The new Amazon documentary about Melania Trump is causing controversy. Reports indicate that most major news organizations were not allowed to attend the premiere, which was held at the Trump Kennedy Center. According to Variety, the filmmakers appear to have intentionally limited access to right-leaning media outlets, likely to control the initial reactions and reviews of the film, which focuses on the days before President Trump’s second inauguration.
The documentary Melania focuses on the 20 days before Donald Trump’s anticipated return to the White House in January 2026. It’s generated a lot of online discussion, but mostly about the $40 million Amazon MGM Studios paid for the rights to it. Many people are questioning the cost, especially since the film is only expected to earn around $5 million in theaters before moving to streaming on Prime Video, where it’s predicted to become very popular due to public curiosity.
It appears Amazon wanted to avoid any negative buzz before the film’s theatrical release. While many media outlets covered the red carpet event, major publications like The New York Times, The Washington Post, Vanity Fair, and the Associated Press weren’t allowed to attend the screening itself. Reports suggest these reporters were also largely overlooked on the red carpet, with attention instead given to figures like Dan Ball from One America News.
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Sources say Ball urged government officials at the event to ignore other news outlets and come directly to him instead. He reportedly called the rest of the press “mongrels” after speaking with Alina Habba, a former advisor to Donald Trump. While Trump himself seemed willing to offer some comments as he greeted people, the event was largely seen as exclusive to those who wouldn’t criticize the documentary.
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2026-01-30 14:04