The First Lady recalled meeting Donald Trump for the first time in 1998, sharing that their paths first crossed at a New York City nightclub.
Melania Trump recalls meeting Donald Trump at a NYC nightclub
She first met Donald Trump at the famous Kit Kat Klub in New York City during Fashion Week in 1998.
At the time, Melania was a rising model who had recently moved from Slovenia to the United States to pursue her career in fashion.
Donald Trump, then 52, had recently separated from his second wife, Marla Maples, and was attending the club with another woman.
Speaking in a 2016 interview with Harper’s Bazaar, the First Lady recalled that she caught his attention in the VIP section of the nightclub. Despite being on a date, Trump approached her and asked for her phone number.
Melania declined, stating she wouldn’t give her number to a man already with a date, instead asking him to give his number.
“He wanted my number, but he was with a date, so of course I didn’t give it to him,” she told the outlet.
“I am not giving you my number; you give me yours, and I will call you.
“I wanted to see if it was a business number. What if it’s business?” She explained.
Melania Trump’s initial hesitation turned into curiosity after Trump’s unexpected response
Instead of offering a single contact, Trump reportedly gave Melania all his phone numbers—work, home, and mobile.
That gesture caught Melania’s attention. She admired his bold energy and described feeling struck by his “vitality” and “charisma.”
Though she didn’t call right away, she eventually reached out a few days later. The two then arranged their first date.
They met again at Trump’s Seven Springs estate in Bedford, New York, beginning a relationship that would later define both their lives.
Melania recalls Trump’s attraction to her
Melania recalls early attraction to Trump’s confidence and easygoing personality in her memoir
In her memoir *Melania: A Memoir*, published in October, she revisited the encounter with similar reflections and additional insights.
She wrote, “From the moment our conversation began, I was captivated by his charm and easygoing nature.”
She also shared in past interviews that she hadn’t known much about Trump’s public image at the time of their first meeting.
“I had my life, my world. I didn’t follow Donald Trump or what kind of life he had,” Melania said in a GQ interview.
Their relationship slowly developed, lasting several years before Trump proposed in 2004 at the prestigious Met Gala event.
Melania and Donald Trump’s relationship led to marriage
The couple married in 2005 at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, in a lavish ceremony attended by celebrities and politicians.
In 2006, Melania gave birth to their son, Barron Trump, marking her new role as both wife and mother.
Melania would eventually become First Lady of the United States in 2017 during Trump’s presidency.
Before Melania, Donald Trump had been married to Ivana Trump and later to Marla Maples.
With Ivana, he had three children: Donald Jr., Ivanka, and Eric. With Maples, he shares one daughter, Tiffany Trump.
Melania Trump’s first meeting with Donald Trump wasn’t love at first sight—but it was a moment that sparked a lasting connection.
“Their story is retold in her memoir and interviews. It offers a rare glimpse into the early moments of a now-famous union.”