President Donald Trump and former first lady Melania Trump are set to walk the red carpet in the nations capital later this month for the world premiere of Melania Trumps new feature-length film, "MELANIA," at the newly renamed TrumpKennedy Center in Washington, D.
C., on Jan. 29.
The Washington screening is one of twenty coordinated premiere events scheduled across the United States on the eve of the movies global theatrical release, underscoring the scale of the project and the enduring public fascination with the former first lady. According to Fox News, the films rollout reflects both Hollywood-level ambition and the drawing power of a figure who has long intrigued supporters and critics alike.
"MELANIA," which runs 104 minutes, will debut worldwide on Jan. 30, with showings planned in theaters across North America, South America, Asia, Europe, Israel, the United Arab Emirates and additional international markets. The broad distribution strategy signals Amazons intention to position the film not merely as a political documentary, but as a global cinematic event centered on a conservative first lady whose public image has often been filtered through a hostile media lens.
On Jan. 29, however, the spotlight will be firmly on the United States, where Amazon is staging premiere events from coast to coast as it brings the film into theaters. These advance screenings are designed to generate momentum among American audiences, particularly those who have followed the Trump familys political rise and see Melania Trump as a symbol of resilience, privacy and traditional family values in an era of relentless political spectacle.
Fox News Digital has learned that President Trump and the former first lady will personally attend the Washington premiere at the TrumpKennedy Center, a venue whose new name itself reflects the former presidents determination to leave a lasting cultural as well as political imprint on the capital. Their presence is expected to turn the event into a major political and media moment, blending entertainment, history and the ongoing Trump narrative as the couple returns to the city where they once occupied the White House.
Premiere events will also be held in New York; Phoenix; Salt Lake City; Chicago; Miami; San Diego; Nashville, Tennessee; Orlando, Florida; Orange County, California; San Francisco/Palo Alto; Minneapolis; Philadelphia; Denver; Detroit; Kansas City, Missouri; Boston; Austin, Texas; Houston; Las Vegas; Dallas; and Los Angeles. This extensive list of cities reflects a deliberate effort to reach audiences not only in traditional entertainment hubs and coastal strongholds, but also in the heartland and fast-growing Sun Belt regions where conservative voters have played a decisive role in reshaping the countrys political map.
Fox News Digital has learned that senior Amazon executives will attend premiere events for the film, a sign that the tech and entertainment giant views "MELANIA" as a flagship project rather than a niche political documentary. Their involvement also underscores how major corporations, despite pressure from progressive activists, continue to recognize the commercial power of conservative audiences and the enduring appeal of the Trump brand.
"History is set in motion during the 20 days of my life prior to the U.S. Presidential Inauguration," the former first lady told Fox News. "For the first time, global audiences are invited into theaters to witness this pivotal chapter unfold a private, unfiltered look as I navigate family, business, and philanthropy on my remarkable journey to becoming first lady of the United States of America."
The film traces Melania Trumps life in the days leading up to her husbands second inauguration, moving from her residence in Trump Tower in New York City to Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, and into the corridors of power in Washington. By focusing on this compressed, high-stakes period, the project aims to offer a rare behind-the-scenes portrait of a first lady who has often chosen dignity and discretion over the performative activism favored by many on the left.
Melania Trump first conceived the idea for the film in November 2024, shortly after President Trump secured another election victory. The timing suggests a conscious decision to document not only her personal journey but also the broader political turning point represented by a renewed Trump mandate, at a moment when many Americans were seeking a return to strong borders, economic growth and a more assertive foreign policy.
Marc Beckman, Melania Trumps agent and exclusive senior advisor, began leading negotiations with Amazon on her behalf on Nov. 18, 2024. His role in steering the project through a fiercely competitive bidding process highlights how the former first lady has approached this film not as a vanity project, but as a carefully managed, high-value media property.
Fox News Digital has learned that Disney, Netflix and Paramount all sought to secure exclusive rights to the film, reflecting the intense interest from major studios in a story centered on one of the most recognizable women in the world. Amazon and MGM ultimately prevailed with the highest offer, purchasing the license for $40 million a record-breaking sum described as the largest documentary deal in history.
"Im honored to be working with Amazon theyve been great partners from the minute we started to negotiate the deal, through production and now as we gear up for the films release," Beckman told Fox News Digital. His comments stand in contrast to the frequent portrayal of Big Tech as uniformly hostile to conservative figures, suggesting that when the financial upside is clear, even corporate giants are willing to invest heavily in right-of-center stories.
"Speaking of the deal, there has been so much speculation in the press on the bidding and how we ended up with Amazon, that were at a point where its worth clarifying a few things," Beckman said. His remarks appear aimed at countering media narratives that have attempted to cast the agreement as either irrationally inflated or politically motivated, rather than the product of a straightforward market competition.
First, Beckman told Fox News Digital that some bidders were "interested only in a film, and others only in a series." This distinction proved crucial, as it separated those studios that saw "MELANIA" as a one-off prestige project from those that recognized the potential for a broader franchise built around the former first ladys story.
"Amazon ended up bidding on both, and checked all the boxes we were looking for, as they could also deliver a theatrical film release," Beckman explained. That theatrical commitment is notable at a time when many studios have shifted aggressively toward streaming-only releases, and it reflects a belief that audiences still value the communal experience of seeing a major political and cultural story unfold on the big screen.
