Melania Trump rings NYSE opening bell to promote ‘unprecedented’ inauguration documentary

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: First Lady Melania Trump rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday, January 28, using the high-profile moment to promote her upcoming documentary Melania. Dressed in a long black overcoat and leather corset, she appeared on the trading floor just two days before the film’s global theatrical release on Friday, January 30. 

The appearance placed the First Lady at the center of one of the country’s most visible financial stages as she introduced her first major project under her new production banner, Muse Films.

Addressing those gathered on the floor, Melania framed the documentary as part of a broader American tradition tied to shared cultural experience.

Films bring families together, says Melania

“Films bring families and friends together, sitting side-by-side, sharing the collective moment,” Melania Trump said. She told the audience that viewers would not simply watch the documentary but would “participate in a great American tradition and become part of our nation’s history.”

Ringing the NYSE bell is often used by companies and public figures to mark major launches. Melania used the platform to highlight the film and her entry into production, positioning the project as both personal and national in scope. 

Trump calls the movie a must-watch

The promotional campaign kicked off with a private White House screening on Saturday, January 24, marking the first full viewing by Donald Trump, who publicly endorsed the film two days later. 

“MELANIA, the Movie, is a MUST WATCH,” Trump wrote in a January 26 post on X. “Get your tickets today – Selling out, FAST!”

The screening drew roughly 70 guests. According to Reuters, attendees included former boxing champion Mike Tyson, Queen Rania of Jordan, and Amazon CEO Andy Jassy.

Unprecedented access to transition days

Amazon MGM Studios says the documentary offers “unprecedented access” to the 20 days leading up to the 2025 Presidential Inauguration, told from Melania Trump’s perspective. The studio describes the film as a “step inside Melania Trump’s world” during the White House transition and inauguration planning. 

The project features footage of meetings, private conversations, and previously unseen areas of the White House. The trailer opens with Melania wearing a wide-brimmed navy hat on Inauguration Day, telling viewers, “Here we go again.” It also shows her advising the President to emphasize being a “peacemaker and unifier” in his address. 

Private screening amid national unrest

The documentary is directed by Brett Ratner, marking his first major project since sexual harassment and assault allegations surfaced in 2017. Following the NYSE appearance, the film is set to premiere on Thursday, January 29, at the Trump-Kennedy Center, formerly the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, according to board chair Richard Grenell.

The rollout has coincided with a volatile national moment. The White House screening took place the same day federal agents shot and killed Alex Pretti during protests in Minnesota and as large portions of the country braced for a historic winter storm.