When Melania Trump became the First Lady in 2017, she showcased an impressive linguistic talent. The Slovenian-born former model is reportedly the only First Lady in U.S. history fluent in five languages – Slovenian, English, French, Serbian, and German. While previous First Ladies have been multilingual, Melania’s polyglot abilities remained unmatched.
Her multilingualism reflects both a zeal for learning and the opportunities afforded by her international upbringing and modeling career. Born in 1970 in Novo Mesto, Slovenia, Melania grew up speaking Slovenian. Slovenia’s strategic central European location meant exposure to other tongues from childhood. After high school, she briefly studied architecture at the University of Ljubljana, likely strengthening her grasp of regionally spoken languages like German and Serbian.
Melania supposedly came to the US on an Einstein Visa. She supposedly speaks several languages. She's lived in the US for decades. Yet, she still talks like that? https://t.co/dUf2gdbMfC
— Boomer, Simmering 'til Roevember/🌊/ 🌻 (@Bobbie08502969) May 14, 2024
Melania soon abandoned university to model full-time. Her blossoming 1990s career took her across multilingual fashion capitals like Paris and Milan, immersing her in environments ideal for honing her French. Her English rapidly improved through international travels and her 1996 move to New York City. In many ways, her multilingualism epitomizes the American immigrant story – born abroad yet achieving professional success through hard work while embracing aspects of a new culture, without abandoning her mother tongue.
However, Melania’s language skills also highlight privileges unavailable to most immigrants. Remarks like “I’m not only a beauty, I’m smart. I have brains. I’m intelligent” reveal pride in both her looks and intellect – two assets allowing the young Melanija Knavs to travel the world modeling before becoming Mrs. Trump. Her arrival at the White House intrigued the American public as she maintained an aura of mystery, dubbed the “Slovenian Sphinx” by author Maureen Dowd.
As First Lady, safeguarding privacy for herself and son Barron was paramount. She diligently pursued this over the years. Recently, Barron and 40 other Florida delegates were selected to officially nominate Donald Trump as the 2024 Republican presidential candidate. However, an announcement from Melania’s office declined, citing “prior commitments.” While Barron would be absent, his older siblings are scheduled to attend, keeping it a family affair.
Melania’s remarkable polyglot skills branded her an anomaly among First Ladies. Her linguistic journey exemplifies the opportunities of a multicultural upbringing and career, balanced with commitment to heritage. Yet it also reveals privileges enabling her to harness those opportunities fully. As an intriguing figure who zealously guarded privacy, she remained somewhat sphinx-like, her multifaceted story symbolizing the diverse tales woven into the American fabric.
