RT by @mikenov: He speaks to his grandson in Slovenian and stands beside him at the biggest moments of his life ❤️ Viktor Knavs was born in 1944 in Slovenia, then part of Yugoslavia. He worked as a car dealer and chauffeur, while his wife, Amalija, was a pattern maker at a textile factory, and together they raised two daughters, Ines and Melania, in a small town. Years later, their younger daughter moved to New York, married Donald Trump and welcomed a son, Barron. Viktor and Amalija eventually settled in the United States and became citizens in 2018. Barron grew up speaking fluent Slovenian with his grandparents, GQ reported, a gift from Melania, who wanted him to stay connected to her root

He speaks to his grandson in Slovenian and stands beside him at the biggest moments of his life ❤️ Viktor Knavs was born in 1944 in Slovenia, then part of Yugoslavia.

He worked as a car dealer and chauffeur, while his wife, Amalija, was a pattern maker at a textile factory, and together they raised two daughters, Ines and Melania, in a small town.

Years later, their younger daughter moved to New York, married Donald Trump and welcomed a son, Barron. Viktor and Amalija eventually settled in the United States and became citizens in 2018.

Barron grew up speaking fluent Slovenian with his grandparents, GQ reported, a gift from Melania, who wanted him to stay connected to her roots. That bond has shown up at the family’s biggest moments.

When Barron graduated from Oxbridge Academy in May 2024, Viktor was the only family member there besides his parents, The Palm Beach Post reported.

A few months earlier, the family had faced one of its saddest days. Amalija passed away in January 2024 at 78.

Melania wrote a tribute that was both heartbreaking and loving. “She was entirely devoted to her husband, daughters, grandson, and son-in-law,” Melania wrote on X almost three years ago.

At the funeral, Barron stayed close to his grandfather throughout, according to reports. In January 2025, when Donald Trump was sworn in for his second term, Viktor stood next to his grandson, who towered over him, even though Viktor is just under six feet tall.

Now 82, Viktor is a regular at the family’s biggest events, from Thanksgiving at the table to Christmas Eve at Mar-a-Lago, and he’s usually the man standing next to Barron.

A language from a small town in Slovenia, passed from grandfather to grandson, now spoken in some of America’s biggest rooms. Some family bonds don’t need translation. ❤️

— @TrumpGirlLove Nov 1, 2026