Bezos Defends Amazon’s $40m Melania Documentary Deal as “Good Business Decision”

Jeff Bezos has defended Amazon’s decision to buy a documentary about Melania Trump, calling it “a good business decision” and denying he had any role in the deal.

Speaking to CNBC, the Amazon founder said reports linking him personally to the project were “just not correct.” He rejected claims that the purchase was meant to gain favor with President Donald Trump’s administration.

Amazon reportedly paid $40 million for the documentary, with Melania Trump said to have earned about $28 million from the agreement. The company also spent around $35 million promoting the film.

The documentary, directed by Brett Ratner, was released in January without press screenings. It earned $16.7 million at the global box office, below its reported budget, but Bezos said it performed strongly on Amazon’s streaming service.

Critics and some Democrats questioned the deal. Senator Elizabeth Warren said the agreement raised concerns about possible attempts to influence the Trump administration. Amazon denied any wrongdoing and said the film had “cultural and historical relevance.”

The film received poor reviews, including a zero-star review from The Guardian.