Chronology of the relationship between Donald and Melania Trump

Former President Donald Trump and his wife, Melania Trump, have been by each other's sides for decades.

Since Donald Trump became the Republican nominee for the 2024 presidential election, both men have been thrust into the spotlight once again. However, his wife has not been with him for most of his current presidential campaign, and the former president has said in the past that he prefers that.

The former commander in chief told TODAY in September 2023 that Melania Trump is a “private person” and will join him on the campaign trail at the “appropriate time” because it can be so “mean and nasty.”

Learn more about the couple as we look back at their long partnership, from when they first met to becoming first families.

1998: Donald and Melania Trump meet for the first time Donald Trump and Melania Knauss attend the premiere of “Celebrity” on September 25, 1998 at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center in New York. Ron Galella / Ron Galella Collection via Getty

In 1998, Paolo Zampolli, a former modeling agent, hosted a party during New York Fashion Week attended by the Slovenian-born model, then named Melania Knauss, and Donald Trump.

It was there that the two men came face to face for the first time.

But Donald Trump was not alone at the event. The real estate mogul, who was then separated from his second wife Marla Maples, had yet another woman on his arm that night.

He wanted my number, but he had a date, so of course I didn't give it to him, the future first lady later explained in an interview with Harpers Bazaar in 2016. I said, I don't don't give you my number; you give me yours and I'll call you. I wanted to see what kind of number he would give me if it was a business number. What is this ? I don't do business with you.

Instead, she remembers him giving her all his numbers, including the office, Mar-a-Lago, the house in New York, everything.

After waiting a few days, she dialed in her numbers.

I was struck by his energy, she told the publication. He has an astonishing sense of vitality.

1999: Donald Trump's second divorce is finalized

Although Donald Trump and Maples, with whom he shares daughter Tiffany (born 1993), separated in 1997, their divorce was not finalized until 1999, almost six years after their marriage.

But they had been together longer than that.

Donald Trump and Maples began dating in the late 1980s, while he was still married to his first wife, Ivana Trump. His marriage to Ivana Trump lasted 15 years, during which time they had three children together, Donald Jr. (born 1977), Ivanka (born 1981), and Eric (born 1984).

His second divorce behind him, Donald Trump continues his budding relationship with the future Melania Trump.

2000: Donald and Melania Trump briefly break up

The first time Donald Trump tried his hand at presidential politics was in 2000, when he was trying to secure the Reform Party nomination. Earlier that year, he announced that he and Melania Knauss had separated.

Melania is an extraordinary woman, a wonderful woman, a wonderful woman, Donald Trump told New York Times Public Lives columnist James Barron in January. Barron described Trump as sounding as sincere as one could imagine, adding: “And we will miss her.

However, we didn't miss her for long. By February of that year, Trump had abandoned his Reform Party run and was again photographed with his girlfriend by his side.

2004: Donald Trump popped the questionDonald Trump and Melania Knauss attend the “Dangerous Liaisons: Fashion and Furniture in the 18th Century” gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. WWD/Penske Media via Getty Images

Donald Trump and his future wife attended fashion's biggest party, the annual Met Gala, together in 2004. But the sartorial celebration took a backseat to the couple that evening, as Donald Trump used the event as a lavish backdrop to propose.

It was a big surprise, the bride-to-be told the New York Post of their engagement at the time. We are very happy together.

2005: Donald and Melania Trump get marriedMelania Trump poses in her wedding dress. WWD/Penske Media via Getty Images

Less than a year after the proposal, in January 2005, the couple exchanged vows in a ceremony held in Palm Beach, Florida. The newlyweds and their guests then celebrated at the reception held at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate.

In an interview with Larry King shortly after the nuptials, Melania Trump described their wedding day as fantastic, adding: “We had a great time.

As for the honeymoon, the groom said they stayed at Mar-a-Lago for the entire duration.

Why are we going to leave our beautiful, beautiful home, called Mar-a-Lago, and venture to a tropical island where things aren't clean or anything? he said.

2006: Donald and Melania Trump welcome a baby boyDonald Trump, Melania and her son Baron received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles on January 16, 2007.Alamy

During that same conversation with King, Melania Trump said, “We want to have a family. We want to have a baby together.

Her husband agreed, emphasizing: “There is nothing like a good marriage, and nothing like having children.” I have four great children. If you have money, having children is good. Now I know Melania, I'm not going to worry about diapers. I'm not going to prepare the food. Honestly, I may never see the kids. No, she will be an incredible mother. I'll be a good father, but I'll do, you know, my own business.

On March 20, 2006, they got the chance to see what kind of parents they would be when they welcomed their only child together, son Barron.

2016: Donald and Melania Trump compliment each other in the middle of the presidential campaign

Before the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump told the crowd that his wife was ready for his victory.

She's an incredible mother, she loves her son, Barron, so much, he told supporters in Wisconsin in April 2016. And I have to say, she will make an incredible first lady.

And when she took the podium at that same event, she praised him, saying, “He's a hard worker.” He's nice. He has a big heart. He's tough. He's smart. He is a great communicator. He is an excellent negotiator. He tells the truth. He's a great leader. It's fair.

2017: Melania Trump and her son Barron move into the White House after Donald TrumpIn January 2017, President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama welcomed President-elect Donald Trump and his wife Melania to the White House in Washington, DC.Jim Watson /AFP via Getty Images

While the Trumps entered the White House side by side as former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama greeted them on Inauguration Day in January 2017, only the newly elected president remained in Washington , DC initially.

Melania Trump waited until June, when Barron's school year ended, before she and their son moved and moved into the White House.

2021: The Trumps leave the White House

Before Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States, the Trumps returned to their Palm Beach home, Mar-a-Lago, in January 2021.

2023: Donald Trump discusses the future of Melania Trump during the electoral campaign

In September 2023, when Donald Trump was campaigning for another chance at the presidency, he was asked if his wife would soon join him on that trail.

Very quickly, he told Kristen Welker of Meet The Press. When it's appropriate, but soon. She is a private person, a great person, very confident and she loves our country very much. She will be there at the appropriate time.

He then added: Honestly, I like to keep him away from that. It's so mean and so mean.

2024: Melania Trump speaks after Donald Trump's assassination attempt Donald Trump and Melania Trump after accepting the Republican presidential nomination at the Republican National Convention in July 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Somodevilla Chip / Getty Images

After Donald Trump was the subject of a failed assassination attempt in July 2024, just days before the Republican National Convention, she released a statement expressing her support.

When I saw that violent bullet strike my husband, Donald, I realized that my life, and Barron's, was about to change in a devastating way, she wrote in the statement after the incident . I am grateful to the courageous Secret Service Agents and law enforcement officers who risked their own lives to protect my husband.

On July 18, she made an appearance at the RNC, where Donald Trump thanked her for her letter.

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