DoD Denies Official Order, But Troops Say They Were Pushed to See Melania Film
U.S. military members at multiple bases were reportedly pressured by commanders to attend screenings of Melania, the new documentary about first lady Melania Trump, according to a watchdog group. The claims are drawing fresh attention as the film expands its theatrical release after an unexpectedly strong box office debut.
The military freedom group Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) says it has received complaints from service members at eight different installations around the world, alleging that commanders encouraged them to see the film as part of required Unit Activity Events. Those events, meant to build morale and unit cohesion, typically include activities like picnics, softball games, and movie nights.
In an email shared with Business Insider, one active-duty enlisted service member wrote that their commander advised the unit and members’ families to join him for a showing of Melania at an off-base theater, saying attendance would count toward their monthly morale requirements. Several troops said they felt obligated to go or found excuses to avoid the screening.
The MRFF’s founder Mikey Weinstein, a former Air Force officer, said service members felt “scared” by the pressure and that the influence of a senior commander is significantly greater than that of a typical civilian boss. “They were pressured to see the movie,” Weinstein told reporters.
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The Pentagon, however, pushed back on the idea of any formal mandate. A Department of Defense official told Business Insider there is “no Department of War directive requiring service members to see this film.”
The Melania documentary, directed by Brett Ratner and distributed by Amazon MGM Studios, earned about $7 million across 1,778 screens in its opening weekend and is expanding to nearly 2,003 theaters this weekend.
As the box office performance and controversy grow, questions remain about where the line should be drawn between unit activities, personal choice, and real or perceived command influence.
Lawmakers and advocacy groups may press for clearer guidance on military morale events and free-exercise protections in order to prevent similar disputes going forward.
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