Connect with us

News

‘How Melania Trump ruined Christmas’ – 10 fascinating facts about U.S. First Lady

Published

on

'How Melania Trump ruined Christmas' - 10 fascinating facts about U.S. First Lady

Had she not become First Lady, Melania Trump might have graced the silver screen as a Bond girl – with her supermodel figure, alluring foreign accent, and head-to-toe couture. While her husband transformed from a real estate tycoon and reality TV star to the world’s most powerful man, the woman beside him has her own fascinating story. As she prepares to potentially make her elegant return to the White House in Manolo Blahniks, here are some revealing facts about Melania Trump.

Father, mother, and half-brother
The 54-year-old wife of the comeback-seeking president was born Melanija Knavs in 1970 in Novo Mesto, Slovenia (then part of Yugoslavia), to a father who started as a driver before becoming a car salesman and a mother who was a fashion designer. She has one sister and a half-brother from her father’s previous relationship, whom, according to reports, she never met as their father refused to acknowledge him as his son.

As a child, she participated in fashion shows and showed talent in sewing and design. Beyond her artistic abilities, she also demonstrated impressive academic skills and served as her school’s treasurer.

Modeling career and nude photoshoots
With her striking features, sculpted figure, and impressive height of 5’11” – like his mother, her son Barron stands tall at 6’9″ – it was almost inevitable that Melania would try modeling. She began at age 16, leading to a contract with a modeling agency and subsequently a career in Europe and the USA that included shoots for prestigious fashion magazines such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Sports Illustrated.

During her career, she appeared nude in a series of photos for GQ and Max magazines, and in what seemed like a prophetic shoot, she posed as First Lady in a 1993 fashion editorial.

Early in her modeling career, she won a beauty contest where the prize was a movie role, but she declined it after being sexually harassed by a producer. During this period, to advance her international modeling career, she changed her surname to Knauss.

The incomplete degree and language skills
Despite claims of holding an architecture degree from the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia, journalists discovered in 2016 that she dropped out after her first year of design and architecture studies. Plot twist: references to her degree were swiftly removed from her official White House biography.

Reports claimed she spoke no fewer than six languages: Slovenian, English, French, Serbian, Italian, and German. However, according to The Washington Post journalist Mary Jordan’s book, people who crossed paths with her over the years alleged that she wasn’t fluent in most of them, and her knowledge was limited to basic words.

Advertisement

First meeting with Trump
In 1998, she first met Trump at a party – at the time he was “just” a wealthy real estate magnate – and the couple began dating while he was in the midst of divorcing his second wife, Marla Maples. They got engaged in 2004 and married in 2005; marriage number three for him, number one (and still counting) for her.

In 2006, their son Barron William Trump was born. While Melania picked his middle name, Trump chose Barron – the same name he’d used as his own alias when trying to keep his identity under wraps.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump kisses his wife Melania as she introduces him at a campaign rally on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016, in Wilmington, N.C. Photo credit: AP /John Bazemore

The million-dollar wedding
Her 2005 wedding featured a Dior gown designed by John Galliano (which graced the cover of Vogue) with an estimated cost exceeding $200,000, taking 550 hours to create, adorned with 1,500 crystals, incorporating 92 yards of premium satin, and a 16-foot veil. It weighed over 44 pounds.

After the ceremony, she changed into a lighter dress by designer Vera Wang. She forwent a bouquet, instead holding ancient family prayer beads. She walked down the aisle to an opera soprano’s rendition of “Ave Maria.” The wedding ring was valued at over $1.5 million, with reports indicating the diamond was 12 carats.

The event was split into two parts: first, a ceremony at the Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea in Palm Beach, Florida, followed by an elaborate reception at Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s resort estate, in a room costing tens of millions to construct, inspired by Louis XIV and decorated with 10,000 flowers. Among the wedding guests were Bill and Hillary Clinton, Heidi Klum, Shaquille O’Neal, Simon Cowell, Barbara Walters, and P Diddy.

