Melania Trump on why she was never asked to grace the cover of Vogue as first lady: 'They're biased'
Melania Trump is speaking out about what she calls Vogue's "biased" decision to not feature her on the cover of the iconic fashion magazine during her time in the White House.
On Saturday, the former first lady met with Pete Hegseth of FOX & Friends Weekend to give her first sit-down interview since leaving the White House. Speaking candidly, Trump discussed why she was never asked to appear on the magazine's cover during her time as FLOTUS.
"With your business background and your fashion background and your beauty, never on the cover of Vogue. Why the double standard?" Hegseth asked Trump.
"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," Trump explained.
Current FLOTUS Jill Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have both appeared in the magazine, while Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton have graced its cover. Several conservative first ladies, such as Laura Bush, Barbara Bush and Nancy Reagan, were featured in the magazine, People noted. However, they did not receive the cover.
Trump has, however, appeared on the Vogue cover pre-White House. In 2005, she wore her $200,000 wedding dress on the magazine's cover following her marriage to Donald Trump. According to journalist Amy Odell's new biography of Vogue editor Anna Wintour, Anna: The Biography, she was twice asked to be photographed for the magazine before and after Trump's inauguration, but allegedly refused since they wouldn't guarantee her a cover.
There may be additional reasons for Trump's bad blood with Vogue. Odell's book alleges that Trump ignored Wintour when the editor visited Trump Tower in 2016 for a visit arranged by Trump's step-daughter Ivanka Trump. Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, Melania's former friend and White House aide, told Odell that Trump was "so offended" that she "didn't even say hello" to Wintour upon her arrival, the book continues.
In the interview with FOX & Friends Weekend, Trump also opened up about how she feels about the current state of the country, citing poor "leadership" for many of the country's issues.
"I think it's sad to see what's going on, if you really look deeply into it," said Trump. "I think a lot of people are struggling and suffering. And what is going on around the world, as well. So it's very sad to see, and I hope it changes fast."
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