The Stunning Transformation Of Melania Trump

Long before Donald Trump announced his plans to run for president, a young model named Melania Knauss told ABC News' Don Dahler that she could imagine her then-boyfriend running the country one day. She shared that if she were to eventually become the country's first lady, she would embrace the role wholeheartedly. "I would be very traditional. ... I would support him. I would do a lot of social obligations," she said. When Dahler pointed out that she would most likely have to stop modeling if Donald was elected president, she didn't seem too concerned with leaving her career behind. 

 The interview, which was conducted in 1999, has proven to be rather prescient. A little over five years later, Melania and Donald tied the knot. And about a decade after that, they became 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue's official residents. This is the transformation of Melania Trump, from young aspiring model in Slovenia to former first lady.

Melania Trump was born Melanija Knavs, on April 26, 1970, in Slovenia's Novo Mesto, an industrial town in the former Yugoslavia. (She would change the spelling of her name to Melania Knauss at the start of her modeling career.) Light years away from the opulent NYC penthouse and the White House she eventually called home, she grew up with her older sister, Ines Knauss, and spent her earliest years kicking around in a stark, Communist-era apartment block. 

Her father, Viktor Knavs, worked as a car salesman, and her mother, Amalija Knavs, was a children's clothing designer. "I think I can say [Novo Mesto] was too small for her," childhood friend Mirjana Jelancic told the AP. "Even as a child, she dreamed of moving," even saying that her favorite subject in school was geography. Jelancic, principal at the elementary school where they both formerly attended, had only positive things to say about Melania. "She was a very good student," Jelancic told ABC News. "She was an angel."

Melania Trump contented herself with what would emerge as lifelong passions, even as a young child. In an interview with Parenting Magazine, she recounted her earliest inspiration: "I always liked beauty and fashion. My mom was in the fashion business. I was 5 years old when I did my first catwalk," she recalled. "My mom loved fashion, we loved to travel and go to Italy and Paris. I was always very tall and skinny. Sometimes I was teased, but I was never embarrassed. I always liked myself. I knew what I wanted to do. I found my passion at such an early age. It helped with my confidence."

The budding supermodel was afforded a fortunate upbringing compared to many of her peers — thanks to her hardworking parents — participating in after-school gymnastics, and traveling to Italy and Austria to ski during the winter. She also cultivated a sure hand as an artist, perhaps learned from her mother, according to GQ. "Melania never wore anything from the store," a friend told the magazine. She sketched out original ideas, and the sewing would be tasked to her mother and sister.

In a modeling fairytale as old as time, Melania Trump emerged from humble beginnings, only to be discovered by photographer Stane Jerko at the age of 16 in 1987. Trump was attending the Secondary School of Design and Photography in Ljubljana, the now-Slovenian capital, and was living in an apartment purchased by her father. And while Jerko spotted her waiting for a friend after a fashion show, the aspiring model was no easy sell. "School was the most important thing to her," he told GQ. But, true to her passion, she soon had a change of heart. 

According to GQ, Jerko taught Trump how to pose, and photographed her just a few weeks after their first encounter. "I didn't have shoes for her because she had very big feet. The other models had smaller feet," Jerko remembered in the aforementioned GQ feature. But as far as he was concerned, that was a sign of what was yet to come. "When you live on big feet, you live big," she said. 

Newly signed to a modeling agency in Milan, the 18-year old Trump's career forced her to drop out of architecture school. Also featured in the same article, a famed second place finish in Jana Magazine's Slovenian Face of the Year contest in 1992. She would find success in Paris and Milan, but she had her steely gaze fixed on the rock-n-roll sister of all fashion meccas, New York City.

After landing gig after gig in Europe, Melania Trump was ready for her next big chapter. In 1996, she obtained a visa and relocated to the Big Apple, thanks to her agent Paolo Zampolli. However, the then-26-year-old model's plans slowed down. Her career in the United States didn't take off the way she hoped, and she grappled with ageism that's long been a part of the industry. 

"It was a frustrating age for models, the late 20s. It's not a friendly industry," Trump's former roommate Matthew Atanian recalled to GQ. "She was going to castings every day and not succeeding every day. She said things were very different in Europe, that she had been more successful." As she continued to plug away at her modeling career in the U.S., the future first lady renewed her visa multiple times. "I came here for my career, and I did so well, I moved here. It never crossed my mind to stay here without papers," she said in a 2016 Harper's Bazaar interview. "Every few months you need to fly back to Europe and stamp your visa."

