The First Meeting and First Date
Donald Trump first crossed paths with Melania Knauss (as she was known before her marriage) in September 1998, at a New York Fashion Week party hosted by former modeling agent Paolo Zampolli. At the time, Donald was newly separated from his second wife, Marla Maples, and Melania, a Slovenian-born model, had recently moved to the U.S. to pursue her career.
The chemistry wasn’t instant, though. As Melania recalled in a 2016 interview with Harper’s Bazaar, she wasn’t immediately impressed when Donald asked for her phone number. “He wanted my number, but he was with a date, so of course I didn’t give it to him,” Melania said. Instead, she took a bold approach, asking him for his number instead. “I am not giving you my number; you give me yours, and I will call you,” she remarked. This move wasn’t just about testing him—it was also a way to gauge what kind of number he would provide. “I wanted to see if it was a business number. What if it’s business?” she added, laughing about her hesitation.
Donald responded by offering all his numbers, including his office, Mar-a-Lago, and even his home number in New York. This openness caught Melania’s attention, and she was soon struck by his “vitality” and “energy,” qualities that she would come to appreciate over the following months.
On their first date, Donald took her to dinner and then to Moomba, which, in the late ’90s, was the ne plus ultra of celebrity-packed New York nightlife. “Remember Moomba?” she asked during the interview. “It was a great place, wasn’t it? I remember that night like it was two months ago.”
Donald Trump and Melania Trump
A Second Chance: From Breakup to Reconnection
Though the initial spark was there, Donald and Melania’s relationship faced a brief interruption. In 2000, Donald announced his candidacy for the Reform Party’s presidential nomination, which led to a short-lived breakup between the couple. Despite this, the pull between them was strong, and by February 2000, after Donald abandoned his political campaign, they rekindled their romance.
Over the next few years, their relationship blossomed. After several years together their romance progressed and Trump proposed to Melania at the 2004 Met Gala, a moment she later described as a surprise. The two married the following year in a lavish ceremony at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. In 2006, they welcomed their son, Barron. Reflecting on their marriage years later, Melania called it “fantastic,” emphasizing the understanding they share.
Challenges and Bond
The couple’s journey hasn’t been without its ups and downs, from the pressures of Trump’s political career to their time in the spotlight. Through it all, Melania has maintained her own voice, occasionally disagreeing with Trump’s views. In a 2018 interview during a solo trip to Africa, Melania admitted, “I don’t always agree with what he believes, and I tell him so.” Despite their differences, she emphasized the importance of having her own voice within their relationship.
Their union has lasted nearly two decades, making it the longest of Donald’s three marriages. While Melania has largely stayed out of the public eye during her husband’s presidential campaigns, her presence has been a source of strength for Donald, particularly when he survived an assassination attempt during the 2024 election cycle. Melania’s public support reaffirmed the resilience of their relationship.
As they prepare for their return to the White House, the couple’s dynamic and the strength of their partnership continue to capture public interest.
