Melania Trump has not just landed a documentary, she has sparked a corporate bidding war wrapped in political thunder. Amazon MGM Studios reportedly shelled out about seventy five million dollars for the project, with Melania Trump said to receive the majority of the payout. The deal has since ignited scrutiny, as a US senator has publicly characterized the arrangement as a clear bribe.

According to Variety, US Senator Elizabeth Warren argued that Amazon MGM Studios paid far above market value for the documentary Melania to curry favor with the Trump Administration. She claimed Amazon MGM outbid The Walt Disney Company by a wide margin and sought preferential treatment, citing the steep $40 million acquisition and the $35 million marketing spend.

“This looks like bribery in plain sight, and Amazon must give Congress — and the American people — answers now,” Warren said in a new statement. She argued that Amazon MGM Studios had to answer why they gave thrice the amount of the previous bidder for Melania.

Her fiery statement comes after Amazon MGM Studios rejected allegations of wrongdoing and said the licensing followed a competitive process. The company said the documentary offered unique access to a pivotal presidential transition and significant cultural value. Amazon MGM’s leadership defended the acquisition, framing the decision as editorial and business judgment rather than a political maneuver.

The controversy largely stems from questions over whether the project’s earnings align with its high valuation.

How much did Melania earn?

Melania concluded its theatrical run with a worldwide total of roughly $ 16.7 million. The figure appears strong for a documentary, especially considering the genre rarely commands blockbuster attention. Nearly all of the revenue came from the US and Canada, while international markets contributed only a small fraction.

The documentary opened with an unexpectedly strong domestic debut, between $7 million and $8 million, outperforming early forecasts. That momentum did not hold, however, as ticket sales dropped sharply in subsequent weekends. International performance remained muted, with notably weak returns in territories such as the UK.

The financial picture remains complicated because reported returns did not approach the combined production and marketing costs. According to Variety, Amazon MGM Studios reportedly recovered about $ 10 million from Melania's theatrical revenue, leaving a sizable shortfall. That gap has fueled debate as the studio committed $40 million to the acquisition, a point that Elizabeth Warren has flagged during her criticism.

Do you agree with Elizabeth Warren's claims of bribery? Let us know in the comments!

Written by

Iffat Siddiqui

Edited by

Hriddhi Maitra