Trump says Obama 'got paid a lot of money' when asked about Melania's $40M Amazon docu deal

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump took a swipe at former President Barack Obama on Thursday, January 29, as he and first lady Melania Trump attended the premiere of her new documentary at the Trump Kennedy Center.

The remarks came after the POTUS was questioned about the reported $40 million Amazon MGM deal for the film, which has sparked online criticism and debate.

The event, held at the iconic arts venue in the capital, marked the launch of the new documentary focused on Melania. 

Donald Trump dodges question on 'Melania' documentary price tag

While walking the red carpet with Melania Trump, the president was asked about reports that Amazon MGM paid around $40 million for the rights to the documentary. Critics have questioned the high price tag, especially given the political spotlight surrounding the Trump family.

Trump did not shy away from the question and instead redirected the focus to his predecessor. “Well, I think they'd have to go and ask President Obama, who got paid a lot of money and hasn't done anything,” Trump said, brushing off concerns about the cost.

Trump calls New York Times 'fake news' over question on documentary's cost

On the cost of the documentary, another reporter said, "Amazon paid $75 million to make and market this film. It's an exorbitant fee. Many Americans think this is Bezos trying to get in good with you and they would call it corruption."

In response, Trump asked, "Who are you with?" and when the reporter said The New York Times, the POTUS said, "Fake news New York Times. "

Regarding the cost, he said, "I'm not involved with that. That was done with my wife... I think it's a very important movie. I think it's going to a very important movie... it shows life in the White House. It's a big deal, actually."

Melania Trump documentary and Amazon’s reported $40 million deal

'Melania' film offers a closer look at the First Lady’s life, focusing on her personal journey and public role.

In addition to the feature-length documentary, Amazon is also set to release a three-part docuseries centered on Melania.

The series will reportedly follow her life as she travels between New York, Washington, DC, and Palm Beach, offering viewers a behind-the-scenes look at her day-to-day world. Both the documentary and the docuseries are expected to stream on Amazon Prime at a later date.

The scale of Amazon’s investment has fueled discussion, but supporters argue that Melania Trump remains a figure of global interest, making the project commercially valuable.

Barack Obama and Netflix production deal 

Trump’s remarks seemed to reference former President Barack Obama’s long-standing deal with Netflix. In 2018, the Obamas signed a multi-year production agreement with the streaming giant to produce films, series, and documentaries.

Since then, the deal has resulted in several high-profile projects, including 'American Factory', 'Crip Camp', and 'Leave the World Behind'. Netflix has described the partnership as covering scripted and unscripted series, docuseries, documentary films, and feature projects.

At the time, signing the Obamas was seen as one of Netflix’s biggest moves to secure exclusive content from high-profile public figures. The agreement positioned the former first couple as major players in the entertainment and streaming space, blending politics, storytelling, and media production.