As Fox Business reported on Thursday, a recent survey of leading corporate CFOs found that most expect to see an economic downturn over the next year.

While one might have expected President Joe Biden to address that concern, he apparently had other priorities. In a move few saw coming, Biden spent Thursday night watching a film about Cheetos. 

Biden says movie is "about courage"

According to the Associated Press, the president and First Lady Jill Biden hosted a White House screening of "Flamin' Hot." The film purports to tell how a Latino janitor named Richard Montañez created one of Frito-Lay's most popular products.

"When I think about tonight’s movie, I think about courage. So many of you, your ancestors left behind all that they knew to start a new life in the United States," the president was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, the first lady added that the "film isn’t just about Richard. It’s about everyone who has been overlooked or underestimated."

Actress Eva Longoria was one of the film's stars, and she declared, "Richard Montañez disrupted the food industry in the ‘90s by channeling his Mexican American heritage to help turn Flamin’ Hot Cheetos into a multibillion-dollar brand today and a cultural phenomenon."

Questions arise over film's accuracy

"We are telling a story that celebrates the American entrepreneurial dream without sidestepping the fact that the dream isn't available in the same way for everyone," Longoria insisted.

However, there have been questions raised regarding the film's accuracy, with the Los Angeles Times publishing allegations that Montañez falsified his tale of creating Flamin’ Hot Cheetos.

"None of our records show that Richard was involved in any capacity in the Flamin’ Hot test market," Frito-Lay said in a statement provided to the Times.

"We have interviewed multiple personnel who were involved in the test market, and all of them indicate that Richard was not involved in any capacity in the test market," it continued.

"That doesn’t mean we don’t celebrate Richard but the facts do not support the urban legend," the statement went on to add.

Critics call White House's embrace of film "deeply weird"

Meanwhile, Republican political strategist Logan Dobson said it is "deeply weird that the White House is embracing this movie which is based on a lie."

Dobson also referenced Longoria's long history of supporting Democrats, tweeting, "Biden Allows Major Donor To Use White House To Promote Movie Based On Lies' would be a true headline!"

‘Biden Allows Major Donor To Use White House To Promote Movie Based On Lies’ would be a true headline!

— Logan Dobson (@LoganDobson) June 16, 2023