WASHINGTON, DC — On January 29, activists and artists donned 18th-century French court attire outside the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, protesting the premiere of the film Melania (2026). This documentary, purchased by Amazon for $75 million, allocated approximately $28 million to the Trump family.
Donning wigs and faux jewels, around 40 members from groups Free DC and Hands Off the Arts voiced their disapproval of the poorly received documentary centered on the First Lady. They held signs with slogans like “Let them eat Whole Foods” and “Authoritarianism — get it faster with Prime.”
The protestors, gathered around a mock three-tier cake with plastic champagne glasses in hand, cheered as an organizer declared through a megaphone: “When loan forgiveness is cut… our dear queen Melania says ‘Let them eat cake.’” Notably, President Trump announced days later that the Kennedy Center would undergo a two-year renovation starting in July.
Originally planned for the Kennedy Center Plaza, the demonstration was relocated to Triangle Park due to security barriers. Protesters used the nearby location to express their dissent, addressing passing black armored SUVs with their messages.
Keya Chatterjee, Free DC’s executive director, explained the deliberate choice to channel Marie Antoinette, highlighting the opulence of Bezos and Trump’s event at a publicly funded cultural venue. She criticized the stark contrast between the powerful and the less fortunate, underscoring the misuse of resources dedicated to a president’s memorial.
Chatterjee drew parallels between Trump’s administration and the excesses of Marie Antoinette, noting similar critiques during his term. She referenced the Otpor movement in Serbia, emphasizing the power of art and humor in countering authoritarianism.
Free DC partnered with Hands Off the Arts, a coalition advocating for cultural independence from government influence. The collaboration included a variety of creative protestors, such as a woman in a Hamburglar version of Melania costume and a local drag queen.
Despite the chilly weather cutting the protest short, participants left with mock Playbills for “Melanie Antoinette.” Chatterjee reiterated the importance of maintaining artistic expression in Washington, DC, as a means of asserting public ownership of the capital.
