Former Biden White House press secretary Jen Psaki was positively giddy about the new documentary film about first lady Melania Trump being an “absolute box office flop.”
The MS NOW host, triggered by the Trump administration’s efforts to deport illegal immigrants, claimed the poor presales for the Amazon MGM Studios film “Melania” are a telling indicator of how unpopular Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is currently.
“No matter what tea leaves you look at…the message is the same: nobody likes what the Trump administration is doing right now,” she said as she opened MS NOW’s “The Briefing with Jen Psaki.”
“I mean, take, for example, first lady Melania Trump’s new movie “Melania,” that’s what it’s called,” she continued, noting that Amazon has spent $35 million marketing the film.
#BREAKING: Psaki opener 01/28: “In politics, we spend a lot of time reading tea leaves, all sorts of tea leaves, trying to get a sense of which way the political winds may be blowing, and right now, no matter what tea leaves you look at…the message is the SAME–NOBODY likes… pic.twitter.com/7rsrPpZ8ml
— Emoluments Clause (@Emolclause) January 29, 2026
Psaki went on to deride the film and its reported lackluster ticket presales, citing examples of how the film, with a reported $40 million production budget, is already faltering at the box office. This, Psaki claimed, is directly connected to President Trump’s “toxic” ICE operations.
We took a look at the seats available opening night and weekend of the ‘Melania’ documentary. It’s on track to be an absolute box office flop. https://t.co/IoHXj7Z7dE pic.twitter.com/Jq4nlABGDA
— The Briefing with Jen Psaki (@PsakiBriefing) January 28, 2026
She claimed not even the “MAGA diehard crowd” was interested in going to see the Brett Ratner-directed documentary, which opens in theaters on January 30.
“Donald Trump has become so toxic that even the people who worked on his own wife’s movie cannot stomach associating themselves with him, Psaki claimed, citing a Rolling Stone piece that cited anonymous sources.
MELANIA, the Movie, is a MUST WATCH. Get your tickets today — Selling out, FAST!
Photo: Regine Mahauxhttps://t.co/rjwd5Appkv pic.twitter.com/vFpXfV0Mg0
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 26, 2026
“Amazon MGM Studios’ film MELANIA offers unprecedented access to the 20 days leading up to the 2025 Presidential Inauguration — through the eyes of the First Lady herself,” the Amazon description of the film reads.
“Step inside Melania Trump’s world as she orchestrates inauguration plans, navigates the complexities of the White House transition, and moves her family back to the Nation’s Capital. With exclusive footage capturing critical meetings, private conversations, and never-before-seen environments, MELANIA showcases Mrs. Trump’s return to one of the world’s most powerful roles.”
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.
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