Jimmy Kimmel isn’t buying what MAGA is selling about the Melania documentary, and frankly, neither should you.
The first lady’s film supposedly pulled in $7 million on its opening weekend—seemingly impressive for a documentary, if you believe the numbers are real. But multiple reports of suspicious bulk ticket purchases have emerged, and Kimmel is calling the whole thing “sus.”
THE DETAILS “Speaking of rigged outcomes, the Melania documentary,” Kimmel began on his show, citing a Daily Beast investigation. “Sources say there were signs that blocks of tickets to Melania were purchased and then distributed to Republican activists and senior citizens’ homes.”
“Which are really the same thing,” Kimmel joked.
He painted a picture for viewers: “Imagine those poor senior citizens. ‘Good morning, Mrs. Greenwald. Here are your heart pills and here are your liver pills. And here’s a pair of tickets to Melania.'”
BUT BUT BUT: The Rotten Tomatoes scores tell a wild story. Critics gave Melania a brutal 5 percent rating—”1 percent lower than Gigli,” Kimmel pointed out, referencing the legendary 2003 Ben Affleck bomb. Meanwhile, the audience score sits at a sparkling 99 percent—”1 percent higher than The Godfather.”
“And I’m sure Donald J. Corleone had nothing to do with that at all,” Kimmel quipped.
Of course, the audience reviews are dominated by devoted Trump supporters. The gap makes some sense: critics had to watch it for their jobs, while anyone who isn’t MAGA simply didn’t bother.
ZOOM OUT: Kimmel couldn’t resist flipping the script on Trump’s favorite grievance. “We need to get to the bottom of this,” he said, mockingly invoking “Stop the steal!” rhetoric. “Send in Tulsi Gabbard and the FBI! Seize the ticket machines, the popcorn buckets, the box office receipts, at every multiplex in America!”
BOTTOM LINE: Whether the box office numbers are legitimate or manufactured by bulk purchases, the whole spectacle perfectly captures the Trump brand: declare victory loudly, question nothing, and accuse anyone who notices the obvious inconsistencies of being the real cheater. It’s projection all the way down—and Kimmel is happy to hold up the mirror.
See more in his Wednesday night monologue: