Amazon wraps controversial week ahead of 'Melania' premier, fourth-quarter earnings

January 31, 2026

TL;DR

Amazon faces criticism for a $75 million investment in a Melania Trump documentary.
The company announced another round of mass layoffs affecting approximately 16,000 corporate workers.
The documentary investment occurred shortly after fatal immigration-related incidents and a White House screening attended by Amazon executives.
President Trump commented on the documentary, calling it important and stating he was not involved in its production.
Amazon MGM Studios stated they licensed the film because they believe customers will love it, despite weak early ticket sales projections.
The layoffs are part of CEO Andy Jassy's strategy to cut costs and invest in artificial intelligence.
Some employees and commentators have questioned the company's financial priorities, contrasting the film's cost with employee layoffs.
The Washington Post, owned by Jeff Bezos, is also reportedly preparing for significant layoffs.
Amazon is expected to report strong revenue growth driven by Amazon Web Services and digital advertising.
The company is in talks to invest up to $50 billion in OpenAI and is increasing spending on data centers for AI.

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