Trump declares victory in speech, thanks wife Melania for her support

On the evening of the US presidential election results, Republican nominee Donald Trump thanked his wife, Melania Trump, for her support in his first speech to his supporters.

Trump, his wife Melania, and his children took the stage at his campaign headquarters in Florida.

“I also want to thank my beautiful wife Melania, First Lady, who has the number one best-selling book in the country. Can you believe that? She works very hard to help people. So, I just wanted to thank her,” said Trump during his address in Florida.

In his exuberant speech, the former president declared victory and promised to assist the nation in "healing." Trump claimed victory in his speech, even though no other US networks had yet declared him the winner.

From 2017 until 2021, Melania Trump served as the United States' First Lady while her husband, Donald Trump, was president.

She began her modeling career in European fashion hubs before relocating to New York in the 1990s. Melania Knavs was born on April 26, 1970, in Novo Mesto, Slovenia (then a part of Yugoslavia). She obtained U.S. citizenship in 2006 after becoming a permanent resident in 2001.

Melania married Donald Trump in 2005 after they first met in 1998. Though she actively participated in several high-profile events and projects, such as repairs to the White House Rose Garden, her tenure in the White House was characterized by a quieter public persona compared to some prior first ladies.

An extensive glimpse into Melania Trump's life is provided by her best-selling memoir, Melania, which covers her early years in Slovenia, her modeling career, and her experiences as First Lady.

The memoir, which was published in 2024, immediately shot to the top of the New York Times and Amazon bestseller lists.

Although the book received mixed reviews for the amount of detail on her marriage to Donald Trump, it is appreciated for its insights into her personal journey.

Melania also shares her personal opinions on issues that have generated media attention, such as her position on reproductive rights and family separation laws.