Melania Trump’s ‘beloved’ mother, Amalija Knavs, dead at 78: ‘We will miss her beyond measure’

Donald Trump’s wife Melania has shared the tragic reason why she wasn’t in the family’s Christmas photo late last year.

Melania Trump announced her mother, Amalija Knavs, has died. She was 78.

“It is with deep sadness that I announce the passing of my beloved mother, Amalija,” the former first lady tweeted Tuesday night.

“Amalija Knavs was a strong woman who always carried herself with grace, warmth, and dignity.

“She was entirely devoted to her husband, daughters, grandson, and son-in-law. We will miss her beyond measure and continue to honour and love her legacy.”

Donald Trump also mourned his mother-in-law’s passing on Truth Social.

“This is a very sad night for the entire Trump family!!! Melania’s great and beautiful mother, Amalija, has just gone to a beautiful place in the sky. She was an incredible woman, and will be missed far beyond words!” he posted.

Melania had seemingly been by her mother’s side since Christmas when she notably didn’t attend festivities at Mar-a-Lago with her husband.

Melania Trump announced her mother, Amalija Knavs, has died.

Melania Trump's parents, Viktor and Amalija Knavs.

A source previously said that Melania, 53, was missing from her family’s photo taken on Dec. 25 because she was at a hospital in Miami.

“Melania has always been very devoted to her entire family,” an insider also told Fox News Digital. “It should be no surprise that she spent this Christmas with her ailing mother.”

Meanwhile, the former president, 77, later confirmed his wife’s absence during the holidays was due to his mother-in-law being “very ill.”

“Hopefully she’ll be recovering,” Donald said in a video taken at his Palm Beach, Fla., estate on Dec. 31.

“Hopefully, that’ll be OK, but it’s a tough one, a very tough one,” he continued, adding that Melania “sends her love.”

Melania had seemingly been by her mother’s side since Christmas when she notably didn’t attend festivities at Mar-a-Lago with her husband.

“She knows probably about 95 per cent of the people in this room. We just want to wish Amalija that she gets better as quickly as possible.”

He did not share further details on Knavs’ illness.

Amalija and her husband, Viktor Knavs, were living at Mar-a-Lago near their daughter and son-in-law at the time of her death, per People.

The Slovenian couple became U.S. citizens in 2018 during Donald’s presidency.

This article originally appeared in the Page Six and was reproduced with permission