New ‘Melania’ trailer fuels AI-parody chatter as documentary bows in theaters
Documentary follows Melania Trump through a 20-day window before the 2025 inauguration; release plan includes a January theatrical run and later streaming on Amazon Prime
A trailer for an upcoming documentary about Melania Trump dropped Wednesday morning, offering a look at the first lady-to-be over a 20-day window leading up to the 2025 presidential inauguration. The film, titled Melania, is set for a January 30 theatrical release before it moves to Amazon Prime later this year, producers said. The project promises a private, unfiltered look at her life as she navigates family, business, and philanthropy on her path toward the White House, according to remarks quoted by Fox News.
The trailer opens with Melania saying “Here we go again,” before cutting to a montage of scenes and a closing moment in which she calls her husband, Donald Trump, saying, “Hi, Mr. President. Congratulations!” Trump asks, “Did you watch it?” and Melania replies, “I did not. Yeah, I will see it on the news.” The responses online were swift and varied, with some viewers treating the trailer as an AI parody while others mocked the film’s tone and scope.
Among the online chatter, some users suggested the trailer’s production felt like a spoof. One post from Tom Nichols read, “As God is my witness, I thought this was some AI parody from the Resistance libs.” Others joked about the film’s dramatic presentation and its portrayal of Melania’s life, with comments ranging from playful to pointed.
Paul Rudnick took to social media with a satirical thread about the film’s contents, highlighting the theatrical packaging and speculative details as a way to lampoon the project’s reach and reception. Other tweets questioned how deeply the documentary would probe personal history, with one commenter asking aloud whether the film would address sensitive topics such as Epstein’s alleged connections to Trump. Rhonda Elaine Foxx and Kyle Hill echoed that uncertainty, noting that audiences will be watching closely to see what the documentary covers beyond surface-level biographical elements. Miles Taylor amplified the conversation by suggesting that Amazon’s large rights payment could be analyzed in the context of lobbying and corporate strategy. Elder joined the mix with a tongue-in-cheek assessment, writing, “Melania dropping a full-on cinematic trailer for herself like she’s the main character in a spy thriller? Iconic.”
The film is billed as a project directed and produced by Brett Ratner, known for the Rush Hour franchise. Ratner’s involvement is notable because it marks his return to feature filmmaking since faces allegations of sexual harassment raised by multiple women in 2017. The collaboration adds another layer of scrutiny to the project as audiences and commentators weigh the documentary’s aims, its access, and the broader public interest in a former first lady’s lifecycle on the cusp of a new administration.
Amazon-MGM Studios reportedly paid about $40 million for the rights to Melania, a figure that drew attention from observers who pointed to the size of the deal and the potential for the film to function as a media moment as well as a commercial project. Some critics suggested the substantial payment could reflect strategic investments by Amazon in political and cultural storytelling, while others argued the price tag would invite closer scrutiny of the film’s content, sourcing, and framing.
The project’s release plan, with a January 30 theatrical bow followed by a later streaming rollout on Amazon Prime, places Melania at the intersection of traditional film distribution and digital-first arrival strategies. The plan aligns with a broader industry trend toward multi-platform debuts for high-profile documentary titles, particularly those tied to prominent public figures whose stories generate substantial online debate.
In the broader cultural context, the Melania project arrives as audiences continue to dissect how truth, narrative framing, and celebrity influence intersect in contemporary politics. Viewers and critics will be watching not only for revelations, but for the documentary’s handling of sensitive topics, its balance between access and scrutiny, and its ability to contribute constructively to public conversation rather than simply fueling spectacle.