'''Melania Trump''' (born '''Melanija Knavs''';{{efn|Pronounced {{IPAc-en|m|ə|ˈ|l|ɑː|n|i|ə}} {{respell|mə|LAH|nee|ə}}; [[née|name prior to her marriage]]: '''Melania Knauss''' ({{IPA|de|meˈlaːni̯a ˈknaʊs|IPA}}), a [[Orthographic transcription|Germanization]] of her Slovene birth name '''Melanija Knavs''' ({{IPA|sl|mɛˈlaːnija ˈknaːws|IPA}}).}} April 26, 1970) is a Slovenian-AmericanSlovenian–American former [[fashion model]] who served as the [[first lady of the United States]] from 2017 to 2021 as the wife of [[Donald Trump]], the 45th president of the United States. She is the first [[naturalized citizen]] to become first lady, the second foreign-born first lady after [[Louisa Adams]], and the second Catholic first lady after [[Jacqueline Kennedy]].

Melanija Knavs was born in Slovenia (then part of [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]]) where she began working as a fashion model at the age of 16. She changed the spelling of her name to Melania Knauss, and she traveled to [[French_fashion#Paris|Paris]] and [[Fashion in Milan|Milan]] to seek modeling work before meeting [[Paolo Zampolli]], who hired her and sponsored her immigration to the United States in 1996. She continued working as a model in Manhattan, where Zampolli introduced her to the [[real estate developer]] Donald Trump in 1998. Melania and Donald began dating shortly afterward. He worked to get her more modeling jobs, and she supported him during his [[Donald Trump 2000 presidential campaign|2000 presidential campaign]]. Melania and Donald Trump married in 2005, and they had a son, [[Barron Trump]], the following year. She dedicated most of her time to Barron during his infancy, spending less time working or accompanying her husband at events. She started her own jewelry brand, Melania, in 2009.

Melanija Knavs was born in [[Novo Mesto]], [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]], now part of present-day [[Slovenia]], on April 26, 1970.<ref name="CollinsModel">{{cite news|first=Lauren|last=Collins |url=http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/05/09/who-is-melania-trump|title=The Model American: Melania Trump isIs the exceptionException to herHer husbandHusband's nativistNativist politicsPolitics|date=May 9, 2016|magazine=The New Yorker |access-date=May 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181119152650/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/05/09/who-is-melania-trump|archive-date=November 19, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dolenjskilist.si/2016/11/10/165255/novice/dolenjska/O_Melaniji_je_prvi_porocal_Dolenjski_list/|title=O Melaniji jeJe prviPrvi poročalPoročal Dolenjski listList|newspaper=Dolenjski list [Lower Carniola Newspaper]|language=sl|trans-title=The First to Report about Melania was Dolenjski List|date=November 10, 2016|access-date=November 11, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161111154144/http://www.dolenjskilist.si/2016/11/10/165255/novice/dolenjska/O_Melaniji_je_prvi_porocal_Dolenjski_list/|archive-date=November 11, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Her father Viktor Knavs first worked as a chauffeur, and he eventually sold car parts for a state-owned vehicle manufacturer as he made connections with the [[League of Communists of Yugoslavia]], the national communist party.{{Sfn|Bennett|2019|pp=48–49}} Her mother [[Amalija Knavs|Amalija]] worked as a [[pattern (sewing)|patternmaker]] at the children's clothing manufacturer Jutranjka in [[Sevnica]].<ref name="CollinsModel" />{{Sfn|Bennett|2019|p=51}} In Sevnica, the family lived in the state-run housing complex Naselje Heroja Maroka.{{Sfn|Caroli|2019|p=336}} She has an older sister, Ines,{{Sfn|Jordan|2020|p=56}} and an older half-brother from her father's previous relationship, Denis Cigelnjak, whom she reportedly has never met.{{Sfn|Jordan|2020|p=50}} Her father denied paternity of the boy, even after it was confirmed by a [[paternity test]].<ref name="Ioffe" />

