The former president confirmed that the former first lady’s mother is ’very ill.’
Former President Donald Trump confirmed that his wife Melania’s mother is “very ill” and that it forced the former first lady to skip New Year’s Eve celebrations over the weekend.
During an event at Mar-a-Lago, in Palm Beach, Florida, the former president told a crowd that “hopefully she’ll be recovering,” adding that he had spoken with Melania, who is at a hospital with her mother, according to video footage of the event.
“It’s a tough one, a very tough one,” President Trump said, adding that “she knows about 95 percent of the people in this room” and “sends her love.”
“We are going to have a great year. Our country has gone to hell and we’re going to turn it around, we’re going to turn it around pretty quickly,” President Trump said during his Mar-a-Lago speech on Dec. 31.
“We’re going to have a great 2024, we’re going to make America great again.”
There had been speculation about the former first lady after she did not appear in a recent holiday photo of the Trump family that was posted to Instagram by Donald Trump Jr.’s fiancee, Kimberly Guilfoyle, one day after Christmas. Melania’s father, Viktor Knavs, was in the photo.
The photo also included President Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Ms. Guilfoyle, Barron Trump, Tiffany Trump and her husband Michael Boulos, and Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner.
Mr. Kushner’s and Ms. Trump’s three children were also present.
Since her husband left office in early 2021, Melania Trump has made few public appearances. She hasn’t been at many of his campaign trail stops, and she hasn’t attended his multiple court appearances in the past year.
Last month, she gave a speech at a ceremony at the U.S. National Archives.
“You are American,” Mrs. Trump, who was born in Slovenia, told newly naturalized American citizens at the National Archives event.
“Be a beacon of inspiration for your children and those who follow in your footsteps. May your journey continue to be filled with endless possibilities. And may your contributions enrich the fabric of this great nation.”
