Melania Trump Just Said 'Vogue' Was 'Biased' For Not Featuring Her On Its Cover During Her Time As First Lady

As reported by The Daily Beast, Stephanie Winston-Wolkoff, (a former unpaid senior adviser to the first lady) revealed that Vogue did request a photo shoot with Trump after her husband entered office in early 2017. However, the adviser explained that Trump declined when the magazine did not guarantee her on the cover. Trump dubbing Vogue biased comes months after First Lady Dr. Jill Biden appeared on the cover of the August 2021 issue.

 

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Vogue‘s longtime editor-in-chief Anna Wintour was interviewed by CNN‘s Christine Amanpour in 2019, and noted that many who cover the magazine are influential in areas other than fashion. “I think one has to be fair, one has to look at all sides, but I don’t think it’s a moment not to take a stand,” Wintour said of those she chooses to feature. “You have to stand up for what you believe in. You have to take a point of view. Our readers and audiences respect us. … I don’t think you can try to please everybody all the time.”

In an interview with the Economist that same year, Wintour was asked if she thought Melania Trump was not the right person to feature on the cover. Wintour replied,“I think it’s important for Vogue to support women who are leading change in this country.”

When looking at the history of Vogue and its relationship with First Ladies, the magazine has only featured one on the cover several times, in more recent years. As the Washington Post writes, cover appearances of First Ladies “are a relatively recent phenomenon.” Even the ever-so-stylish Jackie Kennedy “appeared only in photographs on the inside pages of the magazine,” the Post continues. Photographs of Barbara Bush, Laura Bush and Nancy Reagan were also featured inside issues of Vogue‘s past, but not on any covers.