Although Melanija's father was a member of Yugoslavia's communist party, which espoused a policy of [[state atheism]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/elizabeth_wellington/melania-trump-catholic-pope-visit-meaning-20170525.html|title=Melania Trump onlyOnly the secondSecond Catholic firstFirst ladyLady to meetMeet a popePope|last=Wellington|first=Elizabeth|date=May 25, 2017|access-date=May 25, 2017|quote=Trump's father was a member of the [[League of Communists of Slovenia|Communist Party]] in [[Socialist Republic of Slovenia|Slovenia]], which meant the family were officially atheists. Donald Trump is Presbyterian; the couple married in an Episcopal church.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525162931/http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/elizabeth_wellington/melania-trump-catholic-pope-visit-meaning-20170525.html|archive-date=May 25, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> he had his daughters secretly [[Baptism|baptized]] as [[Catholic Church in Slovenia|Catholic]], as was common.<ref>{{cite bookSfn|last=Požar|first=Bojan|title=Melania Trump – The Inside Story: The Potential First Lady|date=February 18, 2016|publisherp=Zalozba Ombo d.o.o. Ljubljana|pages=111–113|quote=Melanija Knavs was baptized on 14 June 1970 in Raka (the village where her mother came from). The church was called St. Lawrence, and the master of the ceremony was pastor Franc Campa. Her sister Ines had also been baptized there, and there had been a church service following the official civil marriage of her parents in 1967 (Požar, p. 94). This was not what was officially allowed for members of the Communist Party. Still, it was nevertheless quite common to do it secretly.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://aleteia.org/2017/06/05/melanie-trump-was-baptized-catholic-confirms-slovenian-cardinal-franc-rode/|title=Melania Trump spokeSpoke with Slovenian cardinalCardinal aboutAbout herHer baptismBaptism |last2=Vombergar|first2=Marko |last1=Alvarez|first1=Inma|date=June 5, 2017|publisher=Aleteia|access-date=June 14, 2017|quote=In the interview, the cardinal reports that Melania spoke with him of her baptism in Raka (her mother's hometown), close to Melania's birthplace of Novo Mesto.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170605222222/https://aleteia.org/2017/06/05/melanie-trump-was-baptized-catholic-confirms-slovenian-cardinal-franc-rode/ |archive-date=June 5, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The family was well-off relative to most who lived in communist societies. They frequently went on vacations to other parts of Europe.<ref name="Ioffe" /> Their apartment was decorated with brightly colored walls, which was a major departure from other apartments in the country.<ref name="Ioffe" />{{Sfn|Jordan|2020|p=50}}

When Melanija was a teenager, she moved to a two-story house in Sevnica with her family.<ref>[http{{cite news |url=https://www.huffingtonposthuffpost.com/entry/melania-trump-history_us_56bdf3b5e4b0c3c55050db11history_n_56bdf3b5e4b0c3c55050db11 "|first=Marja |last=Novak |agency=[[Reuters]] |title=Melania Trump's Past Took Her From A River Town In Slovenia To Trump Tower"] {{Webarchive|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215110114/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/melania-trump-history_us_56bdf3b5e4b0c3c55050db11 |archive-date=February 15, 2016}}. ''|work=[[HuffPost]]''. |date=February 12, 2016. |access-date=20 September 2024 }}</ref> From her youth in Slovenia, Melanija was influenced by the United States: she described the [[presidency of Ronald Reagan]] as the beginning of a new era in her own country and the debut of [[CNN International]] in 1985 gave her family access to American media.{{Sfn|Jordan|2020|pp=55–57}} Of particular interest to Melanija was the new exposure to global fashion.{{Sfn|Bennett|2019|p=52}} At the age of fifteen, she began attending the Secondary School for Design and Photography in [[Ljubljana]], making the long commute from her home town to the capital and back each day by train. After her first year, she and Ines moved to the capital together in an apartment paid for by their father.{{Sfn|Bennett|2019|pp=53–54}} After graduating at age nineteen, Melanija enrolled in the Faculty of Architecture and Civil and Geodetic Engineering at the [[University of Ljubljana]] to further study design, leaving after a few months without finishing her degree.{{Sfn|Caroli|2019|p=338}}{{Sfn|Bennett|2019|p=57}}

Melania was discovered by Slovenian fashion photographer Stane Jerko when she was sixteen, after modeling in a school-sponsored show.{{Sfn|Bennett|2019|pp=54–55}}{{Sfn|Jordan|2020|pp=57–60}} At the time, she had wanted to be a fashion designer rather than a model.<ref name="Ioffe" /> Melania won a modeling contest with the Italian studio [[Cinecittà]] that entitled her to a movie role, but she rejected the prize after a producer sexually propositioned her.{{Sfn|Jordan|2020|pp=61–63}} As her modeling career progressed, Melania took on an alternate spelling of her name, Melania Knauss. She traveled Europe to find modeling work.{{Sfn|Caroli|2019|p=338}}{{Sfn|Jordan|2020|p=63}} Except a few close relatives, she did not maintain contact with anyone she knew in Slovenia.{{Sfn|Jordan|2020|pp=25–26}} In 1992, Melania was named [[runner-up]] in the ''Jana Magazine'' [[Elite Model Look|Look of the Year]] contest, which promised its top three contestants an international modeling contract.<ref name="CollinsModel" />{{Sfn|Caroli|2019|p=338}}<ref name="Ioffe">{{cite news |last=Ioffe |first=Julia |date=April 27, 2016 |title=Melania Trump on Her Rise, Her Family Secrets, andAnd Her True Political Views: "Nobody Will Ever Know" |url=https://www.gq.com/story/melania-trump-gq-interview |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906042714/https://www.gq.com/story/melania-trump-gq-interview |archive-date=September 6, 2017 |access-date=April 29, 2016 |work=GQ}}</ref> She signed with RVR Reclame in Milan, but she left the organization a few months later.{{Sfn|Jordan|2020|pp=67–69}}