Guests enjoyed a Michelin-style menu featuring caviar, shrimp, lobsters, steaks, and hundreds of bottles of premium Cristal champagne. The wedding cake stood at five feet tall, weighed 200 pounds, and was decorated with 3,000 sugar flowers soaked in Grand Marnier cream, though guests never tasted it as it remained uncut. Instead, they enjoyed an extensive dessert menu and were sent home with individual chocolate truffle cakes. A 46-piece orchestra entertained guests while first-tier singers including Elton John, Tony Bennett, Billy Joel, and Paul Anka took turns performing.

Advertisement

Business ventures and plagiarism scandal
Before becoming First Lady, Melania launched a jewelry collection on QVC (the American shopping channel) and a caviar skincare line. Both ventures disappeared almost as quickly as they appeared. Parts of her 2016 Republican Convention speech were copied from Michelle Obama’s 2008 Democratic Convention speech. Her team called it “common words and values.” The internet called it copy-paste.

How she ruined Christmas
As First Lady, she launched a campaign called “Be Best” focusing on children’s welfare, cyberbullying, and opioid addiction, with critics pointing out the irony of her anti-cyberbullying stance given her husband’s Twitter habits.

In 2018, her use of red Christmas trees sparked criticism as many compared them to horror movie scenes. Melania stood by her choices, calling them “avant-garde.” In 2020, she became embroiled in another Christmas controversy when leaked recordings revealed her saying “Who gives a f— about Christmas stuff?” during a discussion about her First Lady duties.

An exceptional model?
Melania received her EB-1 visa (also known as the “Einstein visa” or “extraordinary ability” visa) in 2001, typically reserved for individuals with “extraordinary ability and skills” in science, technology, education, engineering, mathematics, and other fields, often including Nobel Prize winners or outstanding athletes.

The move raised many eyebrows as Melania was then a model, not typically considered an “extraordinary ability” category. In 2006, she became a US citizen, making her the first naturalized First Lady in American history.

The controversial jacket, tennis pavilion renovations, and kidney tumor
In 2018, she sparked outrage when she visited migrant children at a Texas detention center wearing a jacket emblazoned with the words “I really don’t care, do U?” In 2020, she renovated the White House tennis pavilion during the COVID-19 pandemic, drawing criticism for the timing. During protests following George Floyd’s death, she wore a black dress, generating theories about the message she was trying to convey. In 2018, she underwent surgery to remove a benign growth from one of her kidneys.

The prenup
Before her wedding, Melania signed an extensive prenuptial agreement that, according to reports, was updated after Barron’s birth to secure his inheritance rights. The agreement ensured Melania would remain “financially comfortable” regardless of future family tensions.

In 2017, she delayed her and Barron’s move to the White House after Trump’s presidential election, claiming she wanted to stay in New York with Barron until his school year ended, but according to reports, there was another reason: according to The Washington Post journalist Mary Jordan’s book, Melania was in the midst of renegotiating her prenuptial agreement with Trump, conditioning the move on ensuring Barron’s future status would be equal to his other children.

www.israelhayom.com

Advertisement

Advertisement

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

2027: Cameroon Prophet Reveals Who Will Win Nigeria’s Presidential Election

Published

on

Cameroon Prophet Reveals Who Will Win Nigeria's Presidential Election

Prophet Boris Jedidiah, a prominent cleric from Cameroon, has made a significant announcement regarding the upcoming 2027 presidential election in Nigeria.

He claims that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s victory is assured by divine intervention.

In a video that has gained widespread attention on his YouTube channel, the prophet asserted that he received a revelation from God indicating that no political opposition would be able to prevent Tinubu’s re-election. This statement has stirred considerable interest and discussion in political circles.

According to Jedidiah, “During the 2027 Nigerian presidential election, a governor who is presently governing a state of Nigeria is going to stand as a presidential candidate. But The Lord said to me that this governor is not going to become the president of Nigeria. His Excellency, Bola Tinubu, is going to be declared the president of Nigeria during the 2027 Nigerian presidential election.”

He further emphasized that any Nigerian governor or politician who rises against President Tinubu’s mandate would be acting against God’s divine purpose for the nation.

The prophecy has since attracted wide reactions on social media, with supporters of the president welcoming the message, while others questioned the growing trend of foreign clerics predicting Nigeria’s political future.

Nigeria’s next general elections, which will include the presidential and National Assembly polls, are scheduled for 2027.

