Melania Trump spoke about her new documentary as it debuted in theaters amid reports of weak ticket sales. The first lady addressed the project while promoting the film, which follows her return to the White House ahead of Donald Trump’s second inauguration.
Melania Trump talks about her documentary
At the premiere of Melania, on January 29, 2026, First Lady Melania Trump struggled to summarize the film in three words. When asked by a reporter to do so, she initially replied, “I think the people will judge it for themselves,” before adding, “It’s beautiful, it’s emotional, it’s fashionable, it’s cinematic, and I’m very proud of it” (via The Daily Beast).
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos financed the $75 million film, which follows Melania during the 20 days leading up to Donald Trump’s second inauguration. Brett Ratner, known for Rush Hour and accused of sexual misconduct in 2017, directed the documentary.
Melania explained the film’s focus: “I want to show the audience my life, what it takes to be a first lady again and transition from private citizen back to the White House. What task I need to tackle, and they will see all—from my business, philanthropy, taking care of the family, as well as establishing the East Wing.” The East Wing, which she references, was replaced by a ballroom constructed by Donald Trump.
The 1-hour and 48-minute film features what Melania described as “some emotional scenes.” President Trump appeared with her at the event, wearing makeup over a bruised hand. Melania wore an all-black outfit. Notable attendees included Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and rapper Nicki Minaj. Only Donald Trump Jr. and his fiancée, Bettina Anderson, were present from her family.
Ahead of its January 30 release, the film faced online backlash. Users posted images of empty theaters and flooded Letterboxd with negative reviews. Forecasts from the National Research Group estimate a $5 million opening weekend across 1,500 theaters in the U.S. and Canada. Melania has announced a spinoff docuseries to debut in a few months.
Originally reported by Vritti Johar on Mandatory.com.
This story originally appeared on Realitytea
