SEVNICA, Slovenia, Nov 7 (SUMMIT POST) – Residents of Sevnica, the Slovenian town where Melania Trump was born, welcomed news of her return to the White House on Wednesday, as local businesses and citizens reflected on her legacy.
“I’m glad. She is ‘ours’ after all,” said Irena Mavric, a 68-year-old pensioner, though she expressed reservations about her husband Donald Trump’s political views. “I do not share ‘the Americans’ choice,'” she added, referring to his controversial election victory.
Melania Trump’s return as First Lady follows her husband’s stunning win in the U.S. presidential election, where he defeated Kamala Harris to reclaim the presidency.
Sevnica’s mayor, Srecko Ocvirk, expressed pride in the town’s connection to the Trumps. “I believe she will once again fulfill her duties responsibly and with excellence, as she did during the first mandate,” he told AFP. He also highlighted the fact that the Trump’s son, Barron, speaks Slovenian, a point of local pride.
The town’s streets were busy on Wednesday with crowds gathering for an annual festival, though Trump’s victory remained the talk of the town. No special events were planned for the occasion, but the mayor hoped Melania Trump might visit Sevnica during her second term, something many had expected during her first term but never materialized.
The town of 4,500 people has long embraced its famous daughter, with local businesses launching products such as chocolates, slippers, and wine named after her. However, it is the “Melanija cake,” created in 2016 to honor her, that has proven to be the most enduring product. “The cake is as popular as it was when she first became First Lady,” said Tjasa Ana Strucelj, a 19-year-old employee at Julija bakery.
Born Melanija Knavs in 1970, Melania Trump left Sevnica in her late teens to pursue a modeling career. She moved to New York, where she married Donald Trump in 2005 and became a U.S. citizen a year later. Although she has rarely visited Slovenia since becoming First Lady, her parents still reside in Sevnica.
However, not all in Sevnica share the enthusiasm. “It means nothing to me,” said 18-year-old student Ida Gustin, who expressed little expectation that Melania would return to her hometown anytime soon.
Despite mixed reactions, Sevnica continues to regard Melania Trump as a role model, with many locals proud of her achievements on the world stage.