will miss her dearly and continue to honor and love her legacy.”

But Viktor and Amalija Knavs’ citizenship became a controversial issue during Donald Trump’s tenure in the White House.

The then president denounced ‘chain migration’ and wanted to put an end to it. Migrants who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents can sponsor other family members—such as parents, adult married children, and siblings—to come to the United States in what is sometimes called “chain migration.”

Melania Trump had sponsored her parents’ immigration from Slovenia to the United States, and they took the oath of office to become citizens in a New York City courthouse in 2018, while Trump was president. They lived in the US as permanent residents.

Melania came to the United States in 1996 and met Trump two years later. She got her green card in 2001 and became a U.S. citizen in 2006, a year after she married Trump.

Other tributes poured in on social media, along with sympathy for Melania.

“Very sad to hear of the passing of Melania Trump’s wonderful mother, Amalija Knavs,” wrote Republican Senator Lindsay Graham.

‘I have had the pleasure and privilege of meeting her several times. She was kind, friendly and classy in every way. She loved America. She also appreciated the freedoms we provide because she was deprived of those freedoms earlier in her life while living under communist rule. A life well lived that should be celebrated and respected. May she rest in peace.’

‘I have always appreciated that Amalija put her family first. My condolences go out to Victor, Melania, Barron and the entire Knavs and Trump families. God rest Amalija’s soul,” wrote Andrew Giuliani, Rudy Giuliani’s son who served as an aide in Trump’s White House.

“Our prayers have been with President Trump and First Lady Melania for weeks. It is comforting for all Americans to know that our gracious and loving First Lady remained by her ailing mother’s side for so long,” wrote Louisiana Rep. Clay Higgins.

“Matt and I would like to extend our deepest condolences to @MelaniaTrump and her entire family at this very difficult time. Losing a mother is not easy and takes its toll on us like nothing else. We will keep Melania and the entire family in our prayers,” wrote former Rep. George Santos.

The former first lady had a good relationship with her mother.

Both of Melania’s parents moved to the Maryland suburbs after Donald Trump became president to be closer to their daughter and grandson Barron. Viktor and Amalija Knavs also stayed at Mar-a-Lago when the Trumps were in residence and had a spot at Donald Trump’s Bedminster golf club.

During the Christmas and New Year holidays, Melania Trump was noticeably missing from photos of the family celebrating the occasions. Donald Trump said she was caring for her mother, who was “very sick.”

“It’s a tough one, a very tough one,” he said during a New Year’s Eve celebration at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, noting that Melania was in a Miami hospital with her mother.

He paid tribute to his mother-in-law in a post on his Truth Social account, call her ‘an incredible woman.’

“This is a very sad evening for the entire Trump family!!! Melania’s amazing and beautiful mother, Amalija, just went to a beautiful place in the sky. She was an incredible woman and will be missed beyond words!’

He then shared a photo of himself standing with Amalija, 78.

Amalija 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 the family farm before working in a textile factory, where she met husband Viktor.

He worked as a driver and later as a car and motorcycle salesman.

They welcomed their first daughter, Ines – who now lives in Manhattan – in 1968, and two years later the couple had Melania.

Melania, who changed the spelling of her name to Knauss during her modeling career, has said she was inspired by her mother’s work.

“My elegant and hardworking mother Amalija introduced me to fashion and beauty,” she said in her speech to the Republican National Convention in 2016. “My father, Viktor, instilled in me a passion for business and travel. Their integrity, compassion and intelligence reflect on me and my love for family and America to this day.”

During Trump’s presidency, the Knavs appeared at the White House.

Amalija Knavs attended a 2018 ceremony where the first lady debuted her “Be Best” public awareness campaign to help children. She also appeared on the Easter Egg Roll in April 2018.