Comedian Chelsea Handler has sharply criticized a documentary about former first lady Melania Trump, suggesting an alternative film that would delve into her U.S. citizenship and alleged connections to Jeffrey Epstein. Handler's remarks came during an appearance on journalist Kara Swisher's podcast.
Handler described the existing documentary as "entertaining for about 10 or 15 minutes" before losing her interest. She posited that a more compelling documentary would explore how Melania Trump obtained an "Einstein visa," a nickname for an employment-based green card awarded to individuals with extraordinary abilities. Melania Trump, then known as Melania Knauss, immigrated to the U.S. from Slovenia in 2001 under such a visa while working as a fashion model.
Handler also made a jesting reference to the "Epstein visa," humorously suggesting the name might have been misspelled, alluding to the former president's past association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and unsubstantiated rumors about the former first lady's links to him.
In Handler's hypothetical documentary, she envisioned Melania Trump as the figure who "unearths" the Epstein files. "Finally, we get all of the Epstein files that all the Republican Party, that everybody’s been demanding," Handler told Swisher. "Let’s see them. Let’s see, you know, the person who’s listed more than anybody else. Let’s have her hand-deliver them to us on a platter. That would be a nice beginning or end to a documentary."
Handler's commentary follows reports indicating that Melania Trump is slated to star in a multi-episode documentary series on Amazon Prime. This announcement comes despite reviews suggesting her previous documentary performed poorly.
"Melania Trump’s first documentary bombed, and she’s going to get in front of the camera anyway," Swisher observed.
The upcoming series is reportedly set to offer viewers a more intimate look at the early stages of the second Trump administration.
Handler recounted her experience watching the "Melania" documentary, noting she consumed a marijuana edible beforehand. She characterized the film as featuring "just her walking around" with substantial voiceover, suggesting direct address to the camera might be "problematic." She observed that Trump changed outfits seven to eight times within the first 20 minutes, primarily focusing on her role in planning the White House inaugural ball. Handler concluded that the documentary conveyed that Trump had "absolutely nothing to do with it after she’s demonstrated how much she had to do with it."
Calling the film "pretty ridiculous," Handler expressed disbelief that Trump would receive another platform. "I’ve never seen someone who doesn’t speak up for anything or stand for anything keep getting a platform to say absolutely nothing," she stated.