Controversy Surrounding Jeff Bezos and Melania Trump Documentary
Industry figures are questioning the financial logic behind Jeff Bezos’ decision to fund a documentary featuring Melania Trump. One senior media analyst called it “irrational from a business standpoint but calculated from a political perspective.”
The political implications of the project have raised concerns among critics. Don Fox, former acting director of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, expressed worries that the deal could be seen as an attempt to “buy access and favor,” especially considering Amazon Web Services’ government contracts and Bezos’ aerospace company, Blue Origin, securing lucrative deals with NASA.
Despite Bezos’ personal connections to President Donald Trump, including dinners at Mar-a-Lago and a donation to Trump’s inauguration fund, Amazon’s leadership has publicly supported the documentary. CEO Andy Jassy and Amazon Studios head Mike Hopkins even attended a screening at the White House alongside other prominent figures.
However, the film has faced backlash and criticism. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez questioned the president’s motives, asking, “What is the president up to? Having a movie night at the White House?” Posters promoting the documentary have been vandalized, and some cinema chains have faced complaints for screening it.
