First lady Melania Trump said her 19-year-old son, Barron, still needs constant attention. She talked about the challenges of parenting a legal adult while promoting her new documentary, “Melania,” ahead of its Thursday premiere.
“You need to be there for a child nonstop, especially when they need you, especially at the age Barron is,” Melania Trump told Fox Business anchor Maria Bartiromo in an interview aired Thursday morning.
These comments came as the documentary, produced by Melania Trump, launched in Washington. The film was set to debut Thursday night at the Kennedy Center, then open in theaters worldwide on Friday, according to an Associated Press report.
Barron Trump is currently in his sophomore year at New York University’s Stern School of Business. However, he has kept a low public profile compared to other members of the Trump family. Melania Trump mentioned that her son has shown more interest in politics during President Donald Trump’s second term than he did during the first, which started when Barron was 10.
“He understands politics. He gives advice to his father. We talk about it very differently,” she said in the Fox Business interview.
Recent reports about Barron Trump’s schooling and living situation have gained attention as the documentary release approaches. The Daily Beast and other outlets noted that he has shifted some studies from Manhattan and has spent more time living with his parents while attending classes through NYU’s Washington, D.C., program.
The documentary’s opening week has also become a test of public interest in a project that has received significant promotional attention. NPR described the rollout as big-budget and very produced, with the film portrayed as an unusually close look at a first lady known for her carefully managed appearances.
The Associated Press stated that the documentary covers the 20 days leading up to President Trump’s 2025 inauguration and that AmazonMGM Studios produced it. The plan is for the film to stream after its theatrical run. The AP also noted that the Trumps hosted a viewing at the White House days before the Kennedy Center premiere.
As the film approached release, some outlets reported weak early demand. The Guardian mentioned that industry observers and exhibitors described ticket sales as “soft” in the United Kingdom, as questions arose about whether audiences would attend a theatrical documentary centered on a controversial political figure.
The premiere and marketing efforts have also faced scrutiny due to behind-the-scenes issues and the film’s significant political context. NPR reported that the project’s scope and distribution plan drew unusual attention to a first lady’s media venture and that the film’s arrival coincided with a tense national climate around immigration and politics.
In her interview with Bartiromo, Melania Trump maintained her focus on family and her role as Barron’s parent. She frequently returned to his age and the responsibilities she associates with it. She described her son as more involved in his father’s work than in previous years while remaining mostly out of the public eye.
The documentary’s premiere puts Melania Trump in the spotlight at a time when the White House has relied on televised messaging to promote policy priorities and shape narratives around the administration. The film’s reception, including audience attendance in theaters before it shifts to streaming, will help decide how far that strategy moves beyond politics and into entertainment.
