 "Trumps and triumphs: 5 takeaways from 'Melania', the US First Lady's documentary")
On Friday, many got insights into the life of the US First Lady, Melania Trump, in a new documentary titled “Melania”. The documentary premiered at the Kennedy Centre and was widely distributed in 1,500 theatres nationwide.
The film is produced by the first lady herself and was recorded on the 20 days of January last year, culminating in President Donald Trump’s second inauguration. The director, Brett Ratner, followed Melania’s back and forth from Mar-a-Lago to New York and Washington DC.
Here are some of the takeaways from the documentary:
- Melania’s love for her mother
The documentary made several references to the First Lady’s “beloved mother”, Amalija Knavs, who died in January 2024. In the movie, Melania speaks often about grief, and about the influence of her mother, a former pattern maker whom she credits, in part, with her love of fashion.
She went on to describe Knavs as “the richest thread in my life,” whose “quiet strength shaped me.” On the anniversary of her mother’s death, Melania was attending the funeral of a former US President, Jimmy Carter, in Washington, then, back in New York, went to St. Patrick’s Cathedral to light a candle for her mother.
- Her immigrant roots
The movie also touched upon her immigrant roots. Notably, in an administration whose anti-immigration policies have led to violence, Melania was often seen surrounded by immigrants, like Hervé Pierre, her French fashion designer, a friend of more than eight years.
Meanwhile, Tham Kannalikham, the interior designer responsible for changing over the White House to Trump 2.0, describes how her family left her native Laos when she was 2, and how the opportunity to work on the presidential residence became part of her American dream.
The First Lady herself talked about her “journey as an immigrant” from Slovenia to the White House — “a reminder of why I respect this nation so deeply,” she says. “Everyone should do what they can to protect our individual rights. Never take them for granted, because in the end, no matter where we come from, we are bound by the same humanity.”
- Her love for her son
While Barron Trump was often seen in the movie, he was never heard. However, Melania mentions that she is proud of how her son has navigated his unusually public childhood. As he grows up, “it’s very important that he lives the life he wants to live,” she said.
Melania also mentioned how her son would not get out of the car — his choice. When the public festivities are ultimately moved indoors because of extreme cold, she confesses that she feels relieved. “Being in a more secure, enclosed space brought a certain peace of mind.”
Quick Reads
View All- Her style
The first lady’s graphic palette — “very symmetrical, right angles, black and white,” as her closest adviser, Marc Beckman, recently described it in the documentary. Her clothes, both in the documentary and during the promotion, became a fashion statement.
- Lack of Trump
In the documentary, the first lady often referred to the US president as “my husband”. While there were a few phone calls between the two, no private dinners together or interactions outside their political roles were shown.
This can be due to the fact that the Republican firebrand does not have a reputation for being accessible, and the documentary upholds that. Overall, the documentary showcased how the American First Lady saw herself and her family.
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