A film about First Lady Melania Trump is slated to debut at the recently renamed Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., a move that has sparked immediate backlash due to the center’s contentious rebranding and ongoing operational issues.
Directed by Brett Ratner and produced by Amazon MGM Studios, the documentary provides a glimpse into Melania Trump’s life 20 days before the 2025 presidential inauguration. The trailer, released on Dec. 18, 2025, features the first lady at the U.S. Capitol rotunda on inauguration day, with her saying to the camera, “Here we go again.”
According to a statement from Amazon, Melania Trump characterizes the documentary as a personal, unfiltered look into her life as she balances family, business, and philanthropy en route to becoming the first lady of the United States.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has shown support for the project on social media, with a post reading, “I am so excited for this!”
While the premiere date is yet to be announced, the documentary will be released in theaters globally on January 30, 2026, before being available on Prime Video. A three-part docuseries will follow the theatrical release.
The choice of venue has reignited existing controversies surrounding the Kennedy Center and the director of the documentary. The center’s board of trustees unanimously approved the institution’s name change. However, Democratic lawmakers and legal experts have pointed out that congressional approval is necessary to alter the name of the federally established memorial. A potential legal conflict over the board’s authority is on the horizon, with Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty of Ohio challenging the legality of the name change through a lawsuit.
The Kennedy Center has been grappling with operational difficulties lately. Artists have been left waiting for months for their payments following performances. The planned run of “Hamilton” at the venue was canceled, and folk singer Kristy Lee dropped her scheduled performance due to the recent developments.
There have been major changes in the board, with 18 members being dismissed before new appointments were made. The Kennedy Center was founded by Congress in 1964 as a living memorial to President Kennedy.
Ratner’s appointment as director has brought additional scrutiny. In 2017, he was accused of sexual misconduct by six women, including actresses Olivia Munn and Natasha Henstridge. Although Ratner denied these allegations, his Hollywood career took a hit in the aftermath.
Ratner was seen in photos from the Jeffrey Epstein files, which the Department of Justice released on December 19, 2025. He was pictured alongside Jean-Luc Brunel, the late French model agent and Epstein associate. Virginia Giuffre, one of Epstein’s most known accusers, has stated in a lawsuit that Brunel had sexual intercourse with her several times when she was underage.
After the trailer’s release, Joy Behar of “The View” discussed the choice of director, saying, “If he had somebody direct it who didn’t have a record in some kind of sexual assault, I would be surprised. I mean, this tracks.”
The documentary marks Ratner’s comeback to filmmaking after a long hiatus. Amazon plans to release the film in theaters first before streaming it on its platform, which is a distribution strategy that has become less common for streaming-backed productions.
The premiere will be held at the center, now officially known as The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, as indicated on its website and building signage. Trump’s name was added to the building exterior after the board vote.
The documentary arrives as Melania Trump serves her second term as first lady, having returned to the role after the January 20, 2025, presidential inauguration. The film promises to offer behind-the-scenes access to typically off-camera meetings, private discussions, and environments during the stressful transition period.
Amazon MGM Studios has made a significant investment in the project, making it one of its most high-profile documentary acquisitions.
The combination of the renamed venue, the politically sensitive subject matter, and the controversial director has sparked considerable debate surrounding the premiere. This event is anticipated to attract media attention and protests in Washington, D.C.
