While delivering her mother’s eulogy, Melania Trump made a point to discuss Amalija Knavs’s prowess in the kitchen. “With her passion for cooking, she transported every dish, which she curated with her spices from her garden, to new heights,” the former first lady said. “I’m fortunate that she taught me many of her secrets to creating the signature delights,” she added.
Earlier in the week, Donald Trump mentioned his mother-in-law’s cooking while he briefly eulogized her when addressing a crowd after winning the Iowa caucuses. “And I just want to say to Amalija, you are special, one of the most special people I’ve ever known,” Donald said on January 15, per Fox News. The former president then discussed how Barron was impacted by his grandmother. “Boy, did she take care of Barron. That’s how he got so tall. He only ate her food,” Donald joked to the Iowa crowd, while referencing his son’s 6-foot-7 frame.
Barron would have had a lot of time to eat his grandmother’s cooking during his father’s presidency. Before moving into the White House, Melania lived in Trump Tower with her son and her parents, during which Barron developed a close relationship with his grandmother. Following the death of Melania’s mother, a source for People said Barron had “an excellent relationship” with Amalija. “There have been times when Barron has been with his grandparents more than with Melania, and a lot more than with Donald,” the insider told the outlet.
