Graphics/Photo Credit: Semmi W. x Amazon

The night Alex Pretti died, the White House hosted a private screening of Melania, a documentary Amazon MGM Studios paid $40 million to license (along with rights to produce a follow-up docuseries). At least 70 VIP guests attended. The First Lady has reportedly earned $28 million from the film deal. Directed by Brett Ratner, the film promises a rare look into her private world, 20 days before her husband’s second presidential inauguration.

The Melania viewing took place as massive protests erupted in Minnesota, as footage of ICE agents killing or deporting American citizens spread, as U.S. warships move into the Middle East, as a partial government shutdown looms, as inflation and unemployment climb, and as extreme winter storms have left millions cold, many without power, shelter or access to healthcare. In Tennessee alone, more than 200,000 people were stuck in the dark.

Melania premiered globally this week. The main distributor in South Africa however, has already cancelled its release. Ironically, one of the film’s executive producers is Fernando Sulichin, a founding member of the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund. Sulichin was also an associate producer who secured a cameo of Mandela in Spike Lee’s 1992 film Malcolm X.

In America, Melania was unveiled to the public at the newly renamed Trump-Kennedy Center on Thursday; so holding a private White House screening just five days prior was completely unnecessary.

Data Sources: Reuters, Entertainment Weekly, The Guardian, The Independent Graphics Credit: Semmi W.

As the data viz above demonstrates, even with President Trump’s sinking approval, this elite guest list gathered at the White House to smile, network, and kiss the MF ring. Why?

Take attendee Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, one of the most powerful companies in the world. Apple already benefits from global tax shelters (hey Ireland) and tariff exemptions. Cook is a gay man who once donated to President Barack Obama, hosted a fundraiser for Hillary Clinton, donated to the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights, and has supported HIV/AIDS causes.

In a 2018 CNN interview with Christiane Amanpour, Cook once stated, “I learned what it was like to be a minority. The feeling of being in a minority gives you a level of empathy.” The film centers on preparations for the 2025 inauguration, so maybe since Cook donated $1M to it, he felt the need to remain consistent? Just speculating because I don’t get it.

Queen Rania of Jordan, another VIP guest, has publicly condemned Israel’s assault on Gaza and criticized Western leaders for their silence. Yet her attendance at a Trump-hosted event clashes with the very humanitarian ideals she has worked to project.

Viz 24 only highlights the powerful business leaders, celebrities, and wealthy elite whose attendance could actually be verified. It doesn’t include those affiliated with the film (through production/crew credits) or rumored to be present at the screening.

Some guests are people of color. Some are queer. Some are women. Some grew up poor. Some are immigrants or children of immigrants. Some have faced allegations of sexual misconduct/harassment. Some are affiliated with racists. Some are not even U.S. citizens, just welcomed visitors. All are wealthy. All can speak the one native language this administration loves speaking: money.

Receiving an invitation and attending will not give you a chance to change U.S. policy or the administration’s targets for the next three years. So again, why go?

Presence is an endorsement.

What are your thoughts? Drop your comments below! Or tell me what you think on Threads + Instagram via @semmiw.

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