Melania Trump’s highly anticipated documentary, simply titled ‘Melania,’ premiered worldwide on 30 January 2026. This release drew a whirlwind of reactions from critics and viewers alike. Directed by Brett Ratner (of Rush Hour and #MeToo fame) and released through Amazon MGM Studios, the film offers a glossy peek into the first lady’s life during the 20 days leading up to President Donald Trump’s second inauguration in January 2025. While ‘fans’ praise its stunning visuals, detractors call it a shallow vanity project.
The movie, which Melania executive-produced, clocks in at 1 hour and 44 minutes and features her narration alongside vivid imagery of high fashion, impeccable styling, and a captivating soundtrack including the Rolling Stones’ “Gimme Shelter.” CNN’s Betsy Klein described it “as a big, beautiful coffee table book of a film, filled with glossy images, high fashion, and a captivating soundtrack.” Yet reviewers note its lack of depth, with Melania seldom dropping her composed facade, even when discussing “emotional” moments. She’s shown throughout the film with full makeup, high heels, and not a single hair out of place, orchestrating everything from the score to marketing.
Financially, it’s a blockbuster deal. Amazon MGM reportedly paid $40 million for licensing, plus a $35 million marketing budget, marking an unprecedented payday for a first lady capitalizing on her White House access. The film touches on her immigrant roots, love for her mother, style choices, philanthropy, and family life, including security details of where her son Barron stays safely in the car during inauguration plans, referencing a past assassination attempt on her husband. Anecdotes cover the presidential transition, opulent New York & Florida lifestyles, meetings like the one with former Hamas hostage Aviva Siegel, and a blessing at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
The ‘Melania’ review has received mixed responses on social media platforms, particularly after the trailer’s December 2025 release. Supporters hailed it as “better than expected,” but critics roasted it mercilessly. “Straight trash,” one X user quipped, while others labeled it “so f—— weird” and “WTF is this bull—-?” “Melania is promoting a film about Melania, while Melania is still the First Lady. The grift never ends,” another wrote. “These people have no class, no modicum of humbleness.” Some felt it resembled a “mockumentary,” questioning its purpose amid political controversies like the administration’s handling of Minneapolis ICE shootings.
At the premiere, Melania clarified to a crowd of Cabinet members, influencers, and celebrities. “Some have called this a documentary. It is not.” Critics from outlets like CNN and The New York Times echoed that it’s more stage-managed promo than revelation, leaving audiences no closer to the real Melania. Filmed over just those frantic 20 days, it portrays her re-entry into public life as seamless and controlled.
For Trump’s supporters, it’s a stylish celebration; for skeptics, another layer of the family’s self-glorification. The debate continues on X and other platforms, proving that Melania has captivated, if not convinced, its audience just as intended.
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