Melania continued her modeling career after meeting Donald,<ref name="VanityFair" /> though she took fewer jobs as time went on and she dedicated more time to him.{{Sfn|Bennett|2019|p=74}} In 1999, the couple gained attention after an interview with [[shock jock]] [[Howard Stern]] on his show, in which he asked them lewd sexual questions.{{Sfn|Jordan|2020|pp=141–144}} Donald often brought Melania to meetings to show her off, praising her beauty. He did not let her participate in the business, citing the conflict he had with his first wife after giving her an executive role.{{Sfn|Jordan|2020|pp=199–200}}[[File:Bill Clinton and Donald Trump at the U.S. Open in 2000, Flushing Meadows–Corona Park.jpg|thumb|Melania Knauss with [[Kylie Bax]], Donald Trump, and then-president [[Bill Clinton]] in 2000|left]]Donald announced [[Donald Trump 2000 presidential campaign|his candidacy]] for the [[2000 Reform Party presidential primaries|Reform Party presidential nomination]] on October 7, 1999. Melania adamantly supported the move.{{Sfn|Jordan|2020|pp=128–129}} When asked by ''[[The New York Times]]'' what her role would be if Donald were to become president, Melania replied: "I would be very traditional, like [[Betty Ford]] or Jackie Kennedy."{{Sfn|Jordan|2020|pp=144–145}} Melania saw extensive media attention as [[Tabloid journalism|tabloids]] considered the idea of a model as [[First Lady of the United States|first lady]].{{Sfn|Jordan|2020|pp=139–140}}

Melania was one of the first models recruited to Donald's modeling agency, [[Trump Model Management]], after its creation in February 1999. The following months, she appeared in several magazines and advertisements organized by individuals close to Donald.{{Sfn|Jordan|2020|pp=119–123}} While Donald was organizing his campaign, Melania appeared the February ''[[Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue]]''. The image featured her in a bikini alongside a large inflatable whale, and the shoot was run by [[Antoine Verglas]], an associate of Zampolli's.{{Sfn|Jordan|2020|pp=129–130}} Shortly after the shoot, Verglas called Melania back for another project where he had her pose nude in a [[Bond girl]] aesthetic.{{Sfn|Jordan|2020|pp=132–135}} Melania later said that she stood 'proudly behind [her] nude modeling work' in a post on X in September of 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |first1=Kate |last1=Sullivan |first2=Eric |last2=Bradner |date=2024-09-18 |title=Melania Trump saysSays sheShe standsStands 'proudlyProudly behindBehind myMy nudeNude modelingModeling workWork' |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/18/politics/melania-trump-nude-modeling/index.html |access-date=2024-09-18 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref> Donald had lobbied for her inclusion in a ''[[GQ]]'' spread,{{Sfn|Bennett|2019|pp=74–75}} and her relationship with Donald allowed the shoot access to his [[Boeing 727]]. Images from the shoot were featured in the January 2000 edition of ''GQ'' magazine.{{Sfn|Jordan|2020|pp=132–135}} At the time, Donald's involvement was not made known.{{Sfn|Caroli|2019|p=334}} She then appeared in another sexualized photo shoot where she was posted in a mock-up of the [[Oval Office]].{{Sfn|Bennett|2019|pp=78–79}}

On March 20, 2006, Melania and Donald had a son, [[Barron Trump|Barron William Trump]].{{Sfn|Jordan|2020|pp=183–184}} Melania chose her son's middle name, while Donald chose his first name.<ref name="Schneider1May">{{cite news|first=Karen S.|last=Schneider|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20175764,00.html |title=Billion Dollar Baby: He Has Mom's Eyes, Dad's Lips, His Own Floor in Trump Tower and Doting Parents: Welcome to the World of Barron William Trump|work=People|date=May 1, 2006|access-date=September 7, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925091754/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20175764,00.html|archive-date=September 25, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Donald had previously used the name Barron as a pseudonym for when he posed as his own public relations agent.{{Sfn|Bennett|2019|pp=114–115}} After Barron was born, Melania was active in his life and accordingly spent less time attending events with her husband.{{Sfn|Jordan|2020|p=184}}{{Sfn|Bennett|2019|p=118}} Donald had made it clear to her that if they had a child, he would not be actively involved in the child's life.{{Sfn|Bennett|2019|p=118}} Melania later said she approved of this, stating that she "didn't want him changing diapers or putting Barron to bed".<ref name="Ioffe" /> She avoided the use of nannies, with a few exceptions in Barron's earliest years, insisting on raising him herself.{{Sfn|Bennett|2019|pp=24, 117}} This lessened social activity meant that Donald began courting supermodels again, which made Melania uncomfortable. According to biographer Mary Jordan, Melania did not know about the women who later alleged that they had extramarital affairs with him.{{Sfn|Jordan|2020|p=185}}

