President Donald Trump applauded the box office debut of first lady Melania Trump’s documentary, Melania, while joking about the challenges of sharing the spotlight.
Speaking to reporters during his Board of Peace event in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Feb. 19, Trump highlighted the film’s strong opening weekend performance. The documentary earned $7.04 million during its debut.
“She has a very successful movie out right now — like number one. Can you believe this?” Trump said.
Referring playfully to his wife, Trump added, “Big movie star. I always say it’s trouble, because there’s not room in one family for two stars. I told her we can’t have two stars in one family.”
He continued by describing the audience turnout: “The theaters are all packed. Women especially — they go back and see it two or three times, four times.”
The documentary premiered at the newly rebranded Kennedy Center on Jan. 29 ahead of its global theatrical release on Jan. 30. Backed by a reported $40 million deal with Amazon MGM Studios and supported by a $35 million marketing campaign, the film offers curated glimpses into Melania Trump’s life during the weeks leading up to President Trump’s second inauguration in January 2025.
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Melania Trump, 55, who also served as an executive producer, hosted a private White House screening on Jan. 24. The viewing took place as protests were unfolding in Minneapolis following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by Border Patrol officers. The first lady later described the event as “a historic moment.”
“I am deeply humbled to have been surrounded by an inspiring room of friends, family, and cultural iconoclasts at the White House,” she wrote in a Jan. 25 post on X.
“Our personal stories endure time and serve as a reminder of our mutual obligation to one another. It was an honor to present my new film, MELANIA, ahead of its global launch,” she added.
Despite the documentary’s strong debut, recent reports indicate a notable decline in ticket sales. According to the Daily Beast, the film’s third-weekend gross dropped by 62% compared to the prior week, based on data from IMDbPro. Since its release, the documentary has generated approximately $15.4 million.
The film’s release also followed Melania Trump’s November announcement that she had launched a new production company, Muse Films.
Marc Beckman, the first lady’s senior adviser and agent, stated that Muse Films plans to expand into lifestyle-focused film and television content aimed primarily at female audiences.
“Think fashion, art, music, sports, and entertainment,” Beckman said, along with topics such as “technology, family, health, and wellness.”
