Melania’s Movie At Risk?
A legal controversy has erupted over the Melania Trump documentary, with producers strongly denying allegations that music from the Oscar-winning film Phantom Thread was used without proper authorization.
Marc Beckman, producer of Melania, is pushing back hard against claims made by director Paul Thomas Anderson and composer Jonny Greenwood, who say a piece of music from the 2017 film was included in the documentary without approval.
Beckman says those claims are simply untrue.
“The allegation is completely false,” Beckman said in a statement. “We secured full legal rights and proper authorization for every piece of music used in the film. We followed all protocols, respected the artists involved, and ensured everyone was compensated accordingly.”
What Is the Dispute About?
The disagreement centers on the use of music originally composed by Jonny Greenwood for the award-winning drama Phantom Thread. Greenwood, along with Anderson, reportedly raised concerns that the music was included in Melania without direct consultation.
According to public statements from representatives for the filmmaker and composer, while Greenwood does not personally hold the copyright to the score, they believe consultation should have taken place prior to third-party licensing. They have requested that the music be removed from the documentary.
However, the production team behind Melania maintains that the necessary permissions were obtained through the appropriate copyright holders and that the licensing process was handled properly.
Inside the Melania Trump Film
The documentary, which premiered at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., offers viewers a closer look at Melania Trump during the 20 days leading up to President Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Unlike many portrayals seen in traditional media coverage, the film focuses on a more personal perspective of the former First Lady during a historic political transition.
Melania Trump served as an executive producer on the project. The documentary was produced by Amazon MGM Studios with a reported $40 million production budget, including approximately $35 million allocated toward marketing and national promotion.
Viewer Reaction and Industry Attention
The film has generated significant discussion among viewers and commentators. Supporters praise it for offering a behind-the-scenes look at a frequently misunderstood public figure. Critics, however, have raised concerns about creative decisions — including the music now at the center of the dispute.
At the heart of the issue is a broader debate about intellectual property rights, composer agreements, and how music licensing works in major film productions.
For now, producer Marc Beckman stands firm that Melania followed the law and respected industry standards.
As the discussion continues, the controversy may draw even more attention to a documentary already generating national conversation.