Though Melania Trump struggled to find her footing when she first moved to New York City, she certainly was not about to throw in the towel. This tenacity paid off. She scored a handful of gigs, including a Camel ad that was featured in Times Square in the '90s. A few years later, she was featured in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue hugging a giant inflatable whale

Trump's former roommate Matthew Atanian suggested to GQ that at some point, Trump might've gone under the knife. "She went away for a two-week vacation, then came back, and was more... buxom," he said. "She admitted it to me. She just said it needed to be done to get more lingerie jobs." Of particular note is her now infamous British GQ spread, in the nude, in 2000. 

In a 2015 interview with ABC News' Barbara Walters, Melania gracefully acknowledged her former career. "I think people will always judge. .... That's part of the job that I was doing; I was [a] very successful model," she said. "Nothing more than you see every year in Sports Illustrated."

When Melania Trump first crossed paths with her future husband at a Fashion Week event held at NYC's Kit Kat Club in 1998, she wasn't exactly dazzled by him or his real estate empire. "I was not starstruck," she recalled to GQ. "I didn't know much about Donald Trump."

After they were introduced, Donald asked Melania for her number. However, she wasn't about to give her number to a 52-year-old billionaire who showed up to the party with another woman. Instead, she snagged his digits. She told GQ, "If I give him my number, I'm just one of the women he calls. I wanted to see what his intention [was]. It tells you a lot from the man what kind of number he gives you. He gave me all of his numbers." 

Reflecting on the early days of the courtship, her friend Atanian said to GQ, "She had some trust issues with him at the beginning. She kept her apartment to have her own space because of this." But peace would be made, as the two struck up a romance again shortly after. A hometown friend shared their own theories in the same profile. "It's about all that power and protection," they said. "I think she needed a strong man, a father figure."

In 2004, Donald Trump proposed to Melania Trump (née Knauss). A sucker for a good deal, Donald purchased his third wife's 12-carat, emerald-cut Laurence Graff diamond ring at a $1.5 million — 50% off. He would later replace her puny pebble with a 25-carat on their 10th anniversary. When Melania walked down the aisle the following year, her ensemble certainly was anything but understated. Her Christian Dior gown's train clocked in at 13 feet, and the veil at 16 feet. The whole dress, which featured 300 feet of ruched satin and was said to have weighed 60 pounds, reportedly cost $100,000. 

The spectacular creation was featured on the cover of Vogue. New York event designer Preston Bailey told The Hollywood Reporter that he helped bring the bride's wedding vision to life. "She said, 'I want something that is very elegant but not over-the-top,'" he said. And afterward, the newlyweds had a reception tipping the scales at $35 million. No small number for the woman who grew up wearing handmade clothes.

Melania Trump became mother to son Barron Trump in March 2006, at the age of 35 — the same year she became a U.S. citizen. While she does have a chef and an assistant, she assumed a traditional mothering role to her son without the help of nannies, telling Parenting Magazine, "We know our roles. I didn't want [Donald Trump] to change the diapers or put Barron to bed." 

Melania maintains motherhood as her priority. She said in Parenting Magazine, "It is so important to have good listening skills ... I don't push my thoughts or likes or dislikes. I want him to grow to be his own person. I think [it's] important to give a child room to make mistakes in order to learn." When her husband's often-volatile presidential campaign first launched ahead of the 2016 election, Melania remained a comforting buffer for her son — especially in the wake of all of the criticism directed toward their family. "We're dealing with [hateful comments]," she told Us Weekly 2016. "Of course, we both miss [Donald] because he is on the road a lot, but [Barron] understands and he's doing great."

In her 2011 interview with Parenting Magazine, Melania Trump shared that being Mrs. Donald Trump came naturally to her. "My life is very normal­­ — for me. Maybe for some people they would not think that. But for me it is," she said. "I know my husband. We have a great relationship. We are both very independent. We know what our roles are and we are happy with them." She continued, "I don't think you need to be with your husband every minute of every day. Both people should do what their passion is and then get together in the mornings and evenings and share and experience life and have a great time. You know that saying, 'Work hard and play harder?' That's what we do."

Before stepping into the role of first lady, Trump always had things going on that were just for herself. She kept active in creating a skincare line and jewelry collections.

