Donald Trump Still Not Welcome at the Met Gala
He’s walked the red carpet in the past and even proposed to Melania on the way there in 2004—but this year, Donald Trump was once again not invited to the Met Gala. In fact, according to longstanding reports, he hasn’t been welcome for quite some time.
Every year on the first Monday in May, the Met Gala draws the biggest names in fashion, film, music, and culture to New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. But despite its reputation as one of the world’s most glamorous and exclusive events, the famously spotlight-loving former president was noticeably absent from the guest list again this year.
American real estate magnate Donald Trump with his first wife, Ivana (nee Zelnickova) at the Costume Institute Gala, held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, 9th December 1985. (Photo by Tom Gates/Archive Photos/Getty Images)
Why Trump Isn’t Invited
It’s no mystery why. Back in 2017, Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour—who has led the Met Gala since 1997—made it clear that Trump would not be invited back. During an appearance on The Late Late Show with James Corden, she stated bluntly, “He will never be invited again.”
That decision, reportedly made early in Trump’s presidency, still stands during his current campaign and renewed public presence.
Trump’s Met Gala History
Trump was once a regular fixture at the event in the ’80s and ’90s, often attending with ex-wives Ivana Trump and Marla Maples. His 2004 proposal to Melania just before arriving at the gala made headlines at the time.
But the Met Gala has evolved. While Wintour has said the event is about “beauty, creativity, and reflecting history,” politics still plays a role—at least when it comes to who’s welcome.
He’s Not Alone
Trump isn’t the only high-profile figure excluded. According to The New York Times, some of his well-known allies also didn’t make the cut this year—including frequent past attendees Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg.
A Theme with a Message
This year’s theme was “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” celebrating the influence of Black designers and the way Black men and women have used fashion to challenge societal norms and stereotypes.
Cultural critic Louis Piscano described the theme as sending “a clear message.” And given who was—and wasn’t—invited, that message seems to go beyond the clothes.
