Melania Trump’s life has unfolded before a camera lens, a reality of being conventionally attractive. But not every photogenic figure secures a spot on the cover of *Vogue*, the holy grail of the fashion industry. And for Melania, the snub was personal.
The former First Lady, who once graced *Vogue’s* cover in 2005 when she wed Donald Trump, was noticeably absent from its pages during her tenure in the White House. Unlike her predecessors, Melania never received the prestigious First Lady cover treatment, fueling speculation that *Vogue* deliberately sidelined her. Now, the magazine has taken its critique a step further, savaging her newly released official White House portrait with razor-sharp jabs.
The black-and-white portrait, released Monday, features Melania clad in a structured Dolce & Gabbana tuxedo jacket, Ralph Lauren cummerbund, and trousers, exuding a stark, no-nonsense energy. But according to *Vogue*, that energy is all wrong. In a blistering review, writer Hannah Jackson torched the image, likening Melania’s pose and attire to something out of *The Apprentice* rather than the graceful tradition of First Ladies past.
“The sober black-and-white photograph by Régine Mahaux features Trump, the Washington Monument towering over her shoulder, resting her fingers on a reflective black desk and staring down the camera as if to say, ‘You’re fired,’” Jackson quipped. “Indeed, Trump looked more like she was guest starring on an episode of *The Apprentice* than assuming the role of First Lady of the United States.”
The fashion critique didn’t end there. Jackson slammed Melania’s tuxedo choice, describing it as less ‘elegant stateswoman’ and more ‘freelance magician.’ She argued that Melania’s insistence on grand, theatrical imagery reflected the opulent and often over-the-top lifestyle she embraced while living in a gold-plated Manhattan penthouse and starring in a reality TV empire.
Jackson also drew a sharp contrast between this portrait and Melania’s first official White House portrait in 2017, which famously showcased her massive diamond wedding ring. This time, the Trumps seem to flaunt their status in a different way—by surrounding themselves with a circle of ultra-wealthy tech moguls at the recent inauguration. According to *Vogue*, it’s a calculated shift in optics, signaling the couple’s desire to position themselves as business titans rather than traditional political figures.
Melania hasn’t been shy about her disdain for *Vogue’s* treatment of her. In a 2022 Fox News interview, she addressed her exclusion, stating, “They’re biased and they have likes and dislikes, and it’s so obvious. And I think American people and everyone sees it. It was their decision, and I have much more important things to do—and I did in the White House—than being on the cover of *Vogue*.”
A valid argument—until reports surfaced that she was, in fact, offered a feature in the magazine after Trump’s 2016 victory but declined unless she was guaranteed the cover.
So, was the *Vogue* snub political? A matter of taste? Or simply a rejection of Melania’s demand for top billing? One thing is certain: *Vogue* isn’t pulling any punches when it comes to the Trumps, and Melania’s latest portrait has only added fuel to the fire.