Melania Trump kept a relatively low profile during her husband's first presidential campaign, only sometimes appearing on social media and giving carefully composed interviews in her penthouse. On a 2015 episode of "20/20," Melania addressed why she wasn't always present on the campaign trail. "It's my choice not to be there. I support my husband 100 percent, but we have a 9-year-old son together, Barron, and I'm raising him, and this is the age he needs a parent at home," she told Barbara Walters.

After Donald was elected, Melania didn't change course too much. In order to reportedly keep Barron Trump enrolled in his school for the rest of the 2017 school year, the first lady and her son waited to move into the White House until June 2017. Even after they got settled at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Barron and Melania still mostly stayed out of the spotlight. "Typically, the president and the first lady are the family superstars," Katherine Jellison, a history professor at Ohio University who studies first ladies, told the AP. However, Melania was, as Jellison noted, one of the most reclusive first ladies in United States history.

In the aforementioned interview with Barbara Walters, Melania Trump stated that she believed she and her husband are equals in their relationship. Donald Trump, on the other hand, believed she holds more power: "I would say no. I think she's far greater than the 50 percent."

When it came time for Donald to campaign ahead of the 2016 election, Melania called her own shots. "I'm choosing not to go political in public because that is my husband's job. I'm very political in private life, and between me and my husband I know everything that is going on," she said in her 2016 chat with Harper's Bazaar. "But I chose not to be on the campaign. I have my own mind. I am my own person, and I think my husband likes that about me." What's more, she acknowledged that she and her husband don't always see eye-to-eye. "Do I agree with him all the time? No," she said. 

Every now and then, she shares when she doesn't agree with him. During Donald's 2016 campaign, Melania was called out for his crude remarks about women. As she said in a statement provided to Fortune, "The words my husband used are unacceptable and offensive to me. This does not represent the man that I know ... I hope people will accept his apology, as I have."

Melania Trump took on the role of first lady of the United States in January 2017 at age 46. She became America's second foreign-born first lady (the first, being John Quincy Adams' London-born wife Louisa Adams). And she had a big job ever since the start of her husband's campaign: responding to critics.

She unsurprisingly took a lot of heat for Donald Trump's immigration platform — she is, after all, an immigrant. While under fire for allegedly working in the U.S. illegally on a visitor's visa, according to the Los Angeles Times, she made short work of defending herself in an interview with Harper's Bazaar, where she claimed, "I followed the rules." 

In 2023, Melania attended a naturalization ceremony in Washington, D.C., where she opened up about her own experiences as an immigrant. "My personal experience of traversing the challenges of the immigration process opened my eyes to the harsh realities people face, including you, who try to become U.S. citizens," she said, according to CBS News. After noting that she enlisted an attorney to help her navigate the legal documents and language barrier, she added, "Patience and perseverance became my constant companions as I navigated through this intricate web, which I'm sure you can all relate to."

After Donald Trump was elected president in 2016, Melania Trump's first lady style was front and center. "[Melania] wore a streamlined sleeveless black sheath dress, a matching coat and Christian Louboutin heels," wrote The New York Times after Melania met with first lady Michelle Obama in November 2016. The paper added, "I'd say she looked polished and professional, and as if she wasn't trying to call attention to herself, though that is kind of unavoidable." One might've even gone so far as to say she was channeling legendary style icon and former first lady Jackie Kennedy Onassis.

Melania herself admitted to having an admiration of Jackie O in her aforementioned interview with Harper's Bazaar. "She had a very beautiful, elegant, simple but feminine style," she stated. Katherine Jellison, history professor at Ohio University, made the connection between the two first ladies when speaking to NPR in 2016. "She might be sort of a Jackie Kennedy type," she mused, "a well-dressed woman who will be seen as popular in the women's magazines but largely stays quiet and on the sidelines in terms of her public image." When Melania showed up to the inauguration in 2017 in a powder blue mock turtleneck suit by Ralph Lauren, the Jackie O comparisons reached fever pitch.

Although Melania Trump's first lady wardrobe choices may have been reminiscent of Jackie Kennedy's at first, that quickly changed. In 2018, when Trump boarded a plane bound for the United States/Mexico border, she was photographed wearing a green Zara jacket with the question "I really don't care, do u?" emblazoned across the back. As CBS News reported, many people thought this was, at best, an ill-timed outfit given the reason for the visit: Trump was about to meet with migrant children who'd been separated from their parents.

