Denis Cigelnjak, born in Slovenia on May 1, 1965, is Melania Trump’s half-brother. His quiet existence contrasts with Melania’s high-profile work, revealing the Trump family’s less-public side. Based on facts known as of February 28, 2025, this note discusses his early life, the paternity scandal involving his father, Viktor Knavs, his present location, and his relationship with the Trump family.

Early Life and Paternity Controversy

Complex familial circumstances impacted Denis Cigelnjak’s childhood. After dating Denis’s mother, Marija Cigelnjak, Viktor Knavs married Amalija Knavs and produced Melania (born Melanija Knavs in 1970) and Ines Knauss. In September 1964, Marija notified Viktor of her pregnancy, prompting a marriage proposal that rapidly became an abortion demand because Viktor claimed the kid was not his. Denis was born in May 1965, and Marija sued for child support. Viktor was found to be the father and compelled to pay child support until Denis was 18, despite having no contact with him. As reported in Melania Trump – Wikipedia and The fatherhood Scandal, Viktor denied fatherhood despite DNA proof, highlighting family tensions. Nicki Swift says Melania Trump’s father can’t escape.

According to Melania Trump’s hidden brother, who lives in rural Slovenia and never met Donald, Denis was raised by his mother and grandpa, who helped when Viktor neglected child maintenance payments. His lack of relationship with his father set the foundation for his eventual life of solitude and alienation from the Trump family.

Life in Hrastnik: A Private Existence

Denis has spent most of his life in Hrastnik, a former mining town one hour from Ljubljana. According to the Daily Mail, he lived in a modest flat with his partner, Maja, and their eight-year-old daughter, Mimi, in 2016. He works as an electrician, portraying a simple, working-class existence distant from Trump’s grandeur. Denis Cigelnjak: The Half-Brother of Melania Trump – Clark’s Magazine claims that he has kept a low profile, with little public information about his personal life outside his home and family. He appears to favor isolation, unlike Melania’s prominent career as a model and First Lady.

Relationship with the Trump Family: A Distant Connection

Denis has never met his father, Viktor Knavs, or half-sisters Melania Trump and Ines Knauss. In 2016, during Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, Julia Ioffe revealed Denis’s existence in a GQ feature, sparking public attention in their lack of communication. Denis, then 51 (based on his 1965 birth year, correcting earlier reports of age 50 in 2016), said, “When the dust settles following the US presidential election, I would like to go out with my father, my two sisters for a drink or a pizza,” according to Melania Trump’s ‘secret’ brother reveals joy at Donald Trump’s election victory . The Week said that Melania Trump left a hidden history in Slovenia when she married Donald Trump, although there is no evidence of this encounter. She has also avoided mentioning Denis publicly, citing her father’s privacy.

Melania has diverse responses to Denis questions. After being given court records, she admitted knowing about the tale for years, saying, “My father is a private individual. Please protect his privacy.” How Melania Trump Responded When Asked About Her Alleged Half-Brother by a GQ Reporter | Inquisitr News describes their complicated relationship, which has no formal link.

Current Status and Public Perception

As of February 28, 2025, Denis remains out of the public eye, with no recent news suggesting changes in his relationship with the Trump family. His life in Hrastnik continues to be private, with reports indicating he has shown gratitude for Melania’s accomplishments from a distance. The lack of social media presence or further public statements underscores his preference for a low profile, contrasting with the media attention on Melania during her tenure as First Lady and beyond.