Long before Melania Knauss became Melania Trump, the enigmatic First Lady of the United States, she offered a glimpse into the future, one that would later unfold in astonishing accuracy.
In 1999, at just 26 years old and still known primarily as a Slovenian supermodel, Melania sat down with ABC News and confidently answered a big question. "Could she see herself as First Lady? Her answer was, “Yes.”
© Ron GalellaIt seems Melania had a vision and she described it in detail. “I would be very traditional, like Jackie Kennedy and Betty Ford,” she said, adding that she would dedicate herself to causes like the Make-A-Wish Foundation. “I will support him. I will do a lot of social obligations.”
What was Melania doing in 1999?
At the time, Melania was dating Donald Trump, the famous real estate tycoon, then 53, who was still best known for his opulent lifestyle. The pair had met a year earlier at a party during New York Fashion Week, and their romance was already being talked about.
© Davidoff Studios PhotographySome suggested Melania was just interested in Trump's lifestyle, but she was quick to shut down the claims. “People who talk like this, they don’t know me,” she told ABC. “You can’t sleep, or hug, or talk with beautiful things — with beautiful apartment, beautiful plane, beautiful cars... You could feel very empty.”
Melania had a vision for Donald Trump:
The interview with ABC’s Don Dahler offered an unfiltered look at the future First Lady’s mindset. When asked if she was in love with Trump, her answer was a simple “Yes.”
© JEFF HAYNESAnd when asked about the potential of a prenuptial agreement, given his history of high-profile divorces, Melania replied, “Let’s see [what happens].”
She also didn’t hesitate to talk up her boyfriend’s potential on the national stage. “He’s very smart. He knows how to do a business,” she said. “He would be a great leader.” Melania expressed belief that Trump would run for president one day.
© Art SEITZAnd when that finally happened in 2015, sixteen years later, she maintained her cool composure, telling People Magazine: “It’s a long road. I take it day by day. My husband has a lot of people cheering for him. We will see.”
From model to First Lady:
The transformation from Melania Knauss to Melania Trump, First Lady of the United States, wasn’t overnight. The couple moved in together in 2002 at Trump Tower, became engaged in 2004, and wed in a star-studded ceremony at Mar-a-Lago in January 2005.
© Art SEITZHillary Clinton, a future presidential rival to Donald, was among the guests. The following year, they welcomed their son, Barron Trump, and in 2017, Melania officially stepped into the role she’d once dreamt of, becoming First Lady when Donald Trump was elected the 45th President of the United States.
© Kayla BartkowskiDonald Trump himself has publicly praised Melania’s suitability for the position, telling the press, “She would be an amazing representative for our country... I could see her being very involved in women's health issues. She’s an elegant person with a very big heart.”
