Amazon MGM Studios paid $40 million for the rights to the documentary Melania: Twenty Days to History. But the huge investment has been overshadowed by reports of production chaos and serious discomfort among the crew who worked on the film. People who worked on the project say the worst part wasn’t the political element of promoting the Trump administration, but having to work with director Brett Ratner, who has faced public accusations of sexual misconduct.
Forty million dollars is a massive amount for a documentary. According to Rolling Stones, it was the most the streamer had ever paid for any piece of content. The acquisition came after a bidding war that included Disney and Paramount, all eager to build relationships with the incoming Trump administration. Just weeks before Amazon made its offer, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos had dinner with President Trump and his wife at Mar-a-Lago.
The deal raises serious ethical questions. Don Fox, the former acting director of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, pointed out that while the First Lady is technically a private citizen and isn’t subject to the same strict conflict-of-interest rules as other executive branch employees, accepting such a lucrative deal with Amazon at the start of a new administration looks bad.
The chaotic production left crew members frustrated and uncomfortable
Fox noted that Amazon Web Services is a giant federal contractor, and Bezos’ aerospace company, Blue Origin, holds billions of dollars in NASA contracts. In the end, the First Lady reportedly kept $28 million, or roughly 70 percent, of the licensing fee herself.
Amazon MGM Studios denied any suggestion of ulterior motives. A spokesperson said they licensed the film for one reason only: “because we think customers are going to love it.” Regardless of the motive, the purchase kicked off a frantic and disorganized scramble to film Melania Trump during the twenty days leading up to the inauguration. The production was chaotic, involving three separate crews working across Florida, New York City, and Washington, D.C.
One person who worked on the set said this wasn’t easy money at all. They explained that filming the First Lady and dealing with the Secret Service meant they couldn’t just do things the way they usually would on a documentary set.
Logistics were such a nightmare that a full-time travel coordinator was needed just to handle issues, like when crew members would fly on the Trump Organization’s Boeing 757 to Mar-a-Lago and then suddenly find themselves stranded without a ride home.
The logistical issues were frustrating, but they weren’t the core problem for the staff. The biggest source of friction was director Brett Ratner, who is known for films like the Rush Hour franchise. Ratner had been publicly accused of sexual harassment and assault by six women in 2017, accusations he has denied. One member of the production team admitted they felt uncomfortable with the propaganda element of the film, but said Ratner “was the worst part of working on this project.”
The crew had fewer problems dealing with the First Lady herself, who was described as friendly and engaged in the process. “She was totally nice,” one person said. “She was the opposite of Brett Ratner.” The First Lady has been working on her public image and demeanor in recent appearances.
Meanwhile, she has also been dealing with legal matters involving media outlets. Amazon is spending an additional $35 million just to promote the film, including TV spots during NFL broadcasts and a takeover of the Las Vegas Sphere.
Published: Jan 28, 2026 01:07 pm