Mainstream Press Shut Out of Invite-Only Premiere of Melania Trump Documentary

Most mainstream media outlets were denied entry to the invite-only premiere of Melania, a new documentary about Melania Trump, held Thursday night at the Trump-branded Kennedy Center.

In the hours leading up to the 6 p.m. screening, reporters gathered in the lobby and on the red carpet hoping they might gain access. Veteran journalists said there was some early optimism that credentials or last-minute networking might work. By 6:30 p.m., however, it became clear that most of the press would not be allowed into the Opera House screening upstairs.

Reporters from The New York Times, The Washington Post, Associated Press and Vanity Fair, among many others, were denied tickets. The only journalists admitted from the carpet were One America News Network anchor Dan Ball and his wife Peyton Drew, a producer for the network.

During the arrivals, Ball repeatedly encouraged government officials to bypass what he called “fake news” reporters and speak only with him. At one point, after interviewing former Trump adviser Alina Habba, he referred to other journalists on the carpet as “mongrels,” a remark that drew laughter from the pair.

Despite the tight restrictions, Donald Trump spent significant time answering questions from mainstream reporters while Melania Trump posed for photographs in a black Dolce & Gabbana skirt suit. Journalists from The New York Times and Reuters questioned Trump about issues including a government funding deal and his timeline for naming a replacement for Jerome Powell as Federal Reserve chair. Trump said that decision would come Friday morning.

The premiere drew several high-profile members of the administration, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Pete Hegseth, Lee Zeldin and Mike Johnson. The film’s director, Brett Ratner, and producer Marc Beckman were also in attendance.

The documentary opens in theaters Friday, Jan. 30, as the administration faces renewed criticism over immigration enforcement actions, including ICE raids in Minneapolis and other cities. The release follows a high-profile White House screening earlier in the week attended by Tim Cook.

The project was produced and distributed by Amazon MGM Studios, which reportedly paid $40 million for the rights to the film and an additional $35 million for marketing. Asked about the spending, Trump said he was not involved.

“It was done with my wife,” he said, adding that he believes the movie “is very important” and “a big deal.”

Industry analysts estimate the film will earn between $3 million and $5 million at the box office this weekend. Online, screenshots showing empty theaters on ticketing platforms like Fandango have circulated widely, though individual showings vary. Beckman said internal figures show the film is “tracking very positively.”

The documentary also marks Ratner’s return to directing after stepping away from Hollywood following multiple sexual misconduct allegations in 2017. Ahead of the premiere, Rolling Stone reported that some crew members asked not to be credited, citing concerns about the administration. Ratner told Variety that he understood those decisions and said the main crew would still be credited.

On the carpet, administration officials appeared upbeat. Hegseth told reporters he was “happy to be here,” while others said they were eager for audiences to see what they described as the “real Melania.”

Kennedy said he attended to support the former first lady, whom he described as an important ally on issues such as children’s health, food regulation and foster care.

“I think she’s been portrayed as a one-dimensional figure,” he said. “But that’s not who she is.”