Melania then developed a line of [[caviar]]-infused skincare products under the brand Melania Marks Skincare in 2011.{{Sfn|Jordan|2020|pp=204–205}} The brand never launched. It brought about a legal case when the company selling the products, New Sunshine, underwent management changes and voided the contract. The company alleged that one executive had given a [[sweetheart deal]] to the Trumps because he was a family friend. The case was decided in Melania's favor, and the amount to be paid to her was settled out of court.{{Sfn|Jordan|2020|pp=207–209}} She had initially sued the company for $50 million in lost revenue.{{Sfn|Bennett|2019|p=128}}

On October 7, a month before the election, the [[Donald Trump Access Hollywood tape|Access Hollywood tape]] was leaked. The tape had been recorded in 2005, shortly after their marriage, and it featured audio of Donald making controversial remarks about his treatment of women. Immediately after its release, the campaign's primary concern was Melania's reaction. It took him two hours before he went to see Melania. Upon their meeting, Melania reportedly told him "Now you could lose, you could have blown this for us", and then left the room after he apologized.{{Sfn|Jordan|2020|pp=1–3}} In 2024, her husband's former personal counsel [[Michael Cohen (lawyer)|Michael Cohen]] testified during ''[[The People of the State of New York v. Donald J. Trump]]'' trial that Donald had privately credited her as having suggested the campaign's response strategy of characterizing the conversation on the tape as [[wikt:locker room talk|wikt:"''locker room talk''"]].<ref>{{cite web |first=Julia |last=Reinstein |first2=Kendall |last2=Ross |first3=Lucien |last3=Bruggeman |first4=Peter |last4=Charalambous |first5=Aaron |last5=Katersky |authorlink5= Aaron Katersky |first6=Olivia |last6=Rubin |title='Locker roomRoom talkTalk' defenseDefense wasWas Melania Trump's ideaIdea, Michael Cohen testifiesTestifies |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/locker-room-talk-defense-melania-trumps-idea-michael/story?id=110184216 |website= [[ABC News (United States)]] |access-date=14 May 2024 |language=en |date=March 13, 2024}}</ref>

[[File:Donald Trump and Melania Trump at Liberty Ball Inauguration 2017.jpg|thumb|upright|Melania Trump with Donald Trump at the Liberty Ball, January 20, 2017]]

Melania was the second foreign-born woman to hold the title of first lady after [[Louisa Adams]], who was born in England,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2017-01-23 |title=Melania Trump: Fulfilling the firstFirst ladyLady's roleRole herHer way - CBS NewsWay |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/melania-trump-fulfilling-the-role-of-first-lady-her-way/ |access-date=2024-03-09 |website=CBS News |archive-date=January 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170124041215/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/melania-trump-fulfilling-the-role-of-first-lady-her-way/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and Melania was the first [[naturalized citizen]] to hold the title.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Melania Trump |url=https://www.whitehousehistory.org/bios/melania-trump |access-date=2024-03-09 |website=White House Historical Association |archive-date=February 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240225112551/https://www.whitehousehistory.org/bios/melania-trump |url-status=live }}</ref> She has said that she can speak English, Italian, French, and German in addition to her native Slovene, but she has only been heard speaking English and Slovene fluently. When communicating with speakers of other languages, she makes use of a translator.{{Sfn|Jordan|2020|pp=238–241}} She was also the second [[Catholic]] first lady of the United States, after Jacqueline Kennedy.<ref name="Sieczkowski">{{cite web |last=Sieczkowski |first=Cavan |date=May 25, 2017 |title=Melania Trump Will Be The First Catholic To Live At The White House Since JFK |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/melania-trump-catholic-white-house_us_59270d0ce4b0265790f5f76f |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170526193809/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/melania-trump-catholic-white-house_us_59270d0ce4b0265790f5f76f |archive-date=May 26, 2017 |access-date=May 26, 2017 |work=[[HuffPost]]}}</ref><ref name="catholicherald.co.uk">{{cite magazine |date=May 26, 2017 |title=US First Lady Melania Trump Is Catholic, Spokeswoman Confirms |url=http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2017/05/25/us-first-lady-melania-trump-is-catholic-spokeswoman-confirms/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170526172605/http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2017/05/25/us-first-lady-melania-trump-is-catholic-spokeswoman-confirms/ |archive-date=May 26, 2017 |access-date=May 26, 2017 |magazine=[[The Catholic Herald]]}}</ref>

Melania's absence from the White House caused speculation that her stepdaughter Ivanka would serve as an acting first lady.{{Sfn|Caroli|2019|p=341}}{{Sfn|Jordan|2020|p=30}}{{Sfn|Bennett|2019|p=161}} As time went by, members of the administration's staff like her assistant, [[Stephanie Winston Wolkoff]], grew unhappy with Melania's absence, as it gave the impression of marital issues and prevented her from exercising a calming influence over the president.{{Sfn|Jordan|2020|pp=34–35}}<ref name=":1" /> She also stoked resentment among many of the people in New York, who predominantly opposed the Trumps, because of the costs and traffic issues caused by the [[United States Secret Service|Secret Service]] presence.{{Sfn|Jordan|2020|p=36}}{{Sfn|Bennett|2019|pp=144–145}} The Secret Service itself also faced logistical issues from the repeated travel to New York. Having a Secret Service detail was not a major adjustment for Melania though, as she had spent years around her husband's security team.{{Sfn|Bennett|2019|p=134}} She was given the [[Secret Service code name]] "Muse" to go along with the president's name "Mogul".{{Sfn|Bennett|2019|p=137}} Being first lady came with another drawback for Melania, as she was expected to speak on serious topics such as immigration policy and had little control over how her media appearances were handled, which was a different experience than she had as a model.{{Sfn|Jordan|2020|p=37}}[[File:Donald Trump Pope Francis Melania Trump in 2017.jpg|thumb|Melania Trump with Pope Francis, the Vatican, May 2017|left]]

