On Thursday night, Melania Trump took center stage at her movie premiere, introducing what she described as a unique glimpse into the world of the presidency. Speaking to the audience at the newly rechristened Trump-Kennedy Center, the former First Lady clarified the nature of the film. “Some have called this a documentary. It is not,” she declared. “It is a creative experience that offers perspectives, insights, and moments that only a few perceive.” The film, titled “Melania: Twenty Days to History,” captures the intense days leading up to Donald Trump’s second inauguration, following Melania from Mar-a-Lago to Manhattan. Wearing a sophisticated Dolce and Gabbana dress paired with black stilettos, Melania was accompanied by her husband and a medley of stars from both the entertainment and political arenas, including Dr. Phil, Nicki Minaj, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. President Trump, reminiscent of award shows from yesteryear, quipped to reporters, “This is like the good old days when the Academy Awards used to get ratings.”

However, the event was marked by a conspicuous absence. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who was anticipated to grace the red carpet, was missing amidst calls for her resignation following a controversial incident involving Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis. In a shift of focus, Trump praised Tom Homan, the newly appointed leader of the immigration crackdown in Minnesota, saying, “I think he’s terrific. But we have to get rid of the criminals.” When questioned about the film’s inspiration, Melania was candid, saying, “Well, it was my life.” She promised a blend of humor, grief, and fashion, expressing pride in the project. Meanwhile, Trump took a jab at former President Obama’s Netflix deal when asked about Amazon’s $40 million acquisition of the film rights, remarking, “Ask President Obama who got paid a lot of money and hasn’t done anything. Melania really produced.”

The premiere was a dazzling affair with notable attendees. Former Trump attorney Alina Habba stunned in a sleek black pantsuit, while Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins opted for a glamorous jacket over a dark evening gown. Speaker Mike Johnson and his wife Kelly defied the evening’s darker fashion theme with her choice of a beige dress. The Speaker mentioned to the Daily Mail the possibility of a brief government shutdown as Congress debates ICE funding. Pete Hegseth made an appearance with his wife Jennifer, who dazzled in a midnight-blue jumpsuit, and Diana Zeldin, wife of the EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, turned heads in a striking white ensemble. It was a family outing for Dr. Oz, who attended with his wife Lisa and their children Oliver and Daphne. Completing the lineup were Health Secretary RFK Jr., Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Trump-Kennedy Center director Ric Grenell, all of whom sported classic navy blue suits with white shirts. Directed by Brett Ratner, the film offers an intimate glimpse into the life of one of the most reserved first ladies in modern history.

The President and First Lady also held a private screening at the White House the Saturday before release, controversially deciding to go forward with the event just hours after a CBP agent shot and killed ICU nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Melania told The Five as part of her promotion for the movie on Wednesday that she hopes people will ‘know me a little bit more’ by watching the film. ‘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. And that’s my choice,’ she told Fox. ‘Nobody is in charge of me and I’m not in charge of anybody else.’ The idea for the movie was born immediately after Trump’s election victory, with negotiations beginning just days later on November 18 last year. The First Lady was hands-on with every aspect of the production and insisted on cinematic excellence. She did not want it to feel like a regular documentary, but an ‘elevated film,’ insiders revealed.

Amazon MGM Studios won a bidding war among Hollywood studios to produce Melania, in what many saw as a way from billionaire owner Jeff Bezos to curry favor with the President. Disney and Paramount lost out. Marc Beckman, Melania’s agent and top adviser, led the high-stakes negotiations with Amazon boss Andy Jassy. ‘I’m honored to be working with Amazon – they’ve been great partners from the minute we started to negotiate the deal, through production and now as we gear up for the film’s release,’ Beckman said. The film marks another milestone for the First Lady following the release of her memoir, also titled Melania, which has dominated the New York Times bestseller list since its release in October 2024. The trailer for the film concludes with Melania revealing why she wanted to make the film as she navigates a second term with a shrewd experience about the scrutiny that comes with the role. ‘Everyone wants to know. So here it is,’ she says.