A new documentary about Melania Trump is set to have its world premiere tonight in Washington, D.C. at the Kennedy Center, which was referred to as the “Trump-Kennedy Center” on official invitations.
Among those expected to be in attendance are the president and the first lady, along with Brett Ratner, the film’s director. Ratner is a controversial figure who has not worked in Hollywood since a string of sexual misconduct allegations in 2017, and was recently pictured in the Epstein files.
Also on the guest list are various media figures including Dr. Oz, Dr. Phil, Fox News host Maria Bartiromo, and former New York City mayor Eric Adams. A number of reality television stars have also been invited, such as Todd and Julie Chrisley. The multimillionaire couple were serving time in prison for fraud and tax evasion before they were pardoned by President Trump last year.
Much of the Trump administration are set to attend, including second lady Usha Vance, FBI Director Kash Patel, attorney general Pam Bondi, secretary of war Pete Hegseth, secretary of homeland security Kristi Noem, secretary of state Marco Rubio and secretary of health and human services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
Despite the lavish premiere event, the film is not expected to become a box office hit when it is released nationwide tomorrow. It has been predicted to earn between $1 million and $5 million on its opening weekend.
Follow below for live updates from tonight’s premiere…
If Brett Ratner succeeds in using Melania to revive his career, he’ll have Melania’s senior advisor Marc Beckman to thank.
Beckman and Ratner have known each other since the former’s advertising agency hired the director in 2007 for a provocative jeans campaign starring a topless Heidi Klum.
Beckman also negotiated the unusually high $40 million deal for the documentary with Amazon MGM, and recommended Ratner for the directing job.
“He understood how to bring this cinematic, stylized quality to the film that the First Lady envisioned,” Beckman recently told The Times.
Brett Ratner and Marc Beckman pictured together at ‘Melania’ premiere29 January 2026 23:53
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. among first arrivals for ‘Melania’ premiere
Kevin Perry29 January 2026 23:43
On social media site X, the celebrated horror author Stephen King has weighed in on Melania’s chances at the box office this weekend.
In response to a post from the Trump administration’s chief of protocol Monica Crowley claiming that we will all “learn soon” that President Trump won the 2020 election, King joked:
“Not only that, MELANIA will rule the box office.”
Kevin Perry29 January 2026 23:39
What will ‘Melania’ tell us about the Trump marriage?
In the trailer for Melania Trump’s co-produced, eponymous documentary, the first lady sits in a White House function room while her husband stands at a lectern and announces: “My proudest legacy will be that of peacemaker.” To which Melania responds, “Peacemaker and unifier.”
This breadcrumb was released in December, but as the film is finally released this Friday, barely a month later, Melania’s “peacemaking and unifying” narrative seems starkly out of step with what is unfolding in real time.
Kevin Perry29 January 2026 23:20
Campaign group says Brett Ratner’s ‘Melania’ film is an insult to Epstein survivors
The gender justice campaign group UltraViolet Action have condemned the release of Melania, pointing out that both Trump and the documentary’s director Brett Ratner appear in the Epstein files.
In a statement to The Independent, Elisa Batista, Campaign Director at UltraViolet Action said: “As millions of Americans and thousands of Epstein survivors continue to demand the full release of the Epstein files, Trump and his abuser buddies have instead chosen to release a vanity project wanted by no one.
“This documentary is the latest insult to survivors and a further stain on an administration that continuously bends over backwards to protect abusers.
“Just like when they refused to fully release the Epstein files by the legal deadline, the Trump administration is yet again attempting to undo the sacrifice of survivors who came forward to demand transparency and accountability.
“They’re banking on distraction and our disengagement, but we are here to say it won’t work. Survivors will continue to keep alive this campaign for accountability and transparency.”
Kevin Perry29 January 2026 22:49
CNN polling analyst predicts failure
Amazon reportedly spent $75 million to acquire and promote the new movie.
Carsen Holaday29 January 2026 22:30
Majority of ‘Melania’ crew asked to go uncredited
Two-thirds of the Melania documentary crew movie members asked to have their names removed from the credits, according to a new report.
Carsen Holaday29 January 2026 22:07
Expected guests at the ‘Melania’ premiere
After the White House’s private screening of Melania, the New York City premiere of the documentary is expected to welcome some guests besides family members and members of the Trump administration.
- Jordan Belfort
- A.R. Rahman
- Eric Adams
- Waka Flocka Flame
- Todd, Julie, Savannah and Chris Chrisley
- Dr. Phil
Carsen Holaday29 January 2026 21:46
Watch the trailer for ‘Melania’
Carsen Holaday29 January 2026 21:41
Where is the ‘Melania’ premiere being held?
On official invites for tonight’s Melania premiere, the venue is referred to as the “Trump-Kennedy Center”.
This new title for The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts has proved highly controversial, and legal observers have argued that only Congress can legally change the venue’s name.
Kevin Perry29 January 2026 20:57