Photos: Viktor Knavs, 2 years older than Donald Trump, is father of Melania, grandfather to Barron
On Election Night 2024 and Inauguration Day 2025, who was next to Barron Trump showing support? His grandfather, Viktor Knavs.
Viktor Knavs is one proud father — and grandfather. He doesn’t just show up for the milestone events for Donald and Melania Trump, he’s usually the man standing next to their only son, Barron Trump.
In the past year, for example, Viktor Knavs was “on the list” for the most exclusive events for Donald, Melania and Barron Trump:
- For Barron Trump’s high school graduation from Oxbridge Academy in West Palm Beach, Florida, in May 2024, only three members of his famous family attended the ceremony: His parents, Donald and Melania Trump, and his grandfather, Viktor Knavs.
- During Donald Trump’s Election Night party at the Palm Beach County Convention Center on Nov. 5, 2024, Viktor Knavs was on stage next to Barron and Melania Trump when Donald Trump declared victory as the 47th president of the United States. (The extended Trump family, including his adult children and grandchildren, later joined them on stage.)
- On Jan. 20, 2025, Inauguration Day, Viktor Knavs was standing next to Barron Trump in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., before his son-in-law and daughter were formally announced as the president and first lady of the United States. Knavs also sat next to Barron Trump during his son-in-law’s speech. (The extended Trump family, Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump, Eric Trump, Tiffany Trump and their children and spouses, also attended Inauguration Day events.)
It seems when Viktor Knavs needed support, his son-in-law, daughter and grandson were there for him, too: In January 2024, Viktor Knavs’ wife, Amalija Knavs, mother to Melania Trump and Ines Knauss, was laid to rest in Palm Beach, Florida. During her husband’s third and final campaign for the White House, Melania Trump had taken a step back from the spotlight and campaign appearances to care for her then-ailing mother. Amalija Knavs died Jan. 9, 2024. At her funeral, Barron Trump was a fixture next to Viktor Knavs. The extended Trump family also attended the service.
Who is Viktor Knavs?
Born March 24, 1944, Viktor Knavs is a Slovenian businessman, married to the late Amalija Knavs, and father of Melania Trump and Ines Knauss. He’s also the father-in-law of Donald Trump, the 45th and 47th president of the United States, and grandfather to Barron Trump. Coincidentally, Barron Trump’s birthday is March 20, 2006. Viktor Knavs is two years older than Donald Trump.
➤ Who was the man next to Barron Trump during inauguration? Meet Viktor Knavs
Though Viktor Knavs is not active on social media, he has a presence there, thanks to his famous family.
In January 2015, Melania Trump tweeted a sweet photo of a young Barron Trump playing in the sand at the beach with his grandparents.
Most recently, Donald Trump Jr. posted a viral Instagram Reel showing Donald and Melania Trump, Viktor Knavs and Elon Musk dancing to “YMCA” from a Village People tribute band at Mar-a-Lago, Donald Trump’s private club in Palm Beach, Florida. None of the people in the video — the president and first lady, her father or the SpaceX CEO — did the YMCA hand movements while dancing to the song.
Photos of Viktor Knavs, father of Melania, grandfather of Barron Trump
Below are photos of Viktor Knavs and the late Amalija Knavs with Donald, Melania and Barron Trump over the years.
Sangalang is a lead digital producer for Paste BN Network. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper.