LA Metro Relocates Buses with 'Melania' Documentary Ads Over Vandalism Concerns

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Officials with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) said they decided to re-assign buses with posters from the upcoming 'Melania' documentary to different areas over concerns about vandalism. Before the film's release, the advertisement posters were placed at bus stops across Los Angeles, but many were defaced with graffiti and expletives. To stay ahead of potential vandalism on the vehicles, LA Metro said it had to proactively reassign some of the buses containing the advertising to other geographic areas.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the challenges that transit agencies and advertisers can face when promoting content that may be politically or socially divisive. The vandalism of the 'Melania' posters suggests there is still significant public interest and controversy surrounding the former First Lady, which could impact the documentary's release and reception.

The details

LA Metro officials told NBC Los Angeles that after seeing 'significant vandalism' at city bus stops on advertising for the 'Melania' movie, the transportation agency 'proactively reassigned some of the buses containing that advertising to other geographic areas to minimize potential vandalism.' The buses were still operating on their normal schedules, just without the controversial posters.

• The 'Melania' documentary was set to be officially released on January 30, 2026.
• After the theatrical run, the documentary was expected to be made available on Amazon Prime Video.