When the Trump administration's [[White House website]] was posted, Melania's biographical information caused controversy because it listed her jewelry business. Though it had already ceased operation, critics alleged that it was an attempt to promote her business with government resources.{{Sfn|Bennett|2019|pp=128–129}} Another allegation of attempting to profit from her role as first lady came up in February, when she sued the ''[[Daily Mail]]'' for libel after it alleged in 2016 that she had worked for an [[escort agency]].<ref name="Puente">{{cite news |last=Puente |first=Maria |date=February 7, 2017 |title=Melanie Trump's 'Daily Mail' Lawsuit: A FLOTUS First? |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2017/02/07/melania-trump-daily-mail-libel-lawsuit-first-lady-profit/97590284/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170210001804/http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2017/02/07/melania-trump-daily-mail-libel-lawsuit-first-lady-profit/97590284/ |archive-date=February 10, 2017 |access-date=February 10, 2017 |work=USA Today}}</ref> The suit was initially for lost career opportunities, but this was changed to emotional distress when she received questions about why she expected to have career opportunities as first lady.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bennett |first=Kate |date=February 22, 2017 |title=Melania Trump dropsDrops controversialControversial languageLanguage from $150 millionMillion defamationDefamation suitSuit |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/22/politics/melania-trump-drops-controversial-language-from-150-million-lawsuit/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170319113228/http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/22/politics/melania-trump-drops-controversial-language-from-150-million-lawsuit/ |archive-date=March 19, 2017 |access-date=March 16, 2017 |publisher=CNN}}</ref>

On March 8, 2017, Melania hosted her first White House event, a luncheon for [[International Women's Day]]. She spoke to an audience of women about her life as a female immigrant and about working towards [[gender equality]] both domestically and abroad, noting the role of education as a tool against [[gender inequality]].<ref>{{cite news |author1first1=Betsy |last1=Klein |author2first2=Kate |last2=Bennett |date=8 March 2017 |title=First ladyLady toutsTouts equalityEquality at International Women's Day luncheonLuncheon |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/08/politics/melania-trump-international-womens-day-luncheon/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309203138/http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/08/politics/melania-trump-international-womens-day-luncheon/index.html |archive-date=March 9, 2017 |access-date=March 10, 2017 |publisherwork=CNN}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Melania Trump 'recallsRecalls herHer immigrantImmigrant pastPast' as sheShe pushesPushes for equalityEquality on International Women's Day |date=9 March 2017 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/09/melania-trump-recalls-immigrant-past-pushes-equality-international/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309124152/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/03/09/melania-trump-recalls-immigrant-past-pushes-equality-international/ |archive-date=March 9, 2017 |access-date=March 10, 2017 |work=The Telegraph |first=Chris |last=Graham }}</ref> The Trumps visited [[Vatican City]] in May 2017. As Melania was visiting as a Catholic, [[Pope Francis]] blessed her rosary beads, and she placed flowers at the feet of a statue of the [[Mary, mother of Jesus|Madonna]] at the Vatican's [[Bambino Gesù Hospital|Bambino Gesù]] children's hospital.<ref>{{cite news |last=Pulliam Bailey |first=Sarah |date=May 25, 2017 |title=Melania Trump isIs Catholic, sheShe confirmsConfirms afterAfter Vatican visitVisit |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2017/05/25/melania-trump-is-catholic-she-confirms-after-vatican-visit/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527080424/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2017/05/25/melania-trump-is-catholic-she-confirms-after-vatican-visit/ |archive-date=May 27, 2019 |access-date=October 18, 2018 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref>

[[File:Juliana Awada and Melania Trump walk along the Colonnade of the White House, April 2017 (cropped).jpg|upright|thumb|Melania Trump with Argentine first lady [[Juliana Awada]] in 2017]]

