Ines Knauss: The Woman Behind Melania Trump’s Guiding Light
Melania Trump has credited her older sister, Ines Knauss, as her “guiding light and inspiration,” yet very little is known about her except for the key place she holds in the incoming first family’s hearts. Knauss, 56, has not been pictured in public for twenty years, and her life remains shrouded in mystery.
According to sources, Knauss is an ever-present source of comfort and advice to Melania, 54, and her nephew Barron, 18. She has been a constant presence in Melania’s life, and the first lady has mentioned her by name 30 times in her eponymous biography.
Knauss was her younger sister’s maid of honor at her wedding to Donald Trump in 2005, and has been described as “really lovely… and yes, she was very private” by Italian designer Luisa Bonaccorsi, who has known Melania for 25 years.
Ale de Basseville, a Paris-based photographer who took pictures of Melania for a French men’s magazine in the mid-1990s, met Knauss as she was trying to break into the fashion industry. He described her as “really polite and very mellow.”
Despite her low public profile, Knauss appears to have multiple active social media accounts, including a Facebook profile and an X (formerly Twitter) account, which is followed by Melania’s official accounts. The accounts feature photos of Knauss and Melania as children, as well as pictures of Barron.
Immigration attorney Michael Wildes, who has known both Knauss and Melania for many years, described Knauss as a “fine person,” “extraordinarily talented,” and a dedicated sister and aunt. He said that Knauss is a very proud aunt to Barron and is much loved and appreciated by the family.
Knauss has lived in New York City since 2015, and has a reportedly $1.5 million apartment held by The Donald J Trump Revocable Trust. She is also a frequent visitor at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach.
According to Melania’s memoir, Knauss excelled in school and had artistic talents from a young age. The sisters shared similar interests and loved music, staying up late together to listen to records and discuss the latest trends.
Knauss left home to attend the Secondary School for Design and Photography in Ljubljana at 15, living alone in an apartment their parents bought for her. She later started studying at the Academy of Fine Arts at Edward Kardelj University in Ljubljana.
Melania credits Knauss with making the suggestion that would change her life, urging her to submit photos to a Slovenian modelling contest. Knauss has been a constant source of support and counsel for Melania, and will likely continue to play a key role in her life as the first lady.
Whether Knauss will emerge from her private life to take a more public role remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: she will be a figure to look for in the crowds at the inauguration, offering a chance for her first sighting in 20 years.
