During his opening monologue on the February 2, 2026 episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, comedian and late-night host Jimmy Kimmel took aim at the new documentary Melania—the Amazon MGM Studios film centered on First Lady Melania Trump—and the over-the-top praise it received from Fox News.
The documentary, directed by Brett Ratner and covering the 20 days leading up to Donald Trump’s second inauguration in January 2025, had a surprisingly strong box office opening despite brutal reviews from critics. It grossed $7 million over its debut weekend with a reported budget of around $75 million (including production and marketing costs). Kimmel highlighted this as a “record” in a sarcastic jab: “Melania the Movie, with a budget of $75 million, made $7 million over the weekend. It set a record. It was the biggest opening for a non-musical vanity project/brazen corporate bribe in 10 years.”
He then pointed out the stark contrast in reception: “‘Melania’ has a score of 6% on Rotten Tomatoes, but on Fox News, it got a strong 100%,” where hosts like Kayleigh McEnany are even calling for it to receive an Oscar nomination. McEnany reportedly said the film “should be nominated for Oscars. And if she was to go, she would be the best dressed by a long shot.”
Kimmel responded with mock enthusiasm and his signature sarcasm: “Mark my words right now. If ‘Melania’ gets nominated for an Oscar, I will host that show whether they ask me to or not. I will insist on it.”
The audience erupted in cheers as Kimmel doubled down on the absurdity, adding: “You know how this ends, right? This ends with Melania winning the first-ever FIFA best actress award.”
The bit was a clear roast of the film’s polarized reception—widely panned by mainstream critics as a glossy, superficial vanity project, yet enthusiastically promoted by conservative media outlets. Kimmel, who has hosted the Oscars four times in the past (and famously clashed with Donald Trump during some of those appearances), used the opportunity to troll the idea of returning to the Academy Awards stage under such a bizarre condition.
The full monologue segment, including additional jokes about the premiere and related Trump news, is available on the official Jimmy Kimmel Live! YouTube channel and highlights reels.
