Melania and Donald Trump arrived at the First Lady’s star-studded movie premiere Thursday as MAGA hosted its very own Oscars night in Washington, DC.
The First Lady donned a Dolce and Gabbana buttoned dress and black stilettos as she was joined by her husband who wore his signature navy blue suit at the newly renamed Trump-Kennedy Center.
They were joined by a celebrity guestlist including influencers, athletes and pop stars. The President’s political allies were also out in force including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Health Secretary RFK Jr. and House Speaker Mike Johnson.
‘It really brings back the glamour,’ Trump told reporters. ‘This is like the good old days when the Academy Awards used to get ratings.’
But there was a notable absence. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who was slated to attend, did not appear on the red carpet as she faces intense pressure to resign after the fatal shooting of a protester by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis on Saturday.
Trump showered praise on Noem’s rival Tom Homan, newly installed to lead the immigration crackdown in Minnesota. ‘I think he’s terrific,’ Trump said, adding: ‘But we have to get rid of the criminals.’
The documentary, titled Melania: Twenty Days to History, chronicles the dramatic lead up to Trump’s second inauguration, following the First Lady from Mar-a-Lago to Manhattan.
Melania, asked about her inspiration for the film, told reporters: ‘Well it was my life.’
The First Lady donned a buttoned black dress and stilettos as she was joined by her husband who wore his signature navy blue suit
Melania Trump arrives for the premiere along with her father Viktor Knavs
Beauty in blue! Singer Nicki Minaj appeared at the Melania premiere in a light blue gown with draping detail at the waist and a cut-out detail at the chest. She paired the look with two large, gold bangles and dangling earrings
Trump and his wife Melania arrive for the premiere of the documentary film ‘Melania’
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth planted a kiss on wife Jennifer’s cheek as they arrived for Melania’s movie premiere
Former Trump attorney Alina Habba donned a chic black pant suit as she arrived at the Trump-Kennedy Center
Melania beams as she arrives for her star-studded premiere at the newly renamed Trump-Kennedy Center in Washington DC
U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania arrive for the premiere
Influencer Lizzy Savetsky and Isabella Herrera
First Lady Melania Trump looks on as Donald speaks to journalists as they attend the world premiere of Amazon MGM Studios’ ‘Melania’ at the Trump-Kennedy Center
Lisa Oz, Mehmet Oz, Oliver Oz and Daphne Oz attend Amazon MGM’s ‘Melania’ World Premiere at The Trump Kennedy Center
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and his wife Kelly arrive on Wednesday evening
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and his wife Kathryn, and United States Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz and his wife Kathryn
US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and his wife Allison
Pete Hegseth and wife Jennifer, and Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Lee Zeldin and wife Diana
American civil rights attorney Brooke Goldstein and United States Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro
U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler and and Chairman and CEO of Intercontinental Exchange Jeffrey C. Sprecher
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins arrives for the premiere of the documentary film ‘Melania’ at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, recently renamed to include U.S. President Donald Trump’s name, in Washington, D.C., U.S., January 29
United States Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer, who is currently the subject of an internal investigation, arrives at the premiere
U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon and physician Janette Nesheiwat, who was briefly nominated for Surgeon General
Alina Habba and the movie’s director Brett Ratner
‘You will see humor, you will see grief, you will see fashion so I’m very proud of the film,’ the 55-year-old told reporters.
Trump mocked his predecessor’s Netflix contract when a reporter questioned him about Amazon’s $40 million deal for the movie rights: ‘Ask President Obama who got paid a lot of money and hasn’t done anything. Melania really produced.’
Former Trump attorney Alina Habba donned a chic black pant suit and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins wore a glitzy jacket over a dark evening gown as they were among the first luminaries to step out.
Speaker Mike Johnson and his wife Kelly followed, bucking the dark theme with a beige dress. The Speaker told the Daily Mail there might be a short government shutdown as Congress battles over ICE funding.
Hegseth was joined by his wife Jennifer who wore a glittering midnight-blue jumpsuit, while Administrator of the US Environmental Protection Agency Lee Zeldin’s wife Diana stunned in a daring white ensemble.
It was a family affair for Dr Oz who arrived with wife Lisa and their kids Oliver and Daphne.
Health Secretary RFK Jr., Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump-Kennedy Center director Ric Grenell donned navy blue suits with white shirts.
The movie directed by Brett Ratner gives a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most private 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.
Kristi Noem listens as US President Donald J Trump participates in a Cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, DC, USA, on Thursday
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. arrives on the black carpet for Melania’s movie premiere
Special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump-Kennedy Center director Richard Grenell
‘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.
