OAN Staff Cory Hawkins
5:20 PM – Wednesday, January 28, 2026
Melania Trump rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange, initiating the start of the day’s trading and spotlighting the upcoming premiere of her new documentary, Melania, set to be released on January 30th.
During the event on Wednesday morning, which her office described as the chance to mark an “impactful year of leadership” during her first 12 months as first lady in President Donald Trump’s second term, Trump spoke about the importance of human stories and inspiration.
“Superior storytelling drives culture and in turn moves markets,” Trump said. “In the near future, cultural influence will matter as much as economic power. Our ability to tell our stories and emotionally connect with audiences is paramount. People long to be moved.”
“We need stories that inspire dreams, offer hope, tales of redemption, sad stories, love stories, and funny stories,” she continued. “We want to feel human.”
NYSE President Lynn Martin presented the first lady with a commemorative NYSE medallion, a traditional honor bestowed upon those who ring the bell.
“On the front of the medallion are our six pillars, which stand for a variety of things, but importantly, they stand for access to free markets around the globe and the concept of freedom, which I know you fight for every single day,” Martin said.
Martin also congratulated Trump with an engraved commemorative plate to mark the launch of her documentary.
Trump touted that her film will be the “first time in history” Americans will see the lead-up to an inauguration through a first lady’s eyes. She described her husband’s return to office as an “important period.”
“Visual storytelling and beautiful music create memories for a lifetime. What do you remember when you hear Rolling Stones? Michael Jackson?” she asked. “Films bring families and friends together, sitting side by side, sharing a collective moment. In doing so, they will not simply watch a film, they will participate in a great American tradition and become part of our nation’s history. Thank you for joining me on this historic morning and enjoy the film.”
The film was purchased by Amazon MGM Studios for $40 million and is directed by Brett Ratner. The first lady served as the film’s executive producer, marking her deep involvement in the project.
Her senior advisor and agent, Roger Beckman, provided details about the film to One America News.
“She was involved in the production, the postproduction, all of the ad campaign, the trailer. … And when I say involved, I mean she’s not just approving. She built that trailer. She created the cliffhanger, she selected the music. Same thing with the ad campaign that we’re seeing worldwide now in almost 30 countries,” Beckman said.
The documentary premieres at the newly renamed Trump-Kennedy Center on Thursday, January 29th.
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