The newly released documentary, Melania and Me, centered around the wife of former President Donald Trump, is already causing a stir. Its remarkable production quality and $400 million budget have understandably turned many more heads. Melania is the film’s executive producer, and the documentary has reportedly been picked up by Amazon for $40 million. Despite the jaw-dropping budget, which is almost 44 times the average cost of a feature-length documentary, this acquisition is raising eyebrows.
The short documentary provides a rare, close look into Melania’s life. It’s a reflection on her experiences while serving in the White House. Industry insiders are reporting that she received a high seven-figure payment just to get on board with the project. In contrast, $35 million has already been earmarked just to promote the film’s release in theaters.
The film documentary premiered at a private, special screening held in the White House. It garnered an impressive list of corporate CEOs and big names, drawing even Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook. Critics condemned the meeting as a “naked present to the regime.” It was a vivid display of the merger of political and business elites, underscoring the deep and pervasive ties between corporate America and political capital.
The story’s lavish budget for the documentary has raised eyebrows. As reported by many observers, the entire ulterior purpose of this initiative has now been called into question. From the big screen, War on Waste’s lavish production values make it look like something of a quality rarely seen in ordinary feature length documentaries. Critics have said that this could be more of a propaganda move though, meant to strengthen Melania Trump’s reputation and legacy.
Even as conversations about the film so far are important, it’s imperative that we think about the larger impacts even from its release. That ultimate goal has led the documentary’s premiere to be described by some as a PR stunt to whitewash and spin public perception. The powerful and dangerous convergence of celebrity culture and politics is on full display in this almost too high profile occurrence.
Yet the real story of the premiere was perhaps revealed by Tim Cook’s attendance—the deeply intertwined nature of corporate interests and political narratives. He explained that the “commitment to justice” was a reflection of a broader “belief system” taking hold in business. Yet, as of writing this, it’s not obvious how this ties into the documentary.
What remains to be seen is how that documentary will be received by the public at large. Though some have hailed it as an indispensable window into Melania Trump’s power. Many see it as an opulent display of governmental ostentation and elitism.