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‘Melania’ Documentary Gets White House Preview Ahead of Jan. 30 Release

A White House preview drew criticism over timing and access during an expansive marketing push.

Overview

  • First Lady Melania Trump hosted a private East Room screening for about 70 guests, including Tim Cook, Andy Jassy, Queen Rania, and Mike Tyson, with the White House press pool not admitted.
  • Amazon MGM Studios paid about $40 million for the rights, and Puck reports roughly $35 million in advertising, with a campaign that includes placements in roughly 30 countries.
  • Simultaneous premieres are scheduled at 20 U.S. venues on Jan. 29, followed by a nationwide theatrical release on Jan. 30.
  • The film follows 20 days around the 2025 inauguration and depicts Melania Trump in an advisory role to the president, including shaping language for his address.
  • Director Brett Ratner returns with the project as Democrats question the event’s timing, citing a fatal federal shooting in Minneapolis, ongoing immigration enforcement, and a major winter storm; planned promotions include the NYSE opening bell and a Kennedy Center premiere with presidential attendance.