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The new Amazon MGM Studios documentary Melania is a high‑budget, behind‑the‑scenes look at First Lady Melania Trump’s life in the 20 days leading up to her husband’s 2025 presidential inauguration. And it’s already become one of the most talked‑about cultural events of the moment ahead of its wide release. Directed by Brett Ratner and produced in partnership with Amazon, the film debuted in a star‑studded private screening at the White House. First Lady Trump called the event a “historic moment,” though it’s not without controversy. Here’s what to know about the White House screening that has everyone talking.

The White House screening of ‘Melania’ reportedly included 70 VIP guests

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The Melania documentary gives viewers an inside look into First Lady Melania Trump’s life during the critical 20 days leading up to her husband’s 2025 presidential inauguration. The Amazon MGM Studios film was directed by Brett Ratner and produced with Melania’s active involvement. And it chronicles her transition back into the White House. This included planning the inauguration and navigating personal and diplomatic responsibilities. Of course, President Donald Trump and their son, Barron, make appearances in the documentary.

The documentary is slated for a theatrical and streaming release in January 2026. However, before the world got to view Melania, the White House had a private screening. According to The Hollywood Reporter, 70 VIP guests headed to a makeshift theater in the East Room of the White House to watch the film. The event wasn’t publicly advertised.

Attendees included a wealth of CEOs and socialites, including Queen Rania of Jordan; Zoom CEO Eric Yuan; Apple CEO Tim Cook; New York Stock Exchange CEO Lynn Martin; AMD CEO Lisa Su; socialite and Fiat heiress Azzi Agnelli; and fashion designer Adam Lippes, among many others.

Mike Tyson and self-help guru Tony Robbins were also reportedly in attendance. Photographer Ellen von Unwerth also received an invite, as she shot the film’s poster. Of course, Barron Trump also attended.

Several important people at Amazon Studios, including chief Mike Hopkins and CEO Andy Jassy. Senior adviser to Melania, Marc Beckman, also attended. However, the publication notes that officials close to the president and cabinet members didn’t attend.

At the exclusive White House screening of the new Melania documentary, guests walked away with a suite of custom merchandise and themed keepsakes. According to The Guardian and photos from the event posted to Instagram, VIPs received framed collectible screening tickets, limited‑edition versions of Melania’s book, and black-and-white branded popcorn boxes bearing the film’s logo. The White House screening also featured black-and-white cookies, pretzels, macarons, and M&Ms. Each dessert was crafted to fit the documentary’s monochrome palette.

Aside from the themed merch, guests were welcomed into the screening with custom music. A full military band played Melania’s Waltz, the central music featured in the documentary, as guests walked in. An Instagram photo shows the East Room with guests seated. The glass chandelier offered minimalist mood lighting while a spotlight shone on the podium in front of the screen.

The black-and-white themed merch for Melania fits the overall aesthetic of the White House. President Donald Trump’s design interventions have introduced a far more varied palette within the mansion’s interior. His projects have brought bold contrasts, like black‑and‑white statuary marble and abundant gold accents, into spaces such as the recently renovated Lincoln Bathroom. There, he replaced mid‑century green tile with polished marble and gilded fixtures, according to Reuters.

The ‘Melania’ official premiere is set for Jan. 29, 2026

Seventy guests recently got to see Melania before the rest of the world. However, the official premiere is scheduled to take place on Jan. 29, 2026, at the newly renamed Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The film then opens in theaters nationwide the following day.

This rollout reflects Amazon’s unprecedented investment in a political documentary, which is reportedly around $40 million for production, plus tens of millions more in marketing.

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