At a Glance
- Melania Trump premieres a documentary that follows the 20 days leading to the 47th presidential inauguration.
- The film, produced by AmazonMGM Studios, cost $40 million and will debut in 1,600 theaters worldwide.
- A CNN poll from January 2025 shows mixed public opinion, with about 4 in 10 adults unsure of her.
- Why it matters: The release offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at a first-lady’s life and may influence public perception of the Trump administration.
Melania Trump is capping her first year back as first lady with the global release of a documentary she produced about the 20 days leading up to husband Donald Trump’s return to the White House.
Documentary Release
The film, titled “Melania,” will premiere Thursday at the Kennedy Center, where the Trumps are expected to walk the red carpet before the film opens in theaters worldwide Friday. They hosted a similar viewing at the White House last Saturday.
Melania said she got the idea for the documentary after her husband won the 2024 election and that it will give viewers a rare, behind-the-scenes look at her life.
> “My new film, ‘Melania,’ provides a window into an important period for America, the 47th presidential inauguration,” she said Wednesday before ringing the bell to open the New York Stock Exchange. “For the first time in history, people will witness the 20 days leading up to the inauguration, through the eyes of an incoming first lady.”
The documentary is nearly two hours long and shows how Melania juggles being a businessperson, a wife and a mother, as well as coordinating her family’s move back to the Executive Mansion.
> “Everyone wants to know. So here it is,” she says in the trailer.
A key scene in the trailer shows her inside the Capitol on Inauguration Day, waiting to be escorted into the Rotunda. She turns her head, looks directly into the camera that had been documenting her every move and says, “Here we go again.”
Production Details
The film was produced by AmazonMGM Studios and is said to have cost $40 million. It will stream exclusively on Amazon Prime Video after its theatrical run.
Amazon declined to comment on the financial arrangements. Filming began in December 2024, and the movie is the first project by director Brett Ratner since he was accused of sexual misconduct in the early days of the #MeToo reckoning.
Ratner’s lawyer has denied the allegations. He shares producer credits with Melania, her longtime senior adviser Marc Beckman, and Fernando Sulichin of New Element Media.
The film will open on approximately 1,600 screens worldwide on Friday, including about 1,500 in the United States. The premiere is to be simulcast in 21 theaters nationwide for invited guests on Thursday to build excitement for the launch.
Public Reception
A CNN poll from January 2025 found that about 4 in 10 adults had no opinion or had not heard of Melania. Roughly 3 in 10 adults saw her favorably while a similar share had an unfavorable opinion. Her standing among Republicans was higher, with about 7 in 10 saying they viewed her favorably, but around one-quarter did not have an opinion.
Experts said the film could help improve perceptions of her.
> “I think it’s an attempt, in a way, to really augment or tailor or really refine her image for the American public,” said Katherine Sibley, who teaches history at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. “She’s a mystery to the American people.”
Melania’s First-Year Activities
Melania, 55, said she is honored to execute the traditional duties of first lady, such as holding state dinners, hosting the annual Easter Egg Roll and decorating for Christmas. She also said she wants to leave her mark in other ways.
> “I want to impact Americans’ lives,” she said this week during an interview on Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends.”
She spent chunks of time away from Washington last year working on the documentary and was deeply involved in every aspect of its development, according to Marc Beckman.
Her top priorities include the well-being and safety of children. She used her influence to lobby Congress to pass the “Take It Down Act,” making it a federal crime to publish intimate images online without consent. The president signed the bill into law and had her sign it, too.
Her advocacy for foster children was enshrined in an executive order creating a “Fostering the Future” program, part of the “Be Best” child-focused initiative she launched in the first term.
She also wrote to Russian President Vladimir Putin last year for help reuniting children who had been separated from their families because of his war against Ukraine. She had her husband hand-deliver the letter when the leaders met in Alaska, and she later announced that eight children had been reunited with their families.
Melania accompanied the president on visits to disaster zones, where she helped console victims. She has taken a prominent role in the administration’s efforts on artificial intelligence and education and launched a global version of the foster-child program.
She told guests at a White House Christmas reception that she is working on a new legislative effort for 2026, but has not yet shared details.
Financial and Ethical Considerations
It was unclear how much money Melania Trump stands to earn or what her plans are for any film proceeds. Experts said it was unusual for a first lady to pursue a project of this kind from the White House – but not unusual for the Trumps.
> “As far as I know, she’s the first first lady to be paid a lot of money to have a documentary made about her and it is unprecedented in terms of the Trumps because they are always breaking precedent,” said Katherine Jellison, professor emerita of history at Ohio University.
Presidents and first ladies generally refrain from pursuing outside business ventures while in office to avoid potential conflicts of interest or raising ethical concerns.
Both Trumps participate in numerous business ventures, selling everything from watches, fragrances and Bibles for him to jewelry, Christmas ornaments and digital collectibles for her.
The movie also marks another link between the Trumps and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who has worked to improve a once-tense relationship with the president.
Key Takeaways
- Melania offers a rare glimpse into the first-lady’s life during a pivotal period in American history.
- The documentary’s release may influence public perception, especially given the mixed views revealed in recent polls.
- Melania’s first year in the second Trump term has focused on child welfare, education, and AI initiatives, alongside her new film project.
- The project’s $40 million budget and Amazon partnership underscore the Trumps’ continued involvement in high-profile business ventures.
Linley Sanders contributed to this report.
