A festive family gathering at Mar-a-Lago on Christmas Eve offered a surprisingly relatable glimpse into the personal life of former US President Donald Trump. While the 79-year-old occupied a seat of honour, the evening's dynamic saw him playing a role familiar to many during holiday reunions: the third wheel in an in-law conversation.
The Mar-a-Lago Moment That Went Viral
Circulating video footage captured a telling scene. First Lady Melania Trump was seen leaning in closely, fully engrossed in a chat with her father, Viktor Knavs. The Slovenian businessman appeared animated during the exchange. Meanwhile, President Trump sat rigidly beside them, his gaze scanning the room rather than focusing on the conversation. He seemed momentarily excluded before noticing the camera. His response was a stiff, performative fist pump directed at the lens.
The moment quickly ignited reactions online. Critics on social media platform X were swift to comment. One user humorously questioned the physical distance, asking, "Could she sit any farther away?" Another post, which amassed over 1.6 million views, claimed, "Trump seethes with rage & embarrassment that Melania only wants to talk to her dad." The scene underscored that even the title of President of the United States offers no immunity from the universal experience of being quietly sidelined when family members catch up.
The Knavs Family: From Slovenia to Mar-a-Lago
Viktor Knavs and his late wife, Amalija, were both involved in fashion and sales in their native Slovenia. They relocated to the United States following their daughter's marriage to Trump. The couple achieved a significant milestone in 2018 when they became US citizens through naturalisation.
Since then, Knavs has been a consistent presence in the Trump family's life. His appearances have ranged from the formal grandeur of Trump's presidential inauguration to intimate family occasions like Thanksgiving dinners. His closeness to the family was further highlighted in May 2024, when Barron Trump, the former President's youngest son, graduated from the elite Oxbridge Academy in West Palm Beach. Reports from The Palm Beach Post noted that Knavs was the sole family member in attendance besides Barron's parents.
Both Melania and Barron Trump are known to share a strong bond with the Slovenian patriarch. This bond was particularly evident earlier in January 2024, following the death of Amalija Knavs. Melania was largely absent from the final stretch of Trump's third presidential campaign to care for her ailing mother. Reports also indicated that Barron remained close to his grandfather throughout the funeral proceedings.
Past Portrayals and Presidential Fatigue
Back in 2016, Melania Trump's childhood friends described Viktor Knavs to The New York Times as a "larger-than-life personality"—a trait often associated with his son-in-law. It was also revealed that Knavs had been a member of the elite Communist Party in the former Yugoslavia. Trump's campaign at the time denied he was an "active member." Trump himself commented in a 2016 interview, "But he was pretty successful over there. It's a different kind of success than you have here. But he was successful."
The former President's subdued demeanour at the Christmas Eve dinner may also have been influenced by a packed schedule earlier that day. He had participated in the North American Aerospace Defense Command's (NORAD) Santa tracker tradition, taking calls from children across the US. In one exchange with a 5-year-old from Pennsylvania, Trump referenced his electoral wins, stating, "Pennsylvania is great. We won Pennsylvania, actually three times, but we won Pennsylvania. We won it in a landslide." Notably, the child was not born during Trump's first two presidential campaigns.
The viral video from Mar-a-Lago ultimately served as a humanising snapshot, reminding the public that behind the titles and political power, family gatherings can create universally awkward moments for anyone, even a former President.
