Melania Trump has declared she is doing some things differently on her second tour as first lady, but one thing remains the same: Vogue has not featured her as first lady on its cover.
Recent first ladies have appeared on the cover of Vogue: Jill Biden graced two covers, in August 2021 and August 2024. Michelle Obama appeared on three covers, in March 2009, April 2013, and December 2016. Laura Bush appeared in the magazine in 2005 — notably, she was not on the cover. Hillary Clinton was featured on the cover in December 1998.
This isn’t just an oversight. Vogue published an article cataloging its photographs of first ladies, and Trump was noticeably missing. One of the most influential women’s magazines, and ranked in the top 50 magazines, Vogue treats Trump differently.
We know that it is not just because she was a model. We also know that it is not just because she is married to Donald Trump. After all, she started modeling as a teenager and was featured on the cover of Vogue around their wedding. Vogue was interested in her then.
But not now. Since Donald Trump was elected to the presidency as a Republican and she became first lady, things have shifted.
Vogue not featuring Melania Trump on its cover is a powerful example of bias in women’s spaces. Popular women’s magazines highlight liberals and ignore or give less space to those with different views. It became such an obvious omission that Trump wasn’t featured during her husband’s first term that she was even asked about it on Fox & Friends ahead of his second term. She seems unbothered.
“We have so many other important things to do than to be on the cover of any magazine,” she said. “I think that life would not change for anybody if I’m on the cover.”
For all the messaging pushed out by the Left about the importance of cheering on other women, featuring Melania Trump would be a powerful example of actually celebrating women as women. A progressive women’s magazine showcasing someone with a different viewpoint would surely get attention and teach readers about civic engagement with people across the political spectrum. We need more of this.
Also, featuring Melania Trump could send a message about the power of women to get things done. After all, she isn’t just a first lady with a cause — previous first ladies have had advocacy projects. She is a first lady who championed a cause that led to a legislative victory a few months into her husband’s presidency. On May 19, the president signed into law the Take It Down Act, which combats revenge porn and deepfakes. This bill was a priority of Melania Trump’s BE BEST initiative, which she established in 2018 as an awareness campaign focused on children.
“Today, through the ‘TAKE IT DOWN’ Act, we affirm that the well-being of our children is central to the future of our families and America,” she said. “I am proud to say that the values of BE BEST will be reflected in the law of the land.”
VOGUE BLASTS MELANIA TRUMP AS A ‘FREELANCE MAGICIAN’ IN WHITE HOUSE PORTRAIT
Last month, Vogue editor Anna Wintour visited the White House to discuss the impact of tariffs on the fashion industry with Susie Wiles, the president’s chief of staff. This could be the first step toward a Melania Trump cover.
It would be good for Vogue and its readers for the magazine to feature Melania Trump, not just for her gorgeous style, but as an example of how progressive women’s magazines, and in turn women in general, can engage with people who don’t think the same way.
Karin Lips (@klips) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner’s Beltway Confidential blog. She is the founder and president of the Network of enlightened Women and a senior fellow with the Independent Women’s Forum.