Continue Reading

News

Delta EXCO Approves 2026 Budget Framework, Judges’ Quarters Construction

Published

on

Delta EXCO Approves 2026 Budget Framework, Judges’ Quarters Construction

The Delta State Executive Council (EXCO), Thursday approved key fiscal documents setting the stage for the preparation of the 2026 Appropriation Bill, alongside the construction of 10 new residential quarters for Judges across the state.

The State Commissioner for Economic Planning, Mr. Sonny Ekedayen, disclosed this while briefing journalists at the end of the EXCO meeting presided over by the Deputy Governor, Sir Monday Onyeme, in Asaba.

Ekedayen said the Council considered and approved the economic fiscal update, fiscal policy strategy, and the budget policy statement, critical documents required by law and fundamental to the preparation of the 2026 budget.

He explained that; “before the commencement of any budget process, there must be a set of assumptions, and it is those assumptions that the Executive Council considered and approved today.

“The document will now be transmitted to the State House of Assembly for the enactment of the necessary laws to enable us commence the actual budget preparation.”

According to him, the assumptions for the 2026 fiscal year are aligned with national parameters agreed upon by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) to ensure uniformity across states.

“This uniform basis will make it easier to integrate the budgets of sub-national governments into a national framework,” Ekedayen said.

He listed the key macroeconomic assumptions as follows: – Oil production: 1.7 million barrels per day; exchange rate: ₦1,500 to $1; GDP growth rate: 3.4%; Inflation rate: 23%.

He said these figures would guide the State’s Ministry of Economic Planning in designing the 2026 budget, which will subsequently pass through EXCO approval before being presented to the State House of Assembly.

“Today’s approval signals the beginning of the new budget season for Delta State,” he added.

Also briefing journalists, the State Commissioner for Housing, Hon. Godknows Angele, said EXCO approved the construction of 10 new judges’ quarters in Asaba, Warri, and Osubi as part of the administration’s commitment to the welfare of the judiciary.

“His Excellency, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, believes in balancing all arms of government — the executive, legislature, and judiciary,” Angele said.

Angele said: “We already have commissioners’ and legislative quarters in Asaba. It was therefore necessary to provide befitting accommodation for our Judges.”

He explained that the project, approved as the first phase, will feature four-bedroom duplexes for 10 judges, five in Asaba and five in Warri/Osubi and designed for comfort and security within designated judicial residential clusters.

“This is a new construction and not renovation. It is part of our administration’s effort to ensure the judiciary functions in a conducive and secure environment,” Angele added.

Continue Reading

News

Delta Exco Approves N10bn For Pensioners, Reviews Key Infrastructure Contracts

Published

on

Delta EXCO Approves 2026 Budget Framework, Judges’ Quarters Construction

The Delta State Executive Council (EXCO) approved the disbursement of ₦10 billion on Thursday to offset the pension liabilities inherited from previous administrations in the state.

The meeting, which was presided over by the Deputy Governor, Sir Monday Onyeme, was held at Government House, Asaba, on the directive of the Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, who is on official engagement outside the state.

Briefing journalists at the end of the meeting, the Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, flanked by his counterparts for Economic Planning, Mr. Sonny Ekedayen; Housing, Hon. Godknows Angele; and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sir Festus Ahon, said the EXCO deliberated on several life-impacting memos cutting across social investment, infrastructure, and governance reforms.

Aniagwu disclosed that the ₦10 billion disbursement was in fulfillment of Governor Oborevwori’s promise to ease the hardship of pensioners and to detray inherited pension liabilities.

“At today’s meeting, we approved the disbursement of ₦10 billion to begin the process of defraying pension arrears. A committee has been set up to ensure the funds get to deserving beneficiaries without bias or interference,” Aniagwu said.

He emphasized that the move was part of the administration’s broader commitment to improving the welfare of citizens under the MORE Agenda and making life more livable for senior citizens who had served the state diligently.

Aniagwu further revealed that the EXCO reviewed timelines for key infrastructure projects, including two major flyovers in Agbor (Uromi Junction) and Ughelli (Otovwodo Junction), being handled by Julius Berger Nigeria Plc.

