WASHINGTON, D.C. — A moment from a high-profile screening of Melania, the new documentary about First Lady Melania Trump, has drawn criticism and turned into a widely shared media moment.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump and Melania Trump attended the world premiere of her film on January 29 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., where he spoke briefly with reporters on the red carpet. Melania — backed by Amazon MGM Studios — documents the 20 days leading up to her husband’s second presidential inauguration and has already sparked mixed reactions from audiences and critics alike.

During a line of questions, Trump was asked about Melania’s background. In footage and accounts shared online by multiple outlets, he described her as coming from “a faraway country” that was “clean, beautiful, safe,” but did not immediately name Slovenia, where Melania was born and raised. The omission drew attention on social media, with some commentators suggesting he had forgotten the name of her homeland.

Critics quickly circulated clips of the moment, with users on platforms such as X pointing out his phrasing and questioning the apparent lapse. Some social media comments referenced Slovenia, the Central European nation that succeeded the former Yugoslavia, as Melania’s birthplace.

Supporters of Trump and others familiar with public speaking note that red carpet interviews can be fast-paced and unscripted, making off-the-cuff remarks susceptible to vague wording or improvisation. Still, the exchange became a talking point in political and entertainment circles, drawing additional attention to the premiere event.

The documentary has attracted criticism beyond the red carpet moment. Some critics have labeled the film’s portrayal of its subject and production style as promotional rather than journalistic, while overall box office performance and critical reviews have been mixed.

Neither Trump nor Melania Trump issued a formal statement specifically addressing the remarks about her homeland following the event.