Pod Force One: PF1 Minisode – Melania Takes Control

Host: Miranda Devine (New York Post)
Date: February 2, 2026

Episode Overview

Miranda Devine dives into the uproarious response to the new documentary Melania, which spotlights First Lady Melania Trump. Despite lambasting from movie critics, the film scores unprecedented success at the box office and with audiences across America. Devine dissects the critical divide, explores the symbolism and intent behind the film’s most telling scenes, and frames the documentary as Melania Trump’s decisive answer to her media detractors.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. A Box Office Phenomenon

• Melania debuts at #3, earning $8 million in just three days—an extraordinary feat for a documentary.

• Public reception is overwhelmingly positive, contradicting the negative press from elite critics.

  • Quote [00:32]:

    “Melania is crushing it on Rotten Tomatoes too, with a 99% audience score on the Popcornometer, easily besting the sneering critics’ 10% on the Tomatometer.”

• Devine asserts a broader trend: when establishment media pan something Trump-related, America at large frequently loves it.

2. Critical Contempt vs. Audience Adulation

• Movie critics—Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Independent, The Guardian—ridicule the film, using language from “hagiography” to “gilded trash.”

• In contrast, real audience reviews praise Melania’s elegance, resilience, and accomplishments.

  • Quote [01:30]:

    “Absolute class act documentary.”
    —Glynis (audience review)

  • Quote [01:50]:

    “Such a pleasure to see real class return to the White House.”
    —Deborah T. (audience review)

• Devine emphasizes the “inverse mediaometer” as a reliable pulse of America’s true sentiment.

3. Behind the Scenes: Lavish Yet Revealing

• The documentary covers the 20 days before inauguration, taking viewers into Mar-a-Lago, Trump Tower, and intimate White House settings.

  • Quote [03:00]:

    “You also see a little of the pokey living room of the White House residence... staff can be seen pulling a dinner from the fridge for the new president to eat.”

• Memorable, personal moments:

  • Trump, joking:

    “She’s very difficult, but there’s nobody like her.”
    —Donald Trump [03:25]
    (pauses and reassures, “She’s not too difficult”—Melania laughs, revealing warmth beneath her stoic facade.)

• The film’s soundtrack choice is pointed—Rolling Stones’ “Gimme Shelter” over stylish visuals, symbolizing Melania facing a metaphorical storm as she transitions back into public life.

  • Quote [04:10]:

    “From a woman who curates every aspect of her life down to the finest detail... there’s no doubting she wants us to take Mick Jagger’s words literally—‘a storm is threatening my very life today.’”

4. Symbolism and Subtle Messaging

• Soundtrack swaps to opera as the Trumps escort the Bidens out—Rossini’s “La Gazza Ladra” (The Thieving Magpie), a sly reference likely not lost on viewers.

  • Quote [05:10]:

    “Has a clear message in English. The title is the Thieving Magpie. No accident there.”

• Melania, shown supporting Trump at the swearing-in, is depicted as formidable, armored with fashion and resolve.

  • Quote [05:55]:

    “People wanted to murder him, incarcerate him and slander him and here he is. I’m so proud.”
    —Melania Trump (film excerpt)

  • Devine reads Melania’s attire (dark navy coat, brimmed hat) as a signal: she won’t be trifled with this time.

5. Reclamation of Her Public Image

• Devine frames the film as Melania’s deliberate response to years of media scorn—her “manicured middle finger” to critics.

  • Quote [07:25]:

    “She decided to take full control of her image and present herself to the American public in a way that showcases the dignity and grandeur of the Office while casting her in a positive light.”

• Box office successes are especially striking in “real America,” with sold-out crowds across the South and Midwest, even as urban coastal theaters remain empty.

• The commercial windfall: Melania reportedly earned $20 million+ from Amazon and has launched a new personal brand, positioning her for further financial and cultural influence.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Miranda Devine on the critics [01:05]:

  “To say that Melania is a hagiography would be an insult to hagiographies, sniffed the Hollywood Reporter... Huh? Haters gonna hate.”

• On audience reaction [01:40]:

  “[Melania] is circumspect, a useful quality to have in Slovenia... perhaps equally valuable in today’s political landscape.”
  —The Legal Aid (audience review)

• On resentment of media bias [06:50]:

  “As if to rub it in, the minute a frumpier First Lady arrived in the form of Jill Biden, they fawned over her and put her on the cover of Vogue four times. Melania withstood the insults stoically, never complaining, never explaining—until now.”

• On the film’s ultimate message [08:14]:

  “Melania is their just desserts. Don’t forget to come back this Wednesday…”

Timestamps of Important Segments

• 00:32–01:30: Rotten Tomatoes ratings, critical/audience divide
• 01:30–02:20: Real Americans’ audience reviews
• 03:00–04:00: Private, behind-the-scenes moments
• 04:10–05:10: Soundtrack symbolism (“Gimme Shelter,” “La Gazza Ladra”)
• 05:55–06:50: Melania’s new public image, contrast with media narratives
• 07:25–08:14: Commercial/brand success and Melania’s message to critics

Tone and Takeaways

Miranda Devine’s tone is sharp, irreverent, and unapologetically pro-Trump. She delights in the perceived “revenge” Melania enacts on the media and celebrates the documentary’s connection with America’s heartland. The episode frames Melania as both high-gloss spectacle and a pointed act of media defiance—a story of reclamation, dignity, and calculated control.