The not-so-highly anticipated release of the film Melania has seen the president and first lady take to the red carpet for its world premiere – but it looked like Donald Trump might have forgotten where in the world his wife is from.
The documentary, which Amazon paid $40 million for the privilege of filming, follows Melania Trump in 2025 as she prepares for another four years in the White House and offers audiences a manicured inside look at the first family.
But at the premiere, held at the newly renamed Trump Kennedy Center on Thursday night, there was little family support, with Melania’s own son Barron not attending, as well as Donald Trump’s other children, Ivana, Eric, and Ivanka.
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Things got worse on the red carpet, when President Tump was asked about how he felt about his wife doing the film, for which she was paid $28 million, he said he was ‘proud’ of Melania because of where she’s come from, but then appeared unable to name the country she’s from.Responding to questions from reporters, Trump spoke at length about his wife’s country of origin, but seemed to struggle remembering where his wife of 20 years was even born.
The president said: « She comes from a faraway country, a wonderful country, clean, beautiful, safe. Doesn’t have problems like others have. But she comes from a very safe country, very good country. »
But while Trump could not say where his wife was from, he spoke warmly about her intelligence, adding: « It’s different, and she speaks a lot of languages, very smart, understands what happens. And she’s a good influencer, of me. »
Many viewers watching the MAGA-filled premiere unfold, spotted the president’s slip which caused many to remark that ‘he has no idea what country his wife is from,’ and to ask ‘he forgot where his wife is from…didn’t he? lol’.
Melania, 55, was born in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1970, with the country later becoming Slovenia after the death of the dictator Tito and the fall of the USRR.
Soon after, the former republic collapsed into years of violence and ethno-nationalism.
The first lady, who began modeling at the age of 16, was able to use her success to flee her life in the Balkans in 1996, when she was offered a contract that allowed her to immigrate to the US.
Just two years later, she was introduced to then-property tycoon Donald Trump and the rest is history. Or, at least, the subject of the most expensive documentary anyone has ever paid for.
With Melania’s documentary now showing around the world (January 30), and albeit early signs that the expensive Amazon project could be a flop at the Box Office, the first lady has already found herself defending the film.
Speaking to CNN, Melania explained that the $40 million project was not about the money that it made in the cinemas, saying: “I’m very proud of the film so people may like it, may don’t like it, and that’s their choice.
“We achieved what we want to achieve. For myself, it’s already successful. I’m very proud of what we did.”
The first lady has spoken for the first time about the fatal shooting of 37-year-old nurse Alex Pretti by Customs and Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis, calling on the public for calm.
Melania Trump called for protesters on the street to exercise their rights peacefully, while touting her husband President Trump’s positive conversation with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, which he described as ‘a very good call’ before recalling CBP commander Greg Bovino from the state.
Bovino was one of the administration officials that called Pretti a ‘domestic terrorist’ who had attacked officers in the hours after he was shot 10 times while protecting a fallen protester in Minneapolis. This description of events does not line up with video evidence of the shooting.
Speaking on Fox & Friends, FLOTUS took a conciliatory tone, saying: « We need to unify. I’m calling for unity I know my husband the president had a great call yesterday with the governor and the mayor and they’re working together to make it peaceful and without riots.
She finished by saying: « I’m against violence, so if you protest, protest in peace. »
Her comments on Tuesday morning came as outrage continues to grow over the actions of masked ICE and CBP officers in Minneapolis in recent weeks, which have now seen two US citizens fatally shot by federal agents.
The first was 37-year-old mom Renee Good, shot three times, including in the head, on January 7 while attempting to drive away from ICE officials. 17 days later, Pretti was shot dead at point-blank range while helping a female protester up from the ground.
These killings have seen tens of thousands march in the streets of the Twin Cities against the continued occupation of Minnesota by federal immigration agents, with local politicians and organizations calling for an end to Trump’s month-long ‘Operation Metro Surge’.
Pretti’s parents shared more information about the ICU nurse who was killed on Saturday and pushed back against claims made about him by DHS secretary Krist Noem and CBP commander Greg Bovino.They said in a heartbroken statement: « Alex wanted to make a difference in this world. Unfortunately, he will not be with us to see his impact. I do not throw around the hero term lightly. However, his last thought and act was to protect a woman.
« The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting. Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump’s murdering and cowardly ICE thugs.
« He has his phone in his right hand, and his empty left hand is raised above his head while trying to protect the woman ICE just pushed down, all while being pepper-sprayed. »
The pressure from the public appears to have caused the White House to row back on comments made about Pretti in the aftermath of his killing, including those of Noem and Bovino calling him a ‘domestic terrorist’ who had attacked officers.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Monday that she had ‘not heard the president characterize Mr Pretti in that way.’
She said that Trump would await an investigation before commenting, adding: “However, I have heard the president say he wants to let the facts and the investigation lead itself.”
Donald Trump and Melania both appeared at her film’s premier, but some noticed that there was a surprising absence from the event.
Melania finally got her big night for her documentary on Thursday (January 29) with guests ranging from minor celebrities to members of the Trump administration.
The event took place at the newly rebranded Trump Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
While the film is hardly to be a box office success, the US First Lady admitted that she isn’t too fussed about that.
Speaking to CNN last night, she said: “I’m very proud of the film so people may like it, may don’t like it, and that’s their choice.
“We achieved what we want to achieve. For myself, it’s already successful. I’m very proud of what we did.”The film itself documents the 20 days around Trump’s return to the White House.
Speaking at the event, Melania told the crowd: “Some have called this a documentary. It is not.
“It is a creative experience that offers perspectives, insights and moments.”
Trump also said a brief word to reporters while at the event, but used it as an opportunity to take a shot at former president Barack Obama.
Trump hit back at the critics who have pointed out that Amazon paid $40 million to acquire the rights for this movie.
He replied by saying: “Well, I think they’d have to go and ask President Obama, who got paid a lot of money and hasn’t done anything.”
Trump also gave an early review of them, having seen it before the premier and said it was glamorous.
However, despite the familiar faces at the event like Robert F Kennedy Jr, Nicki Minaj, Pete Hegseth and Donald Trump Jr.
Among the notable absentees were President Trump’s children.The son he shares with Melania, Barron Trump, did not attend the event, nor did two of the children he shares with his late wife Ivana Trump, Eric Trump and Ivanka Trump.
The film is set to open in ‘at least 1,400 theaters nationwide and in more than 27 countries’ this weekend.
However, despite Donald Trump’s claims the film is ‘selling out fast’ on social media, some people have remarked in some locations no tickets have been sold for the movie.
One user revealed: « Not a single ticket sold for the opening night 9:55pm showing of Melania at the busiest movie theater in the metro-Jacksonville area. »
Another shared a similar screenshot showing no tickets have yet been sold in another theater showcasing the film.
