First Lady Melania Trump has finalized a lucrative $40 million licensing deal with Amazon for a documentary about her life, with reports indicating she will personally receive at least $28 million from the agreement. The deal marks one of the most expensive documentary acquisitions in Amazon’s history.
High-profile corporate sponsorship push
Trump has been actively seeking additional sponsorships for the film, reportedly telling top CEOs that a $10 million contribution would earn them a mention in the film’s credits and an exclusive invite to its premiere. This effort was pitched to executives attending her husband’s inauguration on Jan. 20.
Jeff Bezos’ involvement raises eyebrows
The deal materialized shortly after Amazon founder Jeff Bezos dined with the Trumps at Mar-a-Lago in December. Despite past tensions with the president, Bezos had already made waves by preventing The Washington Post’s editorial board from endorsing former Vice President Kamala Harris in the election. He later contributed $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund.
Hollywood heavyweights enlisted
To strengthen her sales pitch, Melania Trump reportedly recruited Hollywood director Brett Ratner, known for the Rush Hour trilogy and X-Men: The Last Stand. Ratner, who had largely disappeared from the industry following #MeToo allegations, played a key role in negotiating the deal.
Paramount and Disney lagged behind in bidding war
Amazon reportedly outbid major competitors, offering three times the amount of the nearest offer. Paramount made a lowball bid of $4 million, while Disney submitted a more competitive $14 million bid. Netflix and Apple declined to participate.
Financial windfall for the Trump family
The documentary deal is part of a broader financial boom for the Trumps since President Trump’s return to the White House. Over $80 million has reportedly been funneled into Trump-affiliated businesses and the presidential library through legal settlements and corporate contributions.
Legal settlements fueling Trump finances
Several major corporations have settled lawsuits with the president, with Meta paying $25 million, ABC News resolving a defamation suit for $15 million, and Elon Musk’s X settling for $10 million. Paramount is reportedly in talks over a 60 Minutes lawsuit, in which Trump alleges deceptive editing harmed his political image.
Ethics concerns over presidential profiteering
Critics argue that Trump is leveraging his office for personal financial gain on a scale even greater than his first term. Ethics watchdogs have raised concerns over the influence of these massive corporate deals on the administration’s decision-making and transparency.
