Melania Trump’s closest friend in the public eye was long Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, a former Vogue public-relations executive and event-planner who became her confidante and advisor in the White House. But today, her relationship with Melania centers on someone far more precious—and much less spotlight-worthy: her older sister, Ines Knauss.
Stephanie Winston Wolkoff: From Best Friend to Estranged Trust
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How it began: Melania and Stephanie met around 2003, introduced through Vogue’s Anna Wintour as Melania entered New York’s society scene. Their bond quickly grew—Stephanie helped launch her into elite circles, even attending Melania’s wedding and baby showerInside the White House: Stephanie planned high-profile events like the Met Gala and eventually managed Donald Trump’s 2017 inauguration through her firm, WIS Media Partners. She served as an unpaid senior advisor in the East Wing
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The fallout: In 2018, in the wake of scrutiny about the inauguration spending—her firm was paid $26 million—Stephanie resigned, describing feeling “thrown under the bus” by the administration
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Aftermath: She published a tell-all memoir, Melania and Me, detailing their 15-year friendship. The book and accompanying tapes sparked controversy and a public rift between the women
The Real Confidante: Ines Knauss, Sister and Steady Anchor
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Though Stephanie was once publically recognized as Melania’s best friend, her true, enduring confidante is her sister, Ines Knauss, who is not a celebrity—you may not recognize her face, but she holds Melania’s deepest trustA deeply private but devoted bond:
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Ines lives in Slovenia, married to a businessman, and remains entirely out of the public eyeShe provides Melania with counsel on everything from wardrobe decisions to raising her son, Barron
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Despite geographic distance, they remain closely connected—through phone calls, social media, and visits Why she matters:
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Unlike Stephanie’s more transactional link, Ines embodies unwavering support, emotional intimacy, and genuine sisterly love—even when the rest of the world isn’t watching
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Final Thoughts in
Melania Trump’s most enduring, genuine friendship has always been with her older sister, Ines Knauss—a private individual who provides quiet strength, emotional grounding, and personal intimacy. Their relationship stands in contrast to the more public and ultimately fractured friendship with Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, who was once perched at Melania’s side in fashion circles and administration corridors.
Stephanie’s proximity during Melania’s transition into American high society and the White House brought them into the limelight, but that public closeness unraveled amid scandal and betrayal. Ines, by contrast, remained steadfast through every turbulence—offering an unglamorous, yet far more meaningful, closeness.
So while you may have recognized Stephanie’s face as Melania’s “familiar” friend—and seen her seated beside her at events—her true confidante is someone much more ordinary in the public realm, yet extraordinary in private devotion: her sister, Ines Knauss.
Melania Trump’s closest friend in the public eye was long Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, a former Vogue public-relations executive and event-planner who became her confidante and advisor in the White House. But today, her relationship with Melania centers on someone far more precious—and much less spotlight-worthy: her older sister, Ines Knauss.
Stephanie Winston Wolkoff: From Best Friend to Estranged Trust
-
How it began: Melania and Stephanie met around 2003, introduced through Vogue’s Anna Wintour as Melania entered New York’s society scene. Their bond quickly grew—Stephanie helped launch her into elite circles, even attending Melania’s wedding and baby shower
-
Inside the White House: Stephanie planned high-profile events like the Met Gala and eventually managed Donald Trump’s 2017 inauguration through her firm, WIS Media Partners. She served as an unpaid senior advisor in the East WingThe fallout: In 2018, in the wake of scrutiny about the inauguration spending—her firm was paid $26 million—Stephanie resigned, describing feeling “thrown under the bus” by the administration
-
Aftermath: She published a tell-all memoir, Melania and Me, detailing their 15-year friendship. The book and accompanying tapes sparked controversy and a public rift between the women
The Real Confidante: Ines Knauss, Sister and Steady Anchor
-
Though Stephanie was once publically recognized as Melania’s best friend, her true, enduring confidante is her sister, Ines Knauss, who is not a celebrity—you may not recognize her face, but she holds Melania’s deepest trust
-
A deeply private but devoted bond:
-
Ines lives in Slovenia, married to a businessman, and remains entirely out of the public eye
-
She provides Melania with counsel on everything from wardrobe decisions to raising her son, Barron
-
Despite geographic distance, they remain closely connected—through phone calls, social media, and visits
-
-
Why she matters:
-
Unlike Stephanie’s more transactional link, Ines embodies unwavering support, emotional intimacy, and genuine sisterly love—even when the rest of the world isn’t watching
-
Final Thoughts in
Melania Trump’s most enduring, genuine friendship has always been with her older sister, Ines Knauss—a private individual who provides quiet strength, emotional grounding, and personal intimacy. Their relationship stands in contrast to the more public and ultimately fractured friendship with Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, who was once perched at Melania’s side in fashion circles and administration corridors.
Stephanie’s proximity during Melania’s transition into American high society and the White House brought them into the limelight, but that public closeness unraveled amid scandal and betrayal. Ines, by contrast, remained steadfast through every turbulence—offering an unglamorous, yet far more meaningful, closeness.
So while you may have recognized Stephanie’s face as Melania’s “familiar” friend—and seen her seated beside her at events—her true confidante is someone much more ordinary in the public realm, yet extraordinary in private devotion: her sister, Ines Knauss.
