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“Melania” will get its big rollout this weekend, with a premiere at the Trump-Kennedy Center Thursday evening followed by appearances on 1,500 screens nationwide beginning Friday.
There will be a plethora of MAGA names in attendance, including second lady Usha Vance, Dr. Oz, Dr. Phil, and Fox News host Maria Bartiromo. Several administration officials will also be there, including chief of staff Susie Wiles, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and FBI director Kash Patel.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem will also attend, despite the tension over her handling of the shootings in Minnesota.
Melania, 55, has made clear that the film is her story told her way — down to the design, editing and marketing. Instead of a red carpet, celebrity guests will strut on a black carpet heading into the film screening.
“What I do, what I don’t do, when I talk, when I don’t talk. And that’s my choice, and nobody is in charge of me,” she told Fox News on Wednesday.
While the first lady may have the final say over the one-hour, 44-minute feature, she can’t control what unfolds once the credits roll.
While Melania’s husband and son Barron appear in the film, notably absent from the cast list are her four stepchildren — Don Jr., Ivanka, Eric and Tiffany.
Ivanka Trump, 44, is known to have a contentious relationship with Melania — complete with dueling White House fiefdoms during the 45th presidency — and neither she nor her husband Jared Kushner is expected to attend Thursday’s premiere.
Spokespeople for the couple did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
Eric Trump and his wife Lara, also will not be there, their rep confirmed, adding that: “They are deeply proud of the First Lady and the remarkable story being shared. They are confident the premiere will be a tremendous success and regret missing what will undoubtedly be a wonderful evening.”
Barron Trump, who got a sneak peak at the film Saturday night at a White House screening, is also expected to skip Thursday’s premiere.
Meanwhile, there’s competing after parties, one of which will be hosted by the president’s eldest son.
Don Jr., who will walk the Trump Kennedy Center red carpet with fiance Bettina Anderson, is throwing a bash at his Washington DC club that will rival the official after party, per an invite seen by The Post.
The official party will include 250 guests, Page Six reported and, “That’s the official, proper producers party,” said a source. “It’s invite only, it’s pretty significant people.”
Several cabinet officials, senior White House staff, former New York City Mayor Eric Adams, and hockey star Wayne Gretzky are scheduled to attend along with other minor celebrities.
Melania Trump acts as executive producer on the project, where she had final cut and final say over the marketing, promotion and guest list.
She designed the black-and-white ad campaign with her name as the solo logo – in all caps – standing out starkly.
“Every element of production, post production,” her adviser Marc Beckman told Fox Business, “She is so detail oriented. The ad campaign … is all at Melania Trump’s creative direction.”
Melania and Beckman have kept details of the one hour 44 minute documentary closely under wraps. No early copies were provided to critics for review. President Trump only saw it for the first time Saturday night.
The cast listing suggests some of the content.
It includes Melania’s father Victor Knavs, to whom she is very close and who is regularly seen around Mar-a-Lago with the first couple.
Several members of her East Wing staff, including her Chief of Staff Hayley Harrison, are listed, suggesting viewers will see her building her team as first lady.
Stylist Hervé Pierre is noted as is her decorator Tham Kannalikham and Adam Lippes, who designed her inaugural gown.
And there could be a diplomatic touch as French first lady Brigitte Macron and Queen Rania of Jordan also appear on the cast list.
The film focuses on the 20 days leading up to the inauguration. But the first lady, who highlights business work like other members of the first family, made sure to include her priorities.
“The audience will see me, how I manage my business, my philanthropy, family preparation for the inauguration and also establishing the East Wing for the White House,” she told “Fox & Friends” this week.
“Melania” is directed by “Rush Hour” auteur Brett Ratner and licensed by Amazon as part of a whopping $40 million deal signed in January 2025.
The documentary has had an expensive marketing campaign with billboards in New York City’s Time Square and London’s Piccadilly Circus. It rotated on The Sphere in Las Vegas. Plus it took out television ads during expensive TV time slots like the NFL conference championship games and a UFC fight.
Questions are being raised about whether Amazon can recoup its investment. The studio spent $35 million to open the documentary in 27 countries, Puck News reported.
Box office predictions have it grossing between $3 million and $5 million over opening weekend in about 1,500 theaters.
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