Melania Trump shared new footage from a private White House screening of her documentary on January 24, releasing a video that displayed the White House East Room converted into a theater for the formal event.
The first lady invited about 100 guests for an exclusive viewing of “Melania,” Amazon’s $75 million documentary chronicling the 20 days before President Donald Trump’s inauguration. It was the president’s first full viewing of the movie, directed by Brett Ratner.
Attendees entering the East Room were greeted by a military band performing “Melania’s Waltz.” The video posted by the first lady included clips of the elaborate evening, including the moment she and President Trump walked into the room.
The high-profile guest list featured Queen Rania of Jordan, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, and former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson. Other attendees included Zoom CEO Eric Yuan, NYSE president Lynn Martin, and AMD CEO Lisa Su. Author/life coach Tony Robbins and 19-year-old Barron Trump were also present.
Guests were given keepsakes from the night, such as custom popcorn boxes, framed commemorative screening tickets, and cookies bearing the first lady’s name. The elaborate presentation underscored the high-profile nature of the gathering, which followed the October demolition of the White House Family Theater to clear space for a $300 million ballroom.
The timing of the event prompted criticism. The screening was held the same day federal agents fatally shot Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, in Minneapolis, sparking immediate backlash against those who attended the celebration amid the developing crisis.
Jenna Ellis, a former attorney for Trump, publicly questioned the decision to go forward with the event. Ellis wrote, “I have deep respect for the first lady and have been honored to meet her. But this event should have been postponed. With Minneapolis unraveling and Americans demanding leadership, this feels disconnected from reality.”
Despite the dispute, the documentary’s rollout continued as planned. A premiere at the Kennedy Center occurred on Jan.29, followed by a nationwide release on Jan. 30. Amazon invested $40 million to acquire the film and an additional $35 million for marketing, with plans to show it in about 2,000 U.S. theaters and 5,000 theaters globally across 27 countries.
Industry analysts predicted the film would face challenges at the box office and would likely struggle in theaters. The film brought in about $7 million during its first weekend.
President Trump endorsed the film on social media, promoting the documentary to his supporters and encouraging attendance.
Producing a documentary of this scale marks a significant shift from the usual initiatives associated with first ladies, which commonly center on public service or cultural advocacy. The commercial nature and high-budget, wide theatrical release set it apart from traditional first lady media projects.
The presence of prominent corporate leaders—including the heads of Apple, Amazon, and other major companies—at the screening highlighted the blend of politics, business, and entertainment that has been a hallmark of the Trump era. Such interactions between the administration and corporate elites continue to draw scrutiny from analysts and commentators.
The global release plan, spanning 27 countries, indicates Amazon’s belief that international audiences might be drawn to a behind-the-scenes perspective on American political traditions.