The White House hosted a screening of Amazon MGM Studios’ upcoming documentary Melania on Saturday, coinciding with heightened scrutiny following a fatal shooting involving a federal agent in Minneapolis.
White House Screening Draws Prominent Guests
The event included Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, Amazon MGM Studio head Mike Hopkins, Barron Trump, Tony Robbins, Brett Ratner, Erika Kirk, Mike Tyson, Queen Rania of Jordan, New York Stock Exchange CEO Lynn Martin, Zoom CEO Eric Yuan, and General Electric CEO Larry Culp, alongside First Lady Melania Trump and President Donald Trump. Marc Beckman, an advisor to the first lady, announced the attendees on X.
An Amazon spokesperson directed inquiries to the First Lady’s office.
Minneapolis Shooting Under Scrutiny
The screening took place as controversy grew surrounding the shooting of Alex Pretti by one or more federal agents during an ICE protest in Minneapolis. The Department of Homeland Security initially stated Pretti posed a threat to agents, claiming he approached U.S. Border Patrol officers with a handgun. However, videos shared on social media contradicted this account, with analyses by The Washington Post and CNN indicating a federal agent retrieved a gun from Pretti’s belt before shots were fired.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (D-NY) criticized the administration for holding the screening amidst ongoing crises, posting on X about the shooting, alleged voter file extortion attempts, and an impending ice storm with reduced FEMA resources.
Documentary Details
Directed by Ratner, the documentary is described as a candid portrayal of Melania Trump in the weeks leading up to her husband’s inauguration. It is scheduled to premiere on Jan. 30, with a screening at the Kennedy Center the preceding night. Amazon reportedly paid $40 million for the rights to the project. Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s founder, attended Trump’s inauguration.
The black-tie screening was held in the East Room, utilizing a large display screen as the White House movie theater was dismantled during renovations for a new ballroom. A new theater is planned as part of the construction project.
The First Lady posted on X on Sunday, expressing her gratitude for being “surrounded by an inspiring room of friends, family, and cultural iconoclasts,” and highlighting the enduring impact of personal stories and mutual obligation.
Beckman also posted on X on Sunday, describing the event as “a truly magnificent occasion” characterized by “extraordinary warmth, grace, and a palpable sense of love.”
Reuters and The Hollywood Reporter initially reported on the event’s guest list.
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