Melania Knauss Trump

6/17/2025

Melania and Star Cookies

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First Ladies - 2000 to 2025

Melania Knauss Trump*

President Donald J. Trump*

First Lady Melania and President Donald Trump
First Lady - 2017– 2021 AND January 20, 2025 to present
Quotes from Melania -

"You cannot change a person. Let them be. Let them be the way they are."
"As citizens of this great nation, it is kindness, love, and compassion for each other that will bring us together – and keep us together."

Factoids -

Melania Trump is only the second First Lady born outside of the United States and the first to become a naturalized citizen.
As of August 2024, Melania Trump's net worth is an estimated $50 million from her modeling, her businesses, and her book.

Bio -

Melania Knauss was born in Yugoslavia (now Slovenia). Her mother was a clothing designer, and Melania grew up modeling clothing collections. She studied design , then pursued an international modeling career, coming to the U.S. in the 1990s. Melania and Donald Trump met in New York. They married in 2005 at a lavish and celebrity-filled wedding. The couple have one son, Barron, and Donald has four grown children by two former wives.
Melania didn’t move into the White House for the first few months of Donald's Presidency, staying in New York to finish Barron's school year. Once the First Lady moved in, she began several campaigns. "Be Best", centered on supporting the social and emotional well-being of young people. Melania also was a Goodwill Ambassador for the American Red Cross and Chairwoman for the American Heart Association. During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Melania promoted safety and health though social media.
Melania also continued with the on-going White House restoration, including renovations to the Red Room, Diplomatic Reception Room, and Yellow Oval Room.
President Trump lost his 2021 bid for re-election, but won the Presidency again in 2024. In 2024, Mrs. Trump released her memoir, Melania, which became number one on the New York Times best sellers list. The Trumps returned to the White House in January 2025, with Melania continuing her "Be Best" initiatives.

About Donald: President Donald Trump, a businessman and reality TV star, won the presidency with an "America First" agenda. His administration enacted major tax cuts, rolled back regulations, and appointed three Supreme Court Justices. The Covid-19 Pandemic was a major economic and health issue during his Presidency. He was impeached twice by the House—first over Ukraine and later for inciting the Capitol riot—but acquitted both times by the Senate. His presidency culminated in his refusal to concede the 2020 election. In 2024, President Trump was elected for a second term.

Star Cookies

In 1992, Family Circle magazine began hosting a First Lady "bake-off" with First Ladies or wives of presidential candidates sharing their best cookie recipe. In 2016, Hillary Clinton broke the rules a bit by being the actual candidate to compete against Melania Trump and her Star Cookies. Melanie lost the cookie contest, but became First Lady.

Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
6 tablespoons butter, softened to room temperature
1 cup powdered sugar
2 egg yolks
1 egg white
2 tablespoons sour cream

Steps

In a bowl, whisk together flour and baking soda; set aside.
In mixing bowl, mix together softened butter and powdered sugar until well combined.
Beat in egg yolks, egg white, and sour cream until mixture is smooth.
Mix in the flour mixture until the dough separates from sides of bowl just a bit - don't over-beat. Divide dough into 2 patties, wrap in plastic wrap and chill in refrigerator for about an hour.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare cookie sheet by greasing or lining with parchment paper.
Roll out the dough patties on a floured surface to 1/8-inch thick.
Use a 2 & 1/2-inch star cookie cutter to cut out cookie dough. Place on prepared cookie sheets.
Bake 10 minutes or until light golden. Leave on cookie sheet about 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Portrait Credits*
Melania Trump - Inauguration Ball - U.S. Army Sgt. Kalie Jones, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Donald Trump - Photographer, Shealeah Craighead, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons