Melania: Twenty Days to History Review

Peri Stevens, VA - Writer

Photo from official Whitehouse Gallery

Melania (2026) premiered on January 29th at the Kennedy Center, followed by record-shattering audience scores of 99%. The documentary began showing to audiences through select theaters on January 30th, beating box office predictions by a landslide. 

Melania takes place after the 2024 presidential election results, twenty days before her husband, Donald J. Trump's inauguration into the White House for a second term. The film focuses on the importance of the First Lady as a leader and a gracious host; inauguration plans, emails, and uprooting her family from Florida’s Mar-a-Lago back to the White House aren’t easy. The movie presents the heroine's perspective on the First Lady, intertwined with her responsibilities as a pivotal female figure in the media today. Melania is seen throughout the film balancing meetings, personal needs, and loved family over twenty days. 

The movie depicts a significant cultural shift in today's media. Melania is the first First Lady to have a movie that documents not only her husband’s success but also her own experiences and struggles with balancing her work and his. The movie is extraordinary at creating an intimate environment for the viewer; from the girl-next-door to an impactful, brilliant First Lady who has led the way for women in the Republican party.

However, there has been significant backlash against the film. Liberals claim that it describes an unrealistic America, failing to represent issues within the country and Trump’s presidency. However, the film isn't about the current president, Trump; it's about Melania and the changes she's been making for America and her family.

I saw Melania: Twenty Days to History on January 30th at the Georgetown AMC theater. I was shocked by the amount of personality Melania showed in the film. Displaying everything, from what was involved in having a successful inauguration with the planning of outfits, down to personable conversations with her friends, such as Macron, the French president's wife. The movie made me see Melania in a completely different light; not just as Trump's wife, but as her individual self.

To criticize the movie, I had hoped the film would have delved more into her childhood growing up as an immigrant. However, the use of Slovenia's logo on the glass cups at Trump’s inauguration helped create the impression that the First Lady is focused on the future and on how she can improve the United States alongside her husband.

Overall, Melania (2026) reveals the inner workings of what it takes to be a First Lady of the United States and how she has shaped the role.