Jimmy Kimmel Calls Melania the ‘Highest-Paid Actress’ While Referencing her Marriage to Trump
Reporting on the film’s licensing deal was first detailed by The Wall Street Journal, which remains the most authoritative source on the project’s business side.
Jimmy Kimmel did not hold back this week, turning his attention to First Lady Melania Trump, her new documentary, and her famous husband during back-to-back episodes of Jimmy Kimmel Live!
As part of his monologue, the late-night host opened with what sounded like straight news. Kimmel noted that Melania’s long-anticipated documentary is set to debut in theaters this weekend. He cited a Wall Street Journal report stating that Melania received a $28 million licensing fee for the film. The tone shifted almost instantly.
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“You know, between this and her marriage, she’s probably the highest-paid actress in the world,” Kimmel joked, drawing laughter from the studio audience.
From there, the mockery escalated. Kimmel claimed early box-office projections suggested the film could earn between $1 million and $5 million, a figure he said would trail that of the horror movie Send Help. He added that Send Help might have been a more fitting title for Melania’s documentary.
The jokes did not stop there. On the previous night’s episode, Kimmel took aim at the film’s production and timing. Referring to the Amazon MGM-backed project, he sarcastically described it as a “$75 million bribe,” before correcting himself to say “documentary.” The comment drew attention to the scale of the deal and reignited debate about the ways politics, entertainment, and money intersect in Hollywood.
Kimmel also referenced current events that have competed for headlines during the film’s rollout, quipping that Melania was frustrated by serious news overshadowing her promotional efforts. The host framed the moment as awkward, suggesting the first lady was forced to address heavier questions while trying to celebrate her film.
During the same segment, Kimmel aired a clip from Melania’s recent appearance on Fox News, where she confirmed that Donald Trump and their son Barron both enjoyed the documentary. That endorsement, Kimmel said, was not exactly convincing.
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“Her son and her husband liked it,” he said dryly, before pointing out that people involved in the production were less enthusiastic. Kimmel cited a Rolling Stone report stating that roughly two-thirds of the New York-based crew asked to have their names removed from the film’s credits. “Two is a lot of thirds,” he added.
Despite the criticism, Melania has spoken proudly about the project and her role in shaping it. In her Fox News interview, she said viewers would finally see how she works, how she communicates, and who she is behind the public image. She emphasized that she values privacy and makes deliberate choices about when and how she speaks, stressing that independence has always defined her approach.
Whether audiences see the film as revealing, controversial, or simply another political lightning rod, Kimmel’s takedown ensured one thing. Melania’s documentary is already sparking conversation, and not all of it is flattering.