In a statement to CBS News, Trump's spokesperson, Stephanie Grisham, said it was nothing more than "a jacket." She added, "There was no hidden message." However, the president took to X, formerly known as Twitter, and contradicted Grisham's statement, claiming the words on his wife's jacket referred to "the Fake News Media." He continued, "Melania has learned how dishonest they are, and she truly no longer cares!" Months later, the first lady spoke out about the jacket in an interview with ABC News. "It was for the people and for the left-wing media who are criticizing me," she said, "and I want to show them that I don't care."

In May 2019, the former first lady celebrated the one-year anniversary of her "Be Best" initiative. The mission of the program is to "focus on some of the major issues facing children today, with the goal of encouraging children to be best in their individual paths, while also teaching them the importance of social, emotional, and physical health." Since its inception, the program has concentrated mostly on "well-being, online safety, and opioid abuse." In 2018, Melania Trump embarked on her first solo trip to promote her initiative.

As part of her trip, she met with children and their families in Ghana, Malawi, Kenya, and Egypt. Trump has also worked to raise awareness about the opioids epidemic and has also visited children's hospitals as well as the Microsoft headquarters in an effort to learn about online safety for children. Of course, Trump's Be Best campaign was — and is — not immune to criticism. Trump spoke out about such criticism at a conference in Washington, D.C., in November 2018. "I remain committed to tackling this topic because it will provide a better world for our children," she said, as reported by Newsweek.

It can't be easy being married to one of the most controversial men in the world, and while the media didn't hold back when it came to criticizing former president Donald Trump during his tenure, they also didn't spare his wife. The former first lady described the press' treatment of her as "unfair" and "vicious" (via Politico), and some Republicans have claimed that Melania Trump wasn't regarded with the same respect as her predecessors. "It's safe to say that no president's wife has been treated more disrespectfully and disgracefully than Melania Trump," The Hill's political columnist Joe Concha declared after the Trumps bid the White House goodbye in January 2021.

Concha went on to assert that first ladies who weren't part of their husband's administration rarely received as much flak as Melania did. For example, when Melania went all out for Christmas decorations with blood-red trees, the media didn't think it festive — instead she was criticized for having no taste. After making changes to the White House Rose Garden, false claims that she removed trees Jackie Kennedy planted during her husband's tenure went rampant. Public outrage followed until the claims were debunked, but the damage was done. Things didn't look up for Melania during Donald Trump's 2024 campaign either, with many criticizing her for steering clear of the campaign trail entirely.

Melania Trump, like many first ladies before her, left her personal touch on the White House. "Melania Trump primarily focused on historic preservation and caring for the beauty and historical elements of the spaces," Stewart McLaurin of the White House Historical Association told The Washington Post. "One thing that struck me early on, she always wanted to know what others had done before her, what was customary and traditional. Then she added her own flair or personal input to it," he added. 

As previously mentioned, some of Melania's changes raised some eyebrows and a few people's blood pressure. When she made changes to the iconic Rose Garden, many were upset that she removed the old crab apple trees that were reminiscent of the garden's original design, which was drawn up during John F. Kennedy's time in office by his wife's close friend Rachel "Bunny" Mellon in 1962. The Washington Post, however, noted that it was a much-needed alteration. Not unlike Donald Trump, Melania didn't appear to mind stepping on some toes to bring her vision to life. Aside from renovating the Rose Garden, Melania also made some changes to the White House's interior — she fixed up some old furniture and made the Red Room shine scarlet again, giving it a new coat of paint and refurbishing its furniture.

When Donald Trump ran for reelection in 2020, Melania Trump was in his corner. Some media outlets argued that Melania managed to save face for her husband during a time when he dismissed the impact of COVID-19. At the RNC, the former first lady expressed solidarity with those impacted by the pandemic, telling people that they are "not alone." The fact that she even acknowledged the pandemic was seen as a bold move by Sky News, with the outlet claiming that "she grasped the nettle in a way no one else has." To top it off, it was also revealed that no one reviewed Melania's speech before the convention.

Melania made another solo appearance during Donald's reelection campaign later that year in Pennsylvania shortly after recovering from the coronavirus. She addressed the impact of the pandemic once again and praised the hardworking medical professionals on the front lines. She also told those gathered to comply with the CDC guidelines to stop the spread, which is something else her husband had publicly disregarded on various occasions. Still, it was clear she supported him fully when she warned about the destruction the Biden Administration could wreak on the country. Despite her unwavering support, it was clear that she wasn't afraid to speak her mind about what she deemed right.

