On Thursday, Melania and Donald Trump made their way to the First Lady’s movie premiere at the newly renamed Trump-Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.
The evening carried the glamour of a Washington Oscars night. Melania wore a sharp Dolce and Gabbana dress with black stilettos, while Trump stuck to his trademark navy suit.
First Lady Melania Trump arrives with President Donald J. Trump, Chairman of the Trump Kennedy Center, for the red-carpet premiere of her documentary “Melania” at the Trump Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. pic.twitter.com/BJTy42DSV9
— The Trump Kennedy Center (@kencen) January 30, 2026
Amid all the glitz, the conversation turned to the $40 million Amazon deal. Trump remarked: “Ask President Obama who got paid a lot of money and hasn’t done anything. Melania really produced.”
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The First Lady shared what viewers can expect from the documentary. “You will see humor, you will see grief, you will see fashion. I’m very proud of the film,” she told reporters.
Melania: Twenty Days to History follows her from Mar-a-Lago to Manhattan as she prepares for Trump’s second inauguration.
The premiere had a celebrity-packed audience, along with Trump’s top allies. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Health Secretary RFK Jr., and Speaker Mike Johnson were all there.
Trump gushed about the event. “It really brings back the glamour. This is like the good old days when the Academy Awards used to get ratings,” he said.
Guests arrived in style. Alina Habba chose a sleek black pant suit. Brooke Rollins went glittery over a dark gown. Speaker Johnson’s wife Kelly wore beige, while Hegseth’s wife dazzled in a sparkling jumpsuit. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin’s wife stole the show in white.
Some families came as a unit, like Dr. Oz with his wife and kids. But not everyone showed up. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem skipped the event amid pressure after the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.
The premiere also followed a private White House screening just hours after Pretti’s death, adding controversy to the glittering night. Melania told The Five she hopes viewers will understand her better. “I’m a very private person and a very selective person. What I do, what I don’t do; when I talk, when I don’t talk. That’s my choice. Nobody is in charge of me and I’m not in charge of anybody else,” she said.
Amazon MGM Studios outbid Disney and Paramount to produce the film. Reports say Melania got a large portion of the $40 million deal, a move widely seen as a favor from Amazon owner Jeff Bezos.
Notably, some key family members skipped the premiere. Barron Trump, 19, is not attending, despite appearing in the documentary. Ivanka Trump, 44, and her husband Jared Kushner, 45, are also absent, reflecting a reportedly tense relationship with the First Lady.
Eric Trump and his wife Lara will not attend either. Donald Trump Jr., however, is expected to walk the black carpet with his fiancée Bettina Anderson. Eric and Lara’s representative said they are “deeply proud of the First Lady and the remarkable story being shared” and “regret missing what will undoubtedly be a wonderful evening.
Featured image via X screengrab
