First Lady Melania Trump on Tuesday urged Americans to come together following the fatal shootings of two US citizens by federal law enforcement and the wave of protests that followed in Minneapolis.
“We need to unify. I’m calling for unity,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News. She added that President Donald Trump had spoken with Minnesota’s governor and the mayor of Minneapolis and that officials were working together to keep the situation peaceful. “They’re working together to make it peaceful and without riots,” she said.
The interview marked a rare public appearance for the first lady during the president’s second term and her first on-camera interview since the 2024 presidential transition. She spoke from the White House ahead of the Friday release of her self-titled documentary.
The killing of Alex Pretti by federal law enforcement has sparked widespread outrage, including criticism from some longtime allies of the president. Lawmakers, conservative commentators and even the National Rifle Association have pushed back against the administration’s rhetoric, prompting what aides describe as a shift in tone from the White House.
“I’m against the violence,” Melania Trump said. “So if you protest, protest in peace. We need to unify in these times.”
After keeping a low public profile early in the term — spending much of her time in Florida and New York — the first lady has gradually increased her public engagements ahead of the documentary’s release. She is scheduled to ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday and attend a premiere at the Kennedy Center with the president on Thursday evening.
As unrest unfolded in Minnesota over the weekend, the White House hosted a private screening of the documentary for a small group of guests, including Apple CEO Tim Cook, boxer Mike Tyson and Queen Rania of Jordan. Guests were served popcorn branded with the film’s title and watched scenes accompanied by a waltz from the movie’s score.
The documentary represents a major investment for Amazon MGM Studios, which has spent an estimated $35 million promoting the film, in addition to a reported $40 million deal with Trump. The film focuses on the 20 days leading up to President Trump’s return to the White House and offers a glimpse into the couple’s private relationship.
“I give him my advice, and I tell him what I think,” Melania Trump said of her husband. “Sometimes he listens, sometimes he doesn’t. But I am here to support him.”
She also explained her decision to include a phone call between herself and the president at the end of the trailer, saying she wanted viewers to see their private conversations. Trump said the president “loved” the film after watching it at the White House screening, while their son Barron also enjoyed it.
The documentary, she said, captures “many different emotions — humor, sadness, grief.”
