On December 24, 2025, Donald Trump, aged 79, hosted a Christmas Eve dinner at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida. Attendees included First Lady Melania Trump, 55, and her father, Viktor Knavs, who is 81 years old. The estate has been valued at approximately $325 million as of 2023. Video footage from the event showed Knavs engaged in conversation with Melania, while Trump appeared detached from the interaction.

Critics on social media noted the apparent distance between Melania and Trump, with some users commenting on her focus on her father rather than her husband. Knavs and his late wife, Amalija, were originally from Slovenia and became naturalized U.S. citizens in 2018, despite Trump's previous hardline immigration policies.

Knavs has been a consistent presence in Trump's family life, attending significant events such as Trump's inauguration and family gatherings. He was notably the only family member present at the graduation of Barron Trump, the youngest son of Donald and Melania Trump, in May 2024.

Melania was largely absent from Trump's final campaign due to her mother's illness and subsequent passing in January 2024. Knavs has been described by acquaintances as having a strong personality, similar to Trump’s. In a 2016 interview, Trump acknowledged Knavs's success in Slovenia, despite the family's political history, which included Knavs's past membership in the Communist Party of Yugoslavia.

On the same day, Trump participated in a NORAD tradition of taking calls from children regarding Santa Claus, during which he made political remarks about Pennsylvania, claiming multiple victories in the state. He concluded the evening with a post on Truth Social, criticizing what he termed 'Radical Left Scum.'