First Lady disputes claims of documentary promotion (Full Transcript)

[00:00:00] Speaker 1: Why do you feel it is appropriate to use an official White House event to promote your documentary? So I asked the First Lady that question because at today's White House event, she encouraged people to go see her film for more on her initial meeting with Aviva Siegel, and I'm hearing major concerns from ethics experts and hostage advocates about that.

[00:00:18] Speaker 2: This is not a promotion. We are here celebrating the release of the hostages of Aviva and Keith. They were in Washington, D.C., and they called me. They said they would like to come over to thank me and to give hugs, and that's why we are here. It has nothing to do with promotion.

[00:00:40] Speaker 1: Back in January of 2025, Melania Trump sat down for a meeting with Aviva Siegel. She is a freed hostage of Hamas who was advocating at the time for the release of her husband, Keith. And that moment was a major scene in the First Lady's new documentary, which came out just last week. And Trump noted that as the Siegels came to the Blue Room for a visit.

[00:00:58] Speaker 2: It was an emotional meeting, and it is captured on camera and available to see in my new film, Melania.

[00:01:08] Speaker 3: And I also want to end by congratulating you on the release of your movie. So much looking forward to seeing it, and so grateful for you deciding to have Aviva be a part of your movie.

[00:01:24] Speaker 1: Now, it's not illegal for a sitting First Lady to profit from her office. Trump signed a roughly $40 million deal with Amazon MGM Studios for this film, nor is it illegal for her to personally promote it in the White House.