Jeff Bezos insists that Amazon MGM Studios’ decision to acquire and release “Melania,” a documentary about the First Lady, was smart business — and not an attempt to curry favor with her husband.
In an interview Wednesday on CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” the Amazon founder was asked about whether the company acquired “Melania” as a way to gain influence with the Trump administration.
“The ‘Melania’ thing is a falsehood that will not die,” Bezos said, adding, “I see it reported all the time that somehow I was involved in this” but that “I had nothing to do with that.” Bezos stepped down as Amazon’s CEO in 2021 and currently serves as the ecommerce giant’s executive chairman.
In the CNBC interview, the multibillionaire said that it’s “just not correct” to say Amazon’s deal for “Melania” was “a way of buying influence” — although he did concede, “I can see why people say this.” Said Bezos, “We have denied it. Melania’s office has denied it. It’s not true.”
Bezos commented, “By the way, it appears it was a good business decision. It did very well in theaters. It’s done very well on streaming. People are very curious about Melania. So even though I had nothing to do with it, it appears that the Amazon team made a very wise business decision.”
