Donald Trump thanks his wife Melania for ‘working very hard’ in the US election victory speech

Republican candidate Donald Trump, in his first speech to his supporters on the night of the US presidential election results, thanked his wife, Melania Trump, for her support.

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

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

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The former president claimed victory in his exuberant speech and promised to help the country “heal”. Trump’s speech claimed victory despite the fact that only Fox News and Decision Desk HQ had declared him the winner, and no other US network has so far made the call.

Who is Melania Trump?

Melania Trump is a former First Lady of the United States, serving from 2017 to 2021 during the presidency of her husband Donald Trump. Born Melanija Knavs on April 26, 1970 in Novo Mesto, Slovenia (then part of Yugoslavia), she started her career as a model and worked in European fashion capitals before moving to New York in the 1990s. In 2001, she became a permanent resident of the United States and later became a citizen in 2006.

Melania met Donald Trump in 1998 and they married in 2005. She is the mother of their son, Barron Trump. As First Lady, she launched the “Be Best” campaign, focusing on children’s well-being, online safety and combating opioid abuse. A reserved public profile marked her time in the White House compared to some previous first ladies, although she actively engaged in certain high-profile events and renovations, including updates to the White House Rose Garden.

Melania Trump’s best-selling memoir titled Melaniaoffers an in-depth look into her life, covering her early years in Slovenia, her modeling career and her experiences as First Lady. Published in 2024, the memoir quickly became a bestseller on both Amazon and The New York Times’ lists

The book has been praised for its insight into her personal journey, although it received mixed reviews regarding the level of detail of her marriage to Donald Trump. In addition, Melania includes personal views on topics such as her stance on family separation policies and her stance on reproductive rights, which have sparked media debate.

(With input from agencies)