After moving to the White House, Melania opted to spend most of her time in the private quarters, running the White House staff from there instead of the first lady's East Wing offices. She oversaw restorations of several rooms in the building, including the bowling alley in the [[White House basement]] and the first lady's hairdresser's room.{{Sfn|Jordan|2020|pp=241–242}} She kept one office, called the "swag room" by aides, in which she kept trinkets she collected while she was first lady.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Rogers |first=Katie |date=2024-02-17 |title=How Two First Ladies Weathered a Most Unusual Presidential Transition |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/17/us/politics/how-two-first-ladies-weathered-a-most-unusual-presidential-transition.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240227093612/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/17/us/politics/how-two-first-ladies-weathered-a-most-unusual-presidential-transition.html |archive-date=February 27, 2024 |access-date=2024-03-08 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> To accommodate Barron's soccer practice, she had a net installed on the White House grounds and had a coach practice with him.{{Sfn|Jordan|2020|p=255}} Barron remained Melania's top priority when she was first lady, and she worked to keep him free from politics to the point that staffers referred to her as "The Protector".{{Sfn|Jordan|2020|p=271}} Even after arriving at the White House, Melania spent extensive time away each year, visiting Mar-a-Lago on major holidays and over many weekends.{{Sfn|Bennett|2019|pp=156–157}}[[File:White House Christmas 2018 (46060476411).jpg|thumb|Melania Trump examining the 2018 White House Christmas decorations|left]]Melania personally involved herself in decorations and planning within the White House.{{Sfn|Bennett|2019|p=142}} She was particular about how things were designed and arranged whenever events were planned, but she would take on a calm and relaxed demeanor once the event began.{{Sfn|Bennett|2019|p=105}} Whenever a foreign dignitary arrived at the White House, Melania had the [[Blue Room (White House)|Blue Room]] set aside where she ate lunch or drank tea with the dignitary's spouse.{{Sfn|Bennett|2019|p=150}} When choosing which [[White House china|presidential china set]] to use, Melania often chose the [[Clinton administration]] china with its gold embroidery.{{Sfn|Bennett|2019|p=151}} She held events less frequently than her predecessors, with a typical week featuring three or fewer events, all under one hour long.{{Sfn|Bennett|2019|p=157}} Among her most ambitious projects was planning the White House Christmas decorations in 2018. Moving away from traditional designs, she filled the East Collonnade with red cranberry-laden trees set atop a green carpet. The design was widely derided, which Melania ascribed to personal taste.{{Sfn|Bennett|2019|pp=142–144}}

Melania was upset when her stepdaughter Ivanka began receiving the credit for changing the president's mind on the issue.{{Sfn|Bennett|2019|p=178}} Melania decided to visit the border herself, ignoring her husband's worries about keeping media attention on the border and the Secret Service's need of advance notice to plan her trip.{{Sfn|Bennett|2019|pp=178–179}} She arrived at the border on June 21, where she visited the family separation facilities in Texas and attended a [[roundtable]] with doctors, medical staff, social workers, and other experts at Upbring New Hope Children's Shelter.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bennett |first=Kate |title=Melania Trump makesMakes surpriseSurprise visitVisit to borderBorder facilitiesFacilities |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/21/politics/melania-trump-border-visit-immigration/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180621171053/https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/21/politics/melania-trump-border-visit-immigration/index.html |archive-date=June 21, 2018 |access-date=June 21, 2018 |work=[[CNN]]}}</ref> On the way to the border facility, she caused controversy by wearing a jacket that read, "I really don't care, do u?" After much speculation about the jacket's message, including criticism that she may have been expressing indifference toward the families separated at the border, Melania stated that the jacket was aimed at people and media who were criticizing her.{{Sfn|Jordan|2020|pp=260–261}} The jacket dominated media coverage of her visit.{{Sfn|Bennett|2019|p=179}}

When the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] began, Melania was criticized for promoting a White House renovation project. She took the topic more seriously after the [[COVID-19 lockdowns]] began, using her Twitter account to encourage [[Social distancing measures related to the COVID-19 pandemic|social distancing during the pandemic]] and promote official medical advice. Much of what she posted directly contradicted what her husband posted, as he discouraged many of the recommended practices.{{Sfn|Jordan|2020|pp=279–281}}<ref>{{Cite news |last=Yuan |first=Jada |date=2020-10-19 |title=Melania Trump isIs havingHaving a hardHard timeTime distancingDistancing herselfHerself from the presidentPresident |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/melania-trump-covid-tapes/2020/10/13/a41f7e10-04ee-11eb-897d-3a6201d6643f_story.html |access-date=2024-09-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117184557/https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/melania-trump-covid-tapes/2020/10/13/a41f7e10 |archive-date=November 17, 2020 |url-status=live |work=Washington Post |issn=0190-8286}}</ref>

On October 1, 2020, Melania's former advisor Stephanie Winston Wolkoff released audiotapes that featured Melania making profane statements about her image and role as first lady. In the tapes, she condemned the media for not giving her positive coverage, questioned why people wanted her to speak out against her husband when she supported his policies, and expressed frustration with her responsibility to oversee Christmas decorations in the White House. She also mentioned her "I really don't care, do u" jacket in the tapes, admitting that she wore it to irritate [[Liberalism in the United States|liberals]]. Winston Wolkoff had released the tapes alongside a [[tell-all]] book, ''[[Melania and Me]]''.<ref name="CNNTapes">{{cite news |last=Kelly |first=Caroline |date=2 October 2020 |title=Secretly recordedRecorded tapesTapes showShow Melania Trump's frustrationFrustration at criticismCriticism for familyFamily separationSeparation policyPolicy and herHer bashingBashing of Christmas decorationsDecorations |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/01/politics/melania-trump-tapes/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008010106/https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/01/politics/melania-trump-tapes/index.html |archive-date=October 8, 2020 |access-date=October 2, 2020 |website=[[CNN]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Shear |first1=Michael D. |date=October 2, 2020 |title=In Profane Rant, Melania Trump Takes Aim at Migrant Children and Critics |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/01/us/politics/melania-trump-tapes.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114220446/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/01/us/politics/melania-trump-tapes.html |archive-date=January 14, 2021 |access-date=October 2, 2020 |website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> The Justice Department filed a [[Lawsuit|civil suit]] against Winston Wolkoff in October 2019, alleging breach of a [[nondisclosure agreement]], but it was dropped in February 2021 under the Biden administration.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 9, 2021 |work=lawandcrime.com |first=Matt |last=Naham |title=Biden Admin DOJ Drops Lawsuit Against Melania Trump's Ex-Friend Stephanie Winston Wolkoff |url=https://lawandcrime.com/lawsuit/doj-drops-lawsuit-against-melania-trumps-former/ |access-date=February 9, 2021 |archive-date=February 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214235320/https://lawandcrime.com/lawsuit/doj-drops-lawsuit-against-melania-trumps-former/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In September 2022, Melania said in an interview with ''[[Breitbart News]]'' that the audiotapes had been strategically edited to make people believe that her duties in the White House had been unimportant to her.<ref>{{cite web |last=Poonia |first=Gitanjali |date=September 21, 2022 |title=Melania Trump, onceOnce criticalCritical of White House decoratingDecorating, nowNow sellingSelling Christmas ornamentsOrnaments |url=https://www.deseret.com/u-s-world/2022/9/21/23365925/melania-trump-white-house-christmas-ornaments |access-date=October 13, 2022 |website=[[Deseret News]] |archive-date=October 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221013160226/https://www.deseret.com/u-s-world/2022/9/21/23365925/melania-trump-white-house-christmas-ornaments |url-status=live }}</ref>

Despite Donald's loss of the 2020 election,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-joe-biden-donald-trump-elections-electoral-college-3e0b852c3cfadf853b08aecbfc3569fa|title=Biden officiallyOfficially securesSecures enoughEnough electorsElectors to becomeBecome presidentPresident|date=December 5, 2020|website=[[Associated Press]]|first1=Michael R.|last1=Blood|first2=Nicholas|last2=Riccardi|access-date=September 16, 2024|archive-date=December 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201208201209/https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-joe-biden-donald-trump-elections-electoral-college-3e0b852c3cfadf853b08aecbfc3569fa|url-status=live}}</ref> Melania ended her tenure by endorsing his false statement that he had been the legitimate election winner.<ref name=":2" /><ref name="auto1" /> For her final months in the White House, she stopped visiting her office in the East Wing and remained in the White House residence. Her focus at this time was on compiling photo albums of the decorations and renovations she had overseen through her tenure.<ref name=":2" /> Melania was managing photography at the White House when the [[January 6 United States Capitol attack]] took place and gave no comment at the time. She later said that she would have commented if she had been "fully informed of all the details".<ref name=":1" /> Her communications director Stephanie Grisham later stated she had sent Melania a text message asking her to make a statement condemning the violence and resigned when that did not happen.<ref name=":2" /> On January 18, Melania released a farewell video asking the American people to uphold the principles of her Be Best campaign.<ref name="auto1" /> She did not contact incoming first lady [[Jill Biden]] to make transition arrangements or provide her the traditional tour of the White House.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite news |last1=Rogers |first1=Katie |last2=Haberman |first2=Maggie |date=January 19, 2021 |title=Melania Trump's Legacy: Missteps, Mystery andAnd, inIn the End, Absence |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/19/us/politics/melania-trump-legacy.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119223549/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/19/us/politics/melania-trump-legacy.html |archive-date=January 19, 2021 |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> She did, however, follow the tradition of leaving a letter for the incoming first lady.<ref name=":2" />