The 2020 presidential election is one that will go down in history. Donald Trump refused to concede to Joe Biden, telling all who would listen that the election had been stolen from him and that he was the true president. This caused widespread division and unrest, which eventually led to the January 6, 2021, insurrection. A few days after the election, CNN reported that Donald was getting advice from all sides, and not everyone close to him agreed that he should continue to fight a losing battle. 

Apparently, one of the people who tried to convince the former president to concede was Melania Trump. A source claimed to CNN that the former first lady told her husband that he had to accept the outcome of the election and cut his losses. On the other end of the spectrum, Donald's adult sons, Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., were said to have urged him to continue fighting the results. In the end, it appeared that Melania's advice fell flat, and the discord continued to escalate until it reached a tipping point on January 6 the following year.

While Melania Trump previously told supporters that it was "the greatest honor and privilege to serve as first lady of this amazing country," she didn't appear to be nearly as attached to the White House as Donald Trump. In fact, reports claimed that the former first lady was adjusting to her post-White House life just fine, even though the same could not necessarily be said for her husband. 

Insiders dished to CNN that Melania did not plan on doing any of the traditional things people usually expect from former first ladies. She didn't start working on a memoir nor did she make any public appearances or speeches after she left Washington. "She's not a presence at Mar-a-Lago at all. She's not mingling with people and rarely interacts with her husband's staff," a source told the outlet. 

It appeared Melania enjoyed getting back to business as usual, with sources saying that, when she did make an appearance, she looked "happy and relaxed." The former first lady reportedly also treated herself to plenty of spa outings, and her afternoons were reserved to spend some quality time with her son, Barron Trump. She did establish her own office during this time, but sources said she appeared to be in no hurry to move any mountains and was simply enjoying being back home.

In 2023, Donald Trump was indicted four times, on both state and federal charges. As he spends time in and out of court, Melania Trump has managed to mostly stay out of the public eye through it all. 

According to sources, after she watched the Stormy Daniels scandal boil over in 2018, Melania apparently was not interested in getting involved in any other legal messes. "Melania publicly supports her husband but privately prefers a life with 100 percent privacy and no press scrutiny," an unnamed tipster claimed to People. "She hates all of the legal problems and says very little about them anytime anywhere. She leads her own life." 

Melania wasn't by her husband's side when the fourth indictment was brought against him in New Jersey. Instead, she was spending time in Manhattan, while her husband did what he always does when things get messy: He played some golf. "[T]his fourth indictment is another problem for her husband. Not for her," another source said.

While Donald Trump's legal woes no doubt take a toll on Melania Trump, the person she's most concerned about is her son, Barron Trump, and how the whole mess might affect him. Sources close to the former first lady told People in 2023 that Melania's son is her top priority. Instead of spending time with friends or making new ones, she's been focused on being there for her kid whenever he needs her. Most of all, she's trying to ensure that she shields Barron from the public scrutiny his father is receiving as much as possible. "She has always put him first. She is a good mother," an insider said. 

Another source who resides in Palm Beach divulged that Melania's family is rallying around her during this turbulent time. In fact, Melania's parents live at Mar-a-Lago, which means they are around to support her and Barron. "She has always surrounded herself with family. She is a doting mother to Barron and very protective of him. This is nothing new," the tipster said. Apparently, Melania is trying her best to keep her and her son's everyday life as close to normal as possible, and a social source in the know told People that she's still pretty happy living at Mar-a-Lago with her son — Donald Trump's legal woes be damned.

While some might enjoy all the luxury the White House has to offer, Melania Trump is more than happy living at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate and reportedly isn't keen to return to the confines of the White House, should her husband win the 2024 election. At least, that's what a handful of political experts told Axios. Said experts further predict that Melania might not return to the White House full-time, should the election go her husband's way. "Melania does what Melania wants," political author Mary Jordan told the outlet. "She's distancing herself even more from her husband and from the Washington social political scene," author Kate Andersen Brower added.

Back in 2021, there were reports that Melania was absolutely delighted to finally leave the White House and that the prospect of ever returning wasn't one she wanted to entertain. "If [Donald Trump] runs, I doubt she will be involved at all," a source close to the family told People. "If he should win, that would be the worst-case scenario for her." For you and us both, Melania.

