Since Melania Trump returned to the role of First Lady in January 2025, interest in the people closest to her has grown once again. While much of her public life is connected to the White House, one of the most important relationships in her private world has long been with her older sister, Ines Knauss.
Unlike Melania, Ines has largely stayed away from public attention. Reports over the years have described the sisters as extremely close, with Ines often characterized as one of Melania’s most trusted confidantes. She was also Melania’s maid of honor when she married Donald Trump in 2005.
The sisters share roots in Slovenia and both pursued interests connected to fashion and design before Melania established her modeling career in the United States. Ines later lived near her sister in New York, while maintaining a far quieter public profile.
Their relationship has remained largely outside the political spotlight. Melania herself has publicly described Ines warmly, referring to her as both an extraordinary woman and a friend.
For someone whose life is constantly observed and discussed, having a trusted family member outside the machinery of politics can carry particular significance. The relationship between Melania and Ines illustrates a private side of the First Lady’s life that rarely appears during official events.
Despite decades of intense attention surrounding the Trump family, Ines has continued to keep much of her personal life private. Their sisterly connection, however, has repeatedly been described as close and enduring.