Melania remained out of public view during her husband's [[Indictments against Donald Trump|court appearances]] and [[Donald Trump 2024 presidential campaign|his candidacy]] in the [[2024 United States presidential election|2024 presidential election]], limiting her campaign events to two fundraisers for the [[Log Cabin Republicans]]. She became more visible in July 2024 by putting out a statement following the [[Attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Pennsylvania|attempted assassination of her husband]] and appearing at the [[2024 Republican National Convention]], though she declined an invitation to speak at the event, making her the first candidate's spouse not to speak at the convention since [[Barbara Bush]] began the tradition.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yurow |first=Jeremy |title=Melania Trump isIs notNot scheduledScheduled to speakSpeak at the RNC. Here's whyWhy thatThat's unusualUnusual. |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/07/18/where-is-melania-trump-rnc-speech/74462490007/ |access-date=2024-07-19 |date=18 July 2024 |website=USA TODAYToday |language=en-US |archive-date=July 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240719113856/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/07/18/where-is-melania-trump-rnc-speech/74462490007/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In the same month, Melania announced her intention to publish a [[memoir]], titled ''[[Melania (memoir)|Melania]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Italie |first=Hillel |date=2024-07-25 |title=Melania Trump to tellTell herHer storyStory in memoirMemoir, 'Melania,' scheduledScheduled for thisThis fallFall |url=https://apnews.com/article/melania-trump-memoir-first-lady-0461dbb098a2218d41fbe7960c05a1a5 |access-date=2024-08-27 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref>

During the 2016 presidential election, Melania became the only candidate's spouse since polling began in 1988 to have a disapproval rating greater than their approval rating.{{Sfn|Elder|Frederick|Burrell|2018|p=107}} Her approval rating stood at 36 or 37% in the months leading up to becoming first lady in January 2017,{{Sfn|Bennett|2019|p=148}}{{Sfn|Caroli|2019|p=341}} but it increased to 57% in a CNN poll in April 2018 after she received public sympathy amid allegations that her husband had committed adultery.{{Sfn|Caroli|2019|p=344}}{{Sfn|Bennett|2019|pp=216–217}} Melania finished her tenure in 2021 as the least popular first lady since polling began with a rating of 42%.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Enten |first1=Harry |date=January 19, 2021 |title=The worstWorst finalFinal popularityPopularity ratingRating everEver for a firstFirst ladyLady belongsBelongs to Melania Trump |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/19/politics/melania-trump-analysis/index.html |access-date=January 19, 2021 |website=CNN |archive-date=February 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209063319/https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/19/politics/melania-trump-analysis/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Multiple polls during her tenure as first lady showed her as the most popular member of the Trump family.{{Sfn|Bennett|2019|p=148}}<ref name=":3">{{cite web |last1=Frankovic |first1=Kathy |date=March 7, 2019 |title=Melania remainsRemains the mostMost popularPopular Trump; Kushner securitySecurity clearanceClearance seenSeen as problematicProblematic |url=https://today.yougov.com/topics/politics/articles-reports/2019/03/07/melania-most-popular-trump-jared-kushner-security |access-date=January 19, 2021 |website=today.yougov.com |publisher=YouGov |language=en-us |archive-date=February 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204095909/https://today.yougov.com/topics/politics/articles-reports/2019/03/07/melania-most-popular-trump-jared-kushner-security |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=EasleyDe Liz |first1=CameronAna |date=August 25, 2020 |title=As Trump familyFamily dominatesDominates RNC, pollPoll showsShows theyThey're mostMost popularPopular GOP figuresFigures |url=https://morningconsultwww.newsweek.com/2020/08/24/northtrump-carolinafamily-dominates-rnc-trumppoll-bidenshows-polling/most-popular-gop-figures-1527350 |access-date=January 22, 2021 |website=[[Morning ConsultNewsweek]] |language=en |archive-date=JanuaryDecember 1125, 20212022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/2021011106062220221225135127/https://morningconsultwww.newsweek.com/2020/08/24/northtrump-carolinafamily-dominates-rnc-trumppoll-bidenshows-polling/most-popular-gop-figures-1527350 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In December 2020, the [[Siena College Research Institute]] released a study surveying scholars and historians on their assessments of American first ladies. It was the fifth such first ladies study that the Institute had conducted since 1982, and the first in which Melania appeared. She was ranked as being the worst of 40 assessed American first ladies,<ref>{{cite web |title=EleanorSiena Roosevelt America's TopCollege First Lady for 6th Consecutive Time Abigail Adams Finishes a Close Second; Michelle Obama Moves to Third First Lady Initiatives – Lady Bird Johnson (Environmental Protection) Did Most to Raise Awareness and Address the Issue; Obama (Childhood Obesity), Betty Ford (Women's Rights), and Barbara Bush (Literacy) Made Major Contributions Jackie Kennedy - 4th but First on Being a White House Steward & PublicLadies ImagePoll |url=https://scri.siena.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/FirstLadies2020Release.pdf |website=scri.siena.edu |publisher=Siena College Research Institute |access-date=6 March 2024 |date=December 9, 2020 |archive-date=March 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308234420/https://scri.siena.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/FirstLadies2020Release.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> receiving the lowest assessments in all of the metrics that were weighed.<ref>{{cite web |title=Copy of FirstLadies_Full Rankings_working_dl_2.xls |url=https://scri.siena.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/First-Ladies-Full-Rankings-2020.pdf |website=scri.siena.edu |publisher=Siena College Research Institute |access-date=6 March 2024 |date=December 2020 |archive-date=March 30, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240330064515/https://scri.siena.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/First-Ladies-Full-Rankings-2020.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Category:21st-century American women philanthropistscivil servants]]