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First lady Melania Trump rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday, Jan. 28, ahead of her upcoming documentary release.
The film, “Melania,” documents her life in the 20 days leading up to President Donald Trump’s second inauguration.
Ahead of the opening bell, the first lady, clad in a long black overcoat and leather corset, likened the storytelling in her film as a driver of culture.
“Films bring families and friends together, sitting side-by-side, sharing the collective moment,” Melania Trump said. “In doing do they will not simply watch my film, they will participate in a great American tradition and become part of our nation’s history.”
The ringing of the NYSE opening bell, which starts the day’s trading, has long been used as a platform for companies and public figures alike to promote themselves during an often highly publicized event.
Days earlier, Melania Trump hosted a private screening of the film at the White House, which marked the first time her husband watched it in full. Later, he took to social media to do promotion of his own.
“MELANIA, the Movie, is a MUST WATCH,” Trump wrote in a Jan. 26 post on X. “Get your tickets today – Selling out, FAST!”
The movie is set for a global release in select movie theaters on Friday, Jan. 30.
See photos of Melania Trump ringing NYSE opening bell
What is the ‘Melania’ documentary about?
According to Amazon MGM Studios, Melania Trump’s eponymous documentary “offers unprecedented access to the 20 days leading up to the 2025 Presidential Inauguration — through the eyes of the First Lady herself.”
The film will showcase a “step inside Melania Trump’s world” as she coordinated inauguration plans and navigated the White House transition, the studio said.
It also features “exclusive footage capturing critical meetings, private conversations, and never-before-seen environments.”
The documentary’s trailer opens with a shot of Melania Trump donning a navy-wide brimmed hat on Inauguration Day in January 2025 as she tells the camera, “Here we go again.”
It also shows her role as an adviser to the president, including a moment in which she encourages him to emphasize “peacemaker and unifier” in his inaugural address.
“Melania” is the first lady’s first project of her new production company, “Muse Films.” It was directed by Brett Ratner, his first major project since being accused of sexual harassment and assault in 2017.
Watch ‘Melania’ documentary trailer
Melania Trump unveiled documentary at White House screening
“Melania” will officially premiere on Thursday, Jan. 29 at the Trump-Kennedy Center — which was formerly known as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts — board chair Richard Grenell wrote in a post on X on Jan. 8.
On Saturday, Jan. 24, Melania Trump hosted a private White House screening of the documentary, which was the first time the president, her family and close friends saw the film in full, Reuters reported.
According to Reuters, about 70 people attended the screening, including former professional boxer Mike Tyson, Jordan’s Queen Rania and Amazon CEO Andy Jassy.
The screening came on the same day federal agents shot and killed Alex Pretti during protests in Minnesota, and much of the country braced for a historic winter storm.
Contributing: Kinsey Crowley, USA TODAY; Reuters
Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at melina.khan@usatoday.com.
