Melania Trump’s atypical, divisive documentary opens in theatres

WASHINGTON – “Melania,” the Amazon MGM-produced documentary following the typically guarded US first lady as she prepares for her husband Donald’s second inauguration, opened in theatres Saturday. The wide release came a day after a lavish premiere at the Kennedy Center, recently redubbed the Trump-Kennedy Center, where the 55-year-old former model’s outspoken husband called the film “glamorous, very glamorous.” At a showing in Washington, where a major winter storm has snarled transit, Savannah Harrison told mediamen she had purchased her ticket because she “was just very intrigued to see behind the scenes.” Unlike most reviewers in US media, she was delighted by the film. “In contrast of what we see from President Trump every day, it’s just another aspect that it humanizes them a little bit more,” she said, admitting that she went into the film with a positive view of the first lady. In Los Angeles, where voters opted against Trump 2-to-1 in 2024, a billboard for the documentary was defaced to make it appear as if the first lady was defecating on an American flag. The 1-hour 44-minute film follows the normally guarded Melania during the 20 days leading up to the January 20, 2025 inauguration. After its theatrical release, it will be available for streaming on Prime Video. From the presidential couple’s Florida estate to Trump Tower in New York and the White House, the first lady goes from appointment to appointment, preparing her outfits for Inauguration Day and deciding on decor for their return to Washington. There are no sensational revelations, though she does discuss the deep impact of her mother’s death. She also says her favorite singer is Michael Jackson. Surprise guests also make appearances, including French first lady Brigitte Macron, who holds a video call with her incoming American counterpart.





