Melania Trump Posters Defaced with Hitler ‘Stache Spark Outrage Across Los Angeles

ByHrvoje Milakovic Published on
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Melania Trump’s new documentary is facing an unusual kind of attention in Los Angeles—one that the filmmakers probably didn’t expect. Posters promoting the film, titled Melania, have been repeatedly defaced across the city, with vandals drawing Hitler-style mustaches on her face and adding other offensive imagery, including references to Eva Braun.

The city’s transit agency, LA Metro, has reported that buses and transit shelter ads have been hit particularly hard. After seeing significant vandalism at city bus stops on advertising for the “Melania” movie, Metro proactively reassigned some of the buses containing that advertising to other geographic areas to minimize potential vandalism, a Metro spokesperson told NBC4.

While the agency doesn’t control the shelters themselves, they are working quickly to protect the ads from further damage.

Some of the most visible defacements were claimed by activist art collective INDECLINE, known for previous stunts like the naked Donald Trump statues. The group confirmed they were behind at least one modified billboard, which drew widespread attention online.

Directed by Brett Ratner, the film chronicles the 20 days leading up to the 2025 presidential inauguration. It is the first major release from Melania Trump’s Muse Films, which she launched last year.

Amazon MGM reportedly paid $40 million for the documentary, the largest acquisition price ever paid for a non-fiction project, and spent another $35 million on marketing. Despite this, box office analysts are skeptical. National Research Group projects a modest opening weekend of around $5 million.

Ratner’s return to directing has also added fuel to the controversy. He has been absent from Hollywood since 2017 when multiple women accused him of s**** misconduct. Melania defended working with him in a Fox interview, saying, He was the best one, and he was great to work with.

The First Lady has remained busy outside the film. On January 28, she rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange to promote the documentary and hosted a private Kennedy Center screening the following day, attended by political allies and business figures. She has also continued her philanthropic work with her global foster child initiative, Fostering the Future.

Internationally, the documentary has already run into issues. Distribution in South Africa was canceled, with the local distributor citing the country’s political climate as the reason. Back in the U.S., comedians like Jimmy Kimmel have mocked the project, highlighting Melania’s frustration with other news headlines overshadowing the release.

The domestic premiere is scheduled for January 30 in over 2,000 theaters. Whether the film can overcome the defaced posters, mixed reception, and global political tensions will be a key test for Muse Films.

Do you think the vandalism in Los Angeles is a legitimate protest against a political figure, or should movie advertising be off-limits no matter who it features? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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