Meet first lady Melania Trump
First lady Melania Trump attends the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee July 18, 2024. (© Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call/Getty Images)
First lady Melania Trump attends the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee July 18, 2024. (© Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call/Getty Images)
First lady Melania Trump, wife of President Trump and mother of their son Barron, is a successful model, businesswoman, author and children’s advocate.
Born in Slovenia, she moved to New York in 1996 and became a U.S. citizen 10 years later. Trump is the second U.S. first lady born outside of the United States and the first U.S. first lady to become a naturalized citizen.
At a young age, Trump began a successful modeling career that would include appearances in many high-profile ad campaigns. As a businesswoman, she launched the Melania Trump Timepieces and Jewelry collection. And her philanthropic work includes serving as a goodwill ambassador for the American Red Cross.
As first lady from 2017–2021, Trump focused on issues affecting children. Her BE BEST initiative, established in 2018, promotes the well-being of children and highlights programs dedicated to a better future for the next generation. She also engaged with the U.S. military and their families, traveling to U.S. military bases domestically and overseas. Her 2024 memoir, MELANIA reached number one on the New York Times‘ best sellers list.
This biography is adapted from one on whitehouse.gov.