Story perspectives

Trump Takes Embattled Filmmaker Brett Ratner to China

5/21/2026

Summary

Story summary

U.S. President Donald Trump traveled to China with filmmaker Brett Ratner, who was added to his inner circle during the trip.
Ratner, accused of multiple sexual-misconduct allegations and appearing in Jeffrey Epstein files, directed a Melania-commissioned documentary that earned $16.6 million against a $75 million budget.
Biographer Michael Wolff said the Trump-Ratner friendship signals a troubling shift in the president’s character.
White House spokesperson Steven Cheung dismissed Wolff’s remarks as lies, accusing him of fabricating stories.

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Story summary

U.S. President Donald Trump traveled to China with filmmaker Brett Ratner, who was added to his inner circle during the trip.
Ratner, accused of multiple sexual-misconduct allegations and appearing in Jeffrey Epstein files, directed a Melania-commissioned documentary that earned $16.6 million against a $75 million budget.
Biographer Michael Wolff said the Trump-Ratner friendship signals a troubling shift in the president’s character.
White House spokesperson Steven Cheung dismissed Wolff’s remarks as lies, accusing him of fabricating stories.