He said: “The Agbor flyover, initially scheduled for completion in 24 months, has been revised to 18 months, while the Ughelli flyover has been reduced from 24 to 14 months.

“These adjustments are aimed at delivering the projects faster to ease movement and boost economic activities”.

He added that the council also considered the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) presented by the Commissioner for Economic Planning, as part of preparations for the 2026 budget, which will soon be presented to the Delta State House of Assembly.

He disclosed that EXCO also terminated some non-performing contracts across the state to ensure efficient project delivery and value for money.

“Some contractors have failed to meet performance expectations, and since the government promptly mobilizes and pays for certified work, we cannot allow delays or negligence,” he stated.

One of the affected projects, he said, is the Igbodo Junction–Ubulu–Uku to Ogwashi-Uku Road, which will be re-examined and re-awarded to a competent contractor in line with the governor’s resolve to open up communities across the 25 local government areas.

Aniagwu also announced the council’s approval for the formal presentation of the Staff of Office to His Royal Majesty, Engr. Mike Oghenovo Orugbo, Okporua I, the Ovie of Udu Kingdom, following his installation by the kingmakers of the kingdom.

The Commissioner reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to people-oriented governance, transparency, and accelerated infrastructural renewal across the state.

“Governor Oborevwori has made it clear that projects must deliver value to Deltans. Where contractors fail, we will not hesitate to act in the interest of our people,” Aniagwu added.

Aniagwu gave assurances that Governor Oborevwori’s administration will continue to prioritize human welfare, infrastructural development, and institutional reforms aimed at sustainable growth and prosperity for all Deltans.

Continue Reading

News

New INEC Chairman Emerges As President Tinubu Set To Announce Fresh Appointment

Published

on

President Bola Tinubu, barring any last-minute change, is expected to present his nominee for the post of Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to the National Council of State today at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, according to Naija News.

This comes after the exit of Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who handed over to the most senior national commissioner, Dame May Agbamuche-Mbu, in an acting capacity on Tuesday, October 7, 2025.

According to sources within the presidency who spoke with Vanguard, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan has emerged as the front-runner to succeed Yakubu and would be announced after the Council of State has been briefed.

“He came highly recommended and has already undergone security screening,” a top official told Vanguard.

Amupitan, a Professor of Law and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) at the University of Jos, is said to be Tinubu’s preferred choice among the three names pencilled down for the job.

Born on April 25, 1967, in Aiyetoro-Gbede, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State, Amupitan is a seasoned legal scholar.

He specialises in Law of Evidence, Corporate Governance, Corporate Law, and Privatisation Law, with decades of teaching and administrative experience at the University of Jos.

If confirmed, Tinubu’s swift action will mark a departure from the style of his predecessor, late President Muhammadu Buhari, who allowed the commission to remain in limbo.

During Buhari’s tenure, the mandatory four-man quorum at INEC was not constituted until four months later, creating operational delays.

Naija News understands that today’s Council of State session is expected to seal the choice of Yakubu’s successor and set the tone for Nigeria’s next electoral cycle.

Naija News

 

Continue Reading

News

Why Court Ordered Arrest Of Ex-INEC Chairman Yakubu

Published

on

Mahmood Yakubu

A Federal High Court in Osogbo, Osun State, has issued an order for the arrest of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for contempt of court.

This order was announced by Justice Funmilola Demi-Ajayi just hours after Yakubu vacated his position.

The court directed the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to apprehend Yakubu and initiate committal proceedings within seven days. Earlier that day, Yakubu officially transferred leadership of INEC to National Commissioner Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, who will serve as Acting Chairman until a new substantive head is appointed. The handover took place during a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) at INEC headquarters in Abuja.

The arrest order follows a lingering dispute between the commission and the Action Alliance (AA) party over INEC’s alleged refusal to comply with a previous court judgment.

In suit number FHC/OS/CS/194/2024, filed by the party, the court had ordered INEC to upload the name of Adekunle Rufai Omoaje as the National Chairman of AA, along with members of its National Executive Committee (NEC), on its official portal.

The October 2023 elective convention that produced Omoaje and other NEC members was ruled valid by the court, which affirmed it was properly monitored and supervised by INEC officials in line with the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act.

