Melania Trump made an appearance on the 4th night of the Republican National Convention. Here's a timeline of her 26-year relationship with Donald Trump.
In 2006, Melania gave birth to their son, Barron, who is Donald's fifth child.
The couple was the center of attention when Donald was president from 2016 to 2020.
Former President Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, met back in 1998 and have been married since 2005.
Here's a complete timeline of their relationship, from their first meeting to their time together in the White House.
September 1998: They met at a party thrown by their mutual friend Paolo Zampolli.According to Vanity Fair, Donald Trump brought a different date to the party.
Scott Gries/GettyImages
When they first met in September 1998, Melania Knauss was working as a model in New York after immigrating to the US from Slovenia in 1996.
According to Vanity Fair, Trump and Knauss first crossed paths while attending a party — thrown by their mutual friend and co-owner of Metropolitan Models, Paolo Zampolli — at New York City's Kit Kat Club during Fashion Week.
1999: Trump and his second wife, Marla Maples, finalized their divorce.Marla Maples was Donald Trump's second wife.
Per the New York Post, Maples told The Telegraph, "Donald was never the man I wanted to marry. He and his world were alien to me … I'm so happy to be away from Donald and I'm just trying to move as far away as I can."
November 9, 1999: The couple did a controversial interview on "The Howard Stern Show."The two discussed their personal life on "The Howard Stern Show."
Spencer Platt /GettyImages
In November 1999, Trump did a phone interview on "The Howard Stern Show." The conversation quickly turned personal as Knauss was brought on the phone, and the couple started openly discussing their sex life with the host.
Trump was quiet for much of the interview while Stern grilled Knauss about what she was wearing and asked if she was nude — to which she responded, "Almost."
January 2000: They broke up briefly, and Trump sent Knauss well wishes in a public statement.The two took a short break before getting engaged two years later.
Spencer Platt/GettyImages
Reports of a breakup circulated in early 2000, and Trump himself confirmed the split to New York Times reporter James Barron on January 13 at a party celebrating the Miss USA pageant.
He told the reporter, "Melania is an amazing woman, a terrific woman, a great woman and she will be missed."
April 2004: Trump asked Knauss to marry him.Melania Trump called the engagement a "great surprise."
Evan Agostini /GettyImages
Trump proposed to Knauss in 2004 with a 15-carat ring valued at $1.5 million dollars, which he got at half price, according to The New York Times.
Of their engagement, the future Mrs. Trump told the New York Post, "It was a great surprise. We are very happy together."
January 22, 2005: They got married in Palm Beach, Florida, and celebrated at Mar-a-Lago estate.Donald and Melania Trump wed one year after getting engaged.
Bryan Bedder/GettyImages
The two tied the knot in Palm Beach, Florida, on January 22, 2005, and hosted the reception at Donald's Mar-a-Lago estate.
Melania reportedly wore a $100,000 couture gown designed by John Galliano for Christian Dior, according to The Kansas City Star.
Several celebrities were in attendance among the 500 guests, including the Clintons and Barbara Walters, as well as Billy Joel and Tony Bennett, who both sang at the reception.
May 17, 2005: They made their television debut as a married couple on "Larry King Live."Donald and Melania Trump did an interview on "Larry King Live."
Evan Agostini/GettyImages
A few months after their wedding, the couple appeared on "Larry King Live." They discussed everything from their first meeting to their relationship dynamic, and Melania noted that she and Donald were a great match right from the start.
"It was a great chemistry and energy. We had a great time and start [sic] to talk ... Something was there right away," she said.
Donald added, "We just have a really good relationship."
March 20, 2006: They welcomed their son, Barron, together.Barron is Donald Trump's fifth child.
He's Melania's only child and Donald's fifth, with his closest half-sibling, Tiffany, almost 13 years his senior.
June 16, 2015: Nine years later, Donald announced his candidacy for US president.Donald Trump announced his bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 2015.
Christopher Gregory/GettyImages
After years of teasing about running for president, Donald officially announced his candidacy at Trump Tower in New York City on June 16, 2015.
His daughter Ivanka introduced him on stage while he descended down an escalator with Melania.
During his speech, he made a number of statements regarding his agenda, including building a wall along America's border with Mexico.
