Born in Slovenia
Gained U.S. Citizenship After Marrying Trump
Melania Trump, the spouse of former U.S. President Donald Trump, has been awarded the "Patriot of the Year Award" presented by Fox Nation.
Melania Trump attended the "Patriot of the Year Award" ceremony held on the 6th (local time) at the Greenvale Tilles Performing Arts Center in New York, USA, and delivered her acceptance speech. Photo by AFP Yonhap News
According to the White House on November 7 (local time), Melania Trump attended the "Patriot of the Year Award" ceremony held the previous day at the Greenvale Tilles Performing Arts Center in New York. This award, given by Fox Nation-a subsidiary of the conservative news channel Fox News responsible for its streaming service-honors heroes and patriots who have demonstrated unwavering commitment to the values that make the United States great. Donald Trump received the "Patriot of the Year Award" as President-elect in December 2024, meaning the couple has now received the same award in consecutive years.
Melania Trump took the stage at the ceremony after being introduced by Sean Hannity, the event host and a prominent Fox News anchor. Hannity described Melania Trump as "someone who quietly yet perfectly exemplifies the courage that makes this country great, and who is redefining the role of First Lady of the United States."
Melania Trump expressed her gratitude to the audience and television viewers, stating, "Without you, I would not be standing here today." She specifically referenced the so-called "Founding Fathers," such as Thomas Jefferson, who led the American Revolution against the tyranny of the British king during the colonial era. Melania Trump emphasized, "Chasing seemingly impossible dreams is the American way," adding, "Innovation never happens by accident; it is already embedded in our American DNA. Innovation itself is a form of patriotism."
Melania Trump was born in 1970 in Slovenia, located in the Balkan Peninsula of Eastern Europe. She first met Donald Trump in 1998 at a fashion show in New York. The couple married in January 2005, and their son Barron Trump was born in 2006. Notably, Melania Trump obtained U.S. permanent residency in 2001 but only became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2006, shortly after marrying Donald Trump. This means she has lived as an American citizen for less than 20 years. Aware of this, Melania Trump remarked during her acceptance speech, "Trust me," and added, "I know a little bit about that uniquely American habit of taking on challenges," drawing applause from the audience.
Meanwhile, at the 2025 Fox Nation awards ceremony, a new award was introduced to honor the late Charlie Kirk, a prominent American conservative activist.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
