When the curtain rises at the Kennedy Center on January 29, 2026, it won’t just be another night at one of America’s most storied cultural institutions. This time, the spotlight will shine on a figure who has often preferred to dwell in the wings: First Lady Melania Trump. Her documentary, simply titled Melania, is set to make its world premiere in Washington, D.C. before rolling out to theaters nationwide and across the globe. The film, helmed by director Brett Ratner and executive produced by Melania herself, promises an unprecedented look at the 20 days leading up to President Donald Trump’s second inauguration—a period as politically charged as it was personally consequential.
Richard Grenell, the interim president of the Kennedy Center, took to X (the platform formerly known as Twitter) earlier this month to announce the premiere and share a trailer. In it, Melania Trump, dressed in her inauguration attire, faces the camera and says, "Here we go again." It’s a phrase that seems to capture the swirl of controversy, anticipation, and spectacle that has defined the Trump era—and, perhaps, the former first lady’s own complicated relationship with the public eye.
Amazon MGM Studios, which secured exclusive streaming and theatrical rights to the film, has described Melania as offering "unprecedented access to the 20 days leading up to the 2025 presidential inauguration—through the eyes of the first lady-elect herself." According to Fox News Digital, both Melania and President Trump are expected to attend the D.C. premiere, joined by Amazon executives and a host of invited guests. But Washington won’t be the only city hosting a red carpet: premiere events are also scheduled in New York, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Chicago, Miami, San Diego, Nashville, Orlando, Orange County, San Francisco/Palo Alto, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Denver, Detroit, Kansas City, Boston, Austin, Houston, Las Vegas, Dallas, and Los Angeles. The global theatrical release will follow, reaching audiences in North America, South America, Asia, Europe, Israel, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates.
For Melania Trump, the documentary is the latest in a series of high-profile projects. In late 2024, she released a self-titled memoir that quickly became a New York Times Bestseller. During her husband’s second campaign, she largely avoided the spotlight, but made headlines for championing a revenge porn bill that passed Congress and for her efforts to aid children displaced by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The film, then, is both a personal statement and a public reemergence—a chance for Melania to shape her narrative in her own words.
"Everyone wants to know, so here it is," Melania says in the film’s trailer, released by Amazon MGM Studios on December 17, 2025. The message is clear: after years of speculation and scrutiny, she’s ready to tell her story.
But the excitement surrounding Melania has been matched—some might say overshadowed—by controversy at the Kennedy Center itself. In December 2025, the institution’s board, newly appointed by President Trump, voted unanimously to rename it "The Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts." The move sparked immediate backlash. Kennedy family members, most notably Kerry Kennedy, president of the Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center, condemned the decision. In a post on X, she wrote, "President Trump and his administration have spent the past year repressing free expression, targeting artists, journalists, and comedians, and erasing the history of Americans whose contributions made our nation better and more just."
The reaction in the arts community was swift. Several artists canceled scheduled performances at the center, some at the last minute—including on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve—while others withdrew from appearances set for early 2026. Composer Stephen Schwartz, known for the Broadway hit Wicked, was among those cited as canceling due to political differences, though Grenell disputed that Schwartz had ever been scheduled to perform. The center even reportedly demanded $1 million from a musician who canceled a show in protest of the renaming, according to Audacy.
Grenell, for his part, has been outspoken in his criticism of the cancellations, suggesting that artists were "booked by the previous far left leadership" and accusing them of letting politics interfere with the arts. The tension has cast a shadow over what was meant to be a celebratory moment for the center and for Melania Trump’s film debut.
Yet the show, as they say, must go on. Melania will open in theaters worldwide on January 30, following its Kennedy Center premiere. The film’s director, Brett Ratner, is no stranger to the spotlight—or to controversy himself. Known for blockbusters like Rush Hour and Red Dragon, Ratner has also faced allegations of sexual misconduct in the past, which he has denied. Warner Bros. reportedly cut ties with Ratner following those allegations, making Melania his first major directing project since then. The film was also executive produced by Fernando Sulichin, an Argentine producer with a history of working on projects related to John F. Kennedy, Jr.
The documentary’s subject matter is as charged as its backdrop. It chronicles the whirlwind period leading up to President Trump’s second inauguration, offering viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the preparations, the pressures, and the personal moments that defined those days. Amazon MGM Studios has touted the film’s "unprecedented access," hinting at footage and insights never before shared with the public.
For Melania Trump, the film is an opportunity to step out from behind the veil of mystery that has often surrounded her. During her husband’s first term, she was sometimes seen as enigmatic, rarely granting interviews and often shunning the traditional role of first lady. In the years since, she’s sought to redefine her public image—first through her memoir, now through film. As she told viewers in the trailer, "Here we go again." It’s a sentiment that captures both the fatigue and the fascination that continue to swirl around the Trump family.
Whether Melania will succeed in reshaping public perceptions remains to be seen. What’s certain is that its debut comes at a moment of profound change for the Kennedy Center, for the Trump family, and for the intersection of politics, art, and celebrity in America. The controversies, the cancellations, and the competing narratives all speak to a nation still deeply divided—and to the enduring power of storytelling, on screen and off.
As the lights dim on January 29, all eyes will be on Melania Trump. For one night, at least, her story will take center stage—inviting the world to watch, to judge, and perhaps to understand a little more about the woman behind the headlines.