Beckman stressed that he negotiated the deal on behalf of the former first lady while dealing with "all the studios directly." His direct engagement with multiple major players reinforces the idea that the project was handled as a serious, competitive business transaction, rather than as a politically driven arrangement orchestrated behind closed doors.
"Ive seen reporting that Amazon paid nearly three times the nearest other bid, and thats just false," Beckman said. "It was an incredibly competitive bidding process with multiple rounds of bids."
Beckman added: "Yes, Amazon had the highest bid, but they also bid on the most product series and film." His clarification suggests that the $40 million figure reflects not only the value of the feature film itself, but also the potential for additional content that could further explore Melania Trumps life, her role in the Trump presidency and her broader influence as a conservative cultural figure.
Filming began in December 2024, with Melania Trump serving as executive producer alongside Fernando Sulichin of New Element Media, while Brett Ratner of RatPac Entertainment directs. Ratners involvement brings a seasoned Hollywood hand to the project, indicating that the film is intended to compete at the highest cinematic level rather than being relegated to the category of partisan campaign material.
The film is produced in a "highly cinematic" style, according to those familiar with the project. Sources told Fox News Digital that the former first lady was determined that the finished product should not resemble a conventional documentary, but instead an "elevated film" that blends narrative, visual artistry and intimate access.
Fox News Digital has learned that Melania Trump was involved "in every aspect" of the film from shaping its "creative vision," to working as a producer, to overseeing the execution of post-production marketing. Fox News Digital has also learned that she has been very "hands on" from start to finish, a level of engagement that reflects both her perfectionism and her desire to ensure that her story is told on her own terms rather than filtered through a media establishment often hostile to conservative women.
"She is giving the audience unprecedented access to her life and to any first lady's life during this 20-day period," a source familiar with the planning of the film told Fox News Digital. That promise of access stands in stark contrast to the caricatures often drawn by legacy outlets, offering viewers a chance to see the pressures, decisions and private moments that shape a first ladys role during a critical transition of power.
Fox News exclusively obtained the trailer in December 2025, which opens with the former first lady walking into the U.S. Capitol rotunda ahead of her husband's second inauguration. She turns to the camera in her now-iconic inauguration outfit and says, "Here we go again."
The trailer then cuts between scenes of the first lady and president at the inauguration; the couple standing together outside Mar-a-Lago; behind-the-scenes moments featuring Barron Trump and Melania Trumps father; and a rapid-fire sequence of images including the first lady, Air Force One, the presidential seal and more. The famous Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM) lion then roars and fills the screen, signaling the films alignment with a storied Hollywood brand even as it centers on a conservative political family.
The trailer proceeds to show Melania Trump entering a room where President Trump stands at a podium during a meeting, rehearsing a speech. "My proudest legacy will be that of peacemaker," Trump said.
The former first lady interjects with a gentle correction: "Peacemaker and unifier." The exchange encapsulates the image the film appears eager to project a president focused on peace and a first lady intent on emphasizing unity, a message sharply at odds with the divisive narrative often promoted by progressive commentators.
The trailer then shows the first lady stepping out of a vehicle in black stiletto boots before cutting to the East Wing residence, where she appears in a striking white and black inaugural ball gown, smiling directly at the camera. The sequence underscores her status as a fashion icon as well as a political spouse, reminding viewers of the elegance and poise that made her one of the most visually memorable first ladies in modern history.
The trailer invites audiences to "witness history in the making." It also shows the former first lady reviewing materials with staff, highlighting her role not merely as a ceremonial figure, but as an active participant in the planning and execution of key inaugural events.
In one tense moment, the trailer cuts to Melania Trump asking a security detail, "Is it safe?" and the agent replying, "It is safe," before the scene shifts abruptly to sirens and a motorcade racing through a city. "20 days to become first lady of the United States," the trailer says.
"Everyone wants to know," Melania Trump says. "So here it is."
The trailer concludes with Melania Trump phoning "Mr. President" to say "congratulations." "Did you watch it?" President Trump asks over the line.
"I did not. Yeah, I will see it on the news," Melania Trump says. The exchange captures both the couples familiarity with media scrutiny and their awareness that, in todays political climate, even the most personal moments are inevitably refracted through the lens of television and social media.
The films launch comes one year after the release of Melania Trumps memoir, "Melania," which offered an intimate portrait of her life and included personal stories and family photographs she had never before shared with the public. The book gave readers a rare window into her upbringing, her journey to the United States, her marriage and her years in the White House, countering the often one-dimensional portrayals favored by partisan critics.
"Melania" has remained at the top of The New York Times bestsellers list since its release, a testament to the sustained public interest in her story despite the media establishments frequent attempts to sideline conservative voices. Its commercial success also demonstrated that there is a large audience eager for narratives that celebrate family, perseverance and patriotism rather than denigrating Americas institutions and traditions.
Upon the memoirs release in 2024, the former first lady told Fox News Digital that writing her story was "an amazing journey filled with emotional highs and lows." "Each story shaped me into who I am today," she said. "Although daunting at times, the process has been incredibly rewarding, reminding me of my strength, and the beauty of sharing my truth."
"Melania" is the former first ladys first book, and she released it alongside a special collectors edition featuring photographs she personally selected, many of which she took herself, showcasing her home and various trips she has taken around the world. With the arrival of "MELANIA" on the big screen, that literary self-portrait now finds a visual counterpart, offering supporters and skeptics alike a chance to see, in her own words and images, how a reserved, traditionally minded first lady navigated one of the most turbulent and consequential periods in recent American political history.
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