Word on the street is that Melania isn't interested in giving up her newfound privacy, which is exactly what she'll have to do if she becomes the first lady once more. "Melania does not like being in the public eye and has made it clear that she isn't interested in doing it again," another unnamed political source claimed.

In April 2024, former first lady Melania Trump made an appearance at a Republican fundraiser that was set to benefit an LGBTQ+ organization. Representatives of the Log Cabin Republicans — a conservative LGBTQ+ group — were in attendance at the event, and Melania was presented as a speaking guest of honor. According to the organizers of the fundraiser who spoke to ABC News, Melania managed to raise over $1 million that evening. The money will not only be used to provide resources to members of the LGBTQ+ community in swing states, but create awareness regarding the conservative LGBTQ+ group's positions. 

What's more, the Log Cabin Republicans are all in on Donald Trump ahead of the 2024 election. "They hear us, they see us, and they love us," one member told ABC News. "Donald Trump is the best choice for all of us." Melania held another fundraiser for the organization at Trump Tower in July 2024. A source told Page Six that the former first lady was "elegant and eloquent." "She took the time to speak with everyone," they said. A guest added, "Melania took photos and gave a beautiful speech about the importance of unity. She also said about the election, 'We will see what happens, but, we must win.' "

Melania Trump made a rare public appearance to attend her son Barron Trump's high school graduation ceremony in May 2024, and the former first lady was dressed to the nines. While Melania's outrageous fashion choices have caused a stir in the past, her classy outfit at the graduation ceremony was well-received, with Page Six noting that she looked "chic" in her Dior jacket and Michael Kors pencil skirt. 

Insiders said that the graduation ceremony was an emotional moment for Melania, who has been very involved in Barron's life and upbringing. "Melania will keep her hand on Barron's future just as much going forward as she has throughout his early and current school years," a source told People. "He is her world. She is proud of him, and she is the primary decision maker on Barron and his future." 

Melania is reportedly eager to see her son pursue his passions and dreams but also knows that he's still young and impressionable. And it appears that Melania and Donald Trump might have different ideas about what they'd like Barron to do with his life. Donald boasted that Barron was set to be a Florida delegate at the 2024 Republican National Convention before Melania's office released a statement saying he was bowing out due to "prior commitments" (via ABC News). She did not specify what these commitments were.

Melania Trump might live a lavish life, but it's come at a cost. The checks her husband Donald Trump has written and cashed over the years weren't necessarily above board, and in 2024, the former president was found guilty on 34 counts of fraud. Throughout his widely publicized court trial, Melania kept her distance. She never accompanied her husband to court nor commented publicly on the proceedings or allegations against him. 

When Donald was found guilty, Melania wasn't at his side. She remained absent on the campaign trail and failed to make an appearance at a birthday party that was hosted in her husband's honor. While many questioned Melania's absence (the press asked Donald where she was every chance they got), Katherine Jellison, who's made it her life's work to study first ladies, told the AP that it wasn't entirely out of character for Melania to be keeping a low profile amid all the chaos. "Everything the Trumps do seems to be against the standard playbook of how candidates and spouses behave," she said. 

When the former president received his guilty verdict, his family rallied around him. Donald's youngest daughter Tiffany Trump accompanied him to court on a few occasions as the trial neared its end, and when the guilty verdict was passed, his eldest sons, Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., as well as his daughter Ivanka Trump, voiced their support. Melania, however, remained silent on the matter.

On July 13, 2024, Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt while speaking at a rally in Pennsylvania. The following day, Melania Trump released a strongly-worded statement, calling the shooter "a monster who recognized my husband as an inhuman political machine." She recounted the moment Donald got hit by the bullet. "When I watched that violent bullet strike my husband, Donald, I realized my life, and Barron's life, were on the brink of devastating change," she wrote. She thanked the Secret Service agents who rushed to her husband's side to protect him in the aftermath of the shooting and expressed her condolences to those impacted by the shooting. "Your need to summon your inner strength for such a terrible reason saddens me," she wrote.

Melania's relationship with Donald might have changed since leaving the White House, but she put her first lady hat back on and used the opportunity to call for unity. She encouraged people not to allow their political differences to divide them and to remember that politicians, at the end of the day, are also just human beings with families. "This morning, ascend above the hate, the vitriol, and the simple-minded ideas that ignite violence," she continued. "We all want a world where respect is paramount, family is first, and love transcends." A few days after the shooting, she attended the RNC with her husband. Prior to the attack, Melania was largely absent from Donald's 2024 campaign trail.