Home
Entertainment

Director Brett Ratner jokes about Melania Trumps English in new interview

Brett Ratner said he understands broken English, referencing Chris Tucker while discussing filming Melania Trump

Pop Culture & Art January 31, 2026 1 min read

Brett Ratner opened up about working with First Lady Melania Trump on her new documentary, Melania, in a recent interview. When asked if he had trouble understanding her English, Ratner said, “I understand broken English. I’ve made movies with Chris Tucker.”

The director, known for his work on the Rush Hour franchise, highlighted that filming the documentary was unlike anything he had done before. He explained that the project was filmed in real time, from the moment Melania woke up until she went to bed. “It was probably the hardest film I ever made. We couldn’t stop anything—we couldn’t say, ‘Let’s do that again.’ It was all happening in real time,” he said.

Ratner also noted that Melania never asked him about his controversial reputation. “I said to her, ‘I’m a controversial figure. And if we do this film, we’re going to be tied together for the rest of our lives.’ And she had no issue with it,” he added.

The director compared his experience working with Melania to his previous work with Chris Tucker in the Rush Hour films, where language differences and comedic timing were part of the process. He used this comparison to illustrate how he adapted to filming someone whose English skills differed from his own, emphasizing that it did not present a significant obstacle.

Filming the documentary was a fully immersive experience, according to Ratner, who detailed the intensity of being present throughout Melania Trump’s day. Despite the unconventional approach, Ratner portrayed it as a process he was accustomed to handling as a seasoned filmmaker.

The documentary follows the First Lady through her daily life and aims to provide an intimate look at her experiences. Ratner’s comments provide insight into his approach and the methods he employed while capturing the footage, drawing a parallel between his work on Melania and his past collaborations in Hollywood comedies.