November 2, 2016: Melania made her first solo campaign speech.She described her decision to move to the United States and earn citizenship "as the greatest privilege in the world."
Alex Wong /GettyImages
One day before the presidential election in 2016, the future first lady made her first solo speech at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.
She was introduced by future Vice President Mike Pence's wife, Karen Pence, and spoke of her husband's goals as president as well as her own immigration story.
January 20, 2017: They had their first dance as FLOTUS and POTUS at the Inaugural Ball.The Trumps danced to "My Way" by Frank Sinatra.
Aaron P. Bernstein/GettyImages
Following President Trump's inauguration ceremony, the couple did their first dance at the Inaugural Ball to Frank Sinatra's "My Way."
June 11, 2017: Melania and Barron joined Donald in the White House months after the inauguration.Melania Trump delayed her move to the nation's capital by a few months.
Mark Wilson /GettyImages
Once President Trump was officially inaugurated, he moved from New York to the White House in Washington, DC. But in a break from tradition, Melania and Barron didn't join him for months.
January 12, 2018: Reports of an affair between the newly elected president and Stormy Daniels broke.Donald Trump made headlines after Stormy Daniels said they had an affair.
AP Images
In 2018, reports of an affair and payoff between President Trump and adult-film star Stormy Daniels broke.
According to The Wall Street Journal, a lawyer for Trump reportedly arranged a $130,000 payment to Daniels a month before the 2016 election "as part of an agreement that precluded her from publicly discussing an alleged sexual encounter with Mr. Trump."
According to Daniels, the affair occurred in July 2006, soon after Barron was born.
October 12, 2018: Melania opened up about her marriage and role as the first lady in an interview.The interview aired in October 2018.
Alex Wong/GettyImages
The first lady sat down with ABC reporter Tom Llamas for a tell-all interview.
When Llamas asked, "Do you love your husband?" Melania simply replied, "Yes. We are fine. Yes."
He also probed about the president's reported affair, and Melania said she doesn't think much about it since she has "much more important things to think about and to do."
August 16, 2020: Melania appeared to brush her husband's hand away while descending the steps of Air Force One.Donald and Melania Trump are still together after 15 years of marriage.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
When the president and first lady exited Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, Melania appeared to brush her husband away as he attempted to take her hand twice on their way down the stairs.
Similar rebuffs occurred when they were boarding Marine One in February 2018 and during a press event in April 2018.
But this time, some commentators conceded that she could've been holding down her dress in the windy conditions.
October 2, 2020: They both tested positive for COVID-19.Melania and Donald Trump both tested positive for the virus.
CARLOS BARRIA/Reuters
In the midst of the 2020 election campaign trail, the president and the first lady both tested positive for COVID-19. Their son Barron also tested positive along with several members of the White House staff.
November 2, 2020: Melania gave her final campaign speech before the election.Melania Trump spoke in North Carolina the day before the election.
The former first lady was also noticeably missing during Donald's post-arraignment speech at Mar-a-Largo later that day.
April 26, 2024: Donald wished his wife a happy birthday before entering court for his New York trial.Former US President Donald Trump is on trial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City.
DAVE SANDERS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Before entering the courtroom for his New York criminal trial, Donald paused in front of a group of journalists and wished his wife a happy birthday.
"It'd be nice to be with her, but I'm at a courthouse for a rigged trial," he said.
April 27, 2024: Melania returned to the campaign trail.Melania and Donald Trump haven't spent much time in public together lately.
Alon Skuy/Getty Images
Melania hadn't been present for much of Donald's 2024 presidential campaign since he announced he was running again in 2022.
July 18, 2024: Melania Trump appears on the fourth night of the Republican National Convention ahead of Donald Trump's speechFormer first lady Melania Trump arrives on the fourth day of the Republican National Convention.
(Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)
Melania, who has largely stayed off the campaign trail, appeared on the fourth night of the Republican National Convention ahead of Donald Trump's speech. During the speech, he talked about the attempted assassination and formally accepted the GOP nomination for president. He also thanked Melania for the letter she posted publicly after the assassination attempt, in which she called for unity.
This story was originally published in November 2018 and most recently updated on July 18, 2024.
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