MS NOW host Jen Psaki has predicted Melania Trump's new movie will be a spectacular flop because of the president's 'toxic' second term - and appeared to take great pleasure while doing so.
Psaki, 46, made the politicized prognosis on Wednesday’s The Briefing.
The former Joe Biden press secretary began by laying out the Amazon MGM production's poor presales and massive budget, which she eventually connected to ICE's controversial Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota.
'Nobody likes what the Trump administration is doing right now,' Psaki said.
'Amazon, which produced the film, has spent $35million marketing,' she added of Melania. 'That's what it's called,' Psaki scoffed.
'There are Melania movie billboards, and bus ads, and nationally broadcast commercials during NFL playoff games,' the progressive pundit continued.
The push also included a paid advertisement on the notoriously expensive Las Vegas Sphere, Psaki remarked - noting how venue is 'one of the most expensive advertising spaces in the world.'
'And this morning, Melania rang the opening bell for the New York Stock Exchange to promote the film - as one does, I suppose, of documentaries,' Psaki continued, speaking with a unmistakable hint of sarcasm.
Jen Psaki, 46, tore into the first lady's upcoming film on Wednesday’s The Briefing
Trump promoted the film at the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday
'And of course, her husband used the bully pulpit of the White House, and his social media accounts, with more than 100million followers, to promote the film.'
Psaki turned to a Truth Social post from the president on Monday that framed the movie as 'a MUST WATCH.'
'Get your tickets today - Selling out, FAST!' the president also wrote.
'And then there's a link to buy tickets, literally, in this thing, at your local theater,' a smug Psaki continued.
'But even with all that promotion - $35million of ads, the Sphere, the Stock Exchange, Trump aggressively encouraging... hundreds- millions- 11million Truth Social followers, 100million followers overall, to "get their tickets today" - it turns out, it is not selling out fast, really at all.'
The host pointed out how Hollywood trade groups like the National Research Group have forecast that the film - which cost $40million for Amazon to license - will only sell somewhere between $1million and $5million worth of tickets in the US.
'You don't have to be a mathematician here. For a film Amazon paid Melania Trump $40million for, and then spent $35million in addition promoting - $75million. That's how much they spent,' Psaki said.
She pointed to paltry early sales for tickets overseas and for Regal Cinema locations in Florida as more proof of her prediction, before casting doubt on Trump's claims tickets for the film - which releases on Friday - were 'selling fast'.
The former Joe Biden press secretary proudly pointed out the Amazon MGM production's poor presales and astronomical budget
Trump and First Lady Melania Trump attend the New Year's Eve Party at his Mar-a-Lago mansion
'According to Rolling Stone, even the people who worked on the film, want nothing to do with it,' Psaki scathed.
She laid out how the left-leaning publication spoke to several people who worked on the film and expressed either embarrassment or regret.
One such person said they believed that some 'two-thirds' of the crew 'had requested not to have their names formally credited on the documentary,' Psaki read.
'A separate person who will be credited on the film said that, after experiencing the first year of Trump's second term, they now wish they had not put their name on it.'
A self-satisfied Psaki quipped at the camera: 'I bet not,' and added that the same person told the magazine they were 'much more alarmed' about the state of the US than they were a year ago.'
'For good reason, of course,' Psaki said, before making her point.
'Donald Trump, he's become so toxic, that even the people who worked on his own wife's movie cannot stomach associating themselves with him.
'In particular, the way the Trumps have overfunded an out-of-control team of ICE agents who have terrorized the city of Minneapolis - that seems to be a big driving force of people's disgust here.
Psaki eventually connected what was frames as the film's failure to Operation Metro Surge, ICE's ongoing operation in Minneapolis and greater Minnesota
'We've all seen and covered it extensively on this show. The fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by ICE agents, and the way the Trump administration has smeared their names, refused to investigate the agents responsible, and instead defended them, largely.
'This news broken out beyond just normal political spaces, and has brought politics front-and-center in non political spaces. And this to me is always a tell.'
More purported proof of anti-Trump sentiment presented by Psaki included critical comments about ICE on the r/catbongos Subreddit and another devoted to stained glass.
Melania, meanwhile, in an interview with Fox News promoting the film, gushed about her son Barron and billed husband Donald as a 'unifier.'
She noted how this time in the White House is much different for Barron, pointing out that the college sophomore is 19 and will turn 20 in March.
'I'm very proud of him, and he's an incredible young man. He understands now. He's involved. He knows what's going on in the world. He talks with his dad. He talks with me,' she said.
The movie, the first lady explained, will show the swirl of activity around her as she prepares to move back into the White House and as she hires 'East Wing' staff, which remains the name of her official office despite the building being demolished by her husband.
'We have so many people around, have Secret Service, and it's a big production whatever you do. So one take, and you go,' Melania said, explaining that it documented her days from morning until evening.
The Melania film releases in 1,700 theaters in the US Friday, and another 1,600 overseas
Melania wouldn't divulge whether there are parts of the film she wished had ended up on the cutting room floor.
'I will leave a scoop out,' she said.
The Melania film hits 1,700 theaters in the US on Friday, as well as another 1,600 in other countries.