Although INEC claimed to have complied with the judgment, Omoaje’s name has remained absent from the commission’s website as of press time, even though the names of state chairmen and other NEC members have been published. The court described the continued omission as a violation of its order.

A certified copy of the latest ruling, dated October 7, 2025, and signed by O.M. Kilani on behalf of the Court Registrar, stated:

“It is hereby ordered that the Inspector General of Police shall cause the arrest and shall charge the defendant/judgment debtors for contempt and committal proceedings within seven days of this ruling.”

Continue Reading

News

FULL LIST: UI Emerges Nigeria’s Best Varsity For 2026

Published

on

FULL LIST: UI Emerges Nigeria’s Best Varsity For 2026

University of Ibadan, Oyo State, has been ranked Nigeria’s best university in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026, as reported by PUNCH Online.

The ranking, published on THE’s website on Thursday, placed the Ibadan-based federal university between 801 and 1,000 globally and ahead of other leading Nigerian universities, a spot it last held in 2023.

The survey surveyed 2,191 institutions from 115 countries and assessed them based on 18 performance indicators across five key areas: teaching, research environment, research quality, industry, and international outlook.

UI came from fourth position in 2025 to emerge as Nigeria’s best in the 2026 ranking. It dethroned Covenant University, which was the best university in 2024 and 2025.

Following UI are the University of Lagos, Bayero University, and CU, ranked second, third, and fourth in Nigeria, respectively.

The 2026 list reflected a shift in the global higher education landscape, with more than 174.9 million citations from 18.7 million research publications analysed and survey responses from over 108,000 scholars collected globally.

THE rankings also show the strength of individual institutions. UNILAG is ranked highest in quality research, scoring 66.7.

BUK is ranked as the best Nigerian university in terms of international outlook, while Covenant has the highest industry score, indicating its top connection to industries.

Out of 51 Nigerian institutions featured in THE 2026 ranking, only UI and UNILAG fall between 801–1000; BUK, CU, and Landmark University fall between 1001–1200; while five schools—Ahmadu Bello University, Federal University of Technology, Minna, University of Ilorin, University of Jos, University of Nigeria—stand globally between 1201–1500.

Also, 14 Nigerian universities were categorised above 1501, and 27 institutions were not ranked.

See the full list

University of Ibadan (801–1000)
University of Lagos (801–1000)
Bayero University (1001–1200)
Covenant University (1001–1200)
Landmark University (1001–1200)
Ahmadu Bello University (1201–1500)
Federal University of Technology, Minna (1201–1500)
University of Ilorin (1201–1500)
University of Jos (1201–1500)
University of Nigeria, Nsukka (1201–1500)
Babcock University (1501+)
Delta State University, Abraka (1501+)
Ekiti State University (1501+)
Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (1501+)
Federal University of Technology, Akure (1501+)
Federal University of Technology, Owerri (1501+)
Federal University Oye-Ekiti (1501+)
Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (1501+)
Lagos State University (1501+)
Nnamdi Azikiwe University (1501+)
Obafemi Awolowo University (1501+)
University of Benin (1501+)
University of Calabar (1501+)
University of Port Harcourt (1501+)
Admiralty University of Nigeria
Akwa Ibom State University
Al-Hikmah University
Augustine University
Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere-Ekiti
Bauchi State University, Gadau
Bayelsa Medical University
Baze University
Bells University of Technology
Bowen University
Evangel University, Akaeze
Federal University of Lafia
Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun
Fountain University
Godfrey Okoye University
Igbinedion University Okada
Kaduna State University
Lagos State University of Education
Lagos State University of Science and Technology
Lead City University
Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria
Nasarawa State University, Keffi
Redeemer’s University
Rivers State University
Thomas Adewumi University
University of Cross River State
University of Delta

According to PUNCH Online, THE is a globally recognised independent organisation that provides data and analysis for the higher education sector, including the widely adopted World University Rankings.

While data submission is open to all universities, institutions are only ranked in the World University Rankings 2026 if they teach undergraduates, produce research across a range of subjects and have published at least 1,000 research publications between 2020 and 2024, with a minimum of 100 a year.

 

Continue Reading

Most Visited