During a recent White House appearance with freed Israeli-American hostages Keith and Aviva Siegel, Melania Trump brought up her new documentary, Melania, while deflecting a question about Jeffrey Epstein.
The meeting traced back to January 2025, when Aviva approached Melania in New York seeking help to secure Keith’s release from Gaza.
“It was captured on camera and available to see in my new film, ‘Melania,’” Melania said. “It was very emotional.”
The comment came just days after the documentary opened, earning about $7 million. When a reporter asked if she was promoting the film during an official White House event, Melania insisted she wasn’t.
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“This is not a promotion,” she said. “We are here celebrating the release of the hostages of Aviva and Keith. They were in Washington, DC, and they called me. They said they would like to come over to thank me and to give hugs. And that’s why they are here.”
Q: Why do you feel it’s appropriate to use an official White House event to promote your movie?
MELANIA TRUMP: This is not a promotion
(She promoted her video literally 5 minutes ago during this same event) pic.twitter.com/Rkp7pO1Rdy
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 4, 2026
Later, she was asked about Epstein survivors calling for Ghislaine Maxwell to be sent back to a high-security prison. Melania stayed focused on the hostages.
“We are here celebrating the release and the lives of these two incredible people, so let’s honor that,” she said.
Aviva Siegel was freed after 51 days during Biden’s term, while Keith returned 12 days into Trump’s second term. During the visit, Aviva gave Melania two of Keith’s books.
“When I came home that evening, I gave it to my husband and informed him of the situation,” Melania said. “I know he was fighting for all the hostages, and as we know now, all of the hostages are free and home with their families.”
The documentary also shows Melania encouraging Aviva to keep fighting for her husband and pledging to always use her “influence and power to fight for those in need.” Keith Siegel personally thanked Melania for her support and congratulated her on the film.
Before the public premiere, the Trumps held a private screening at the White House East Room, attended by about 70 guests including Mike Tyson, Tim Cook, and NYSE president Lynn Martin. Melania opened strongly at the box office, supported by a $35 million marketing push. Amazon MGM Studios reportedly paid $40 million for the film and a two-part docuseries on the first lady, coming this summer.
Trump also promoted the documentary at the White House and on social media. “I had a top model, now I have a top movie star,” he said during a Feb. 3 Oval Office event.
Featured image via X screengrab
