Vogue's continued snub of Melania Trump, explained

Only the most partisan Democrat could dispute the notion that Melania Trump is one of the most glamorous first ladies in American history, but that fact has not stopped a top fashion magazine from continuing to snub the president's wife.

According to the Daily Mail, the fact that Melania Trump has never appeared on the cover of Vogue during her years as first lady is due to the political proclivities of its far-left liberal editor, Anna Wintour, who some believe will only offer the honor if a presidential divorce appeared to be in the offing.

Wintour's hard line

While it is true that Vogue has routinely offered its cover feature to first ladies such as Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, not to mention Vice President Kamala Harris, Melania Trump has long been excluded from the tradition, despite her background as a model herself.

According to insiders close to the situation, Wintour has made it clear that Mrs. Trump will only grace the cover if there is a particular type of news to be made.

“Something extraordinary would have to happen. If she was going to leave Donald -- if there was a hint of divorce -- Anna would be first in line for an interview,” a source indicated.

Wintour's stance is reportedly in keeping with the views of her staff, with insiders suggesting that the 2024 election results were a demoralizing catastrophe for all who work for the magazine and its publisher.

“Conde Nast had been in such a liberal democratic bubble that they didn't see it coming; the whole team were in shock in the U.S.” the insider noted, and a recent Vogue writer's catty take on Mrs. Trump's new official portrait, likening the first lady to a “freelance magician,” suggests that little has changed with regard to the magazine's prevailing attitude.

“More important” things to do

The topic of Mrs. Trump's exclusion from the Vogue cover as America's first lady is not a new one, as it arose during Donald Trump's first term in office as well.

Speaking to Fox News back in 2022, Melania Trump made it clear that the snub was of little relevance to her life, but she noted that it was rather telling about the values of the publication's leadership.

Wintour, according to Mrs. Trump, was the victim of her own biases, adding that those at the magazine “have likes and dislikes, and it's so obvious.

“I think American people and everyone sees it,” Melania Trump went on. “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.”

Though any magazine would be lucky to have the current first lady gracing its cover, it has become readily apparent that Vogue does not deserve the honor -- or the likely bump in sales -- that Mrs. Trump's image would bring.