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He’s been a familiar face at the Met Gala in years past—even once popping the question en route to the event. But this year, Donald Trump was notably absent, reportedly unwelcome for quite some time.
Trump and the Met Gala: Once a Fixture, Now Banned
Every year on the first Monday in May, the Met Gala transforms New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art into the epicenter of high fashion and Hollywood glamour. The red carpet plays host to the world’s most influential stars, but this year, one particularly famous name was noticeably absent: former President Donald Trump.
Why Trump Wasn’t There
Trump’s exclusion wasn’t a mystery. The decision came straight from Vogue’s iconic editor-in-chief, Anna Wintour, who has chaired or co-chaired the event since 1997. In a 2017 appearance on The Late Late Show with James Corden, Wintour made her stance crystal clear:
“He will never be invited again.”
That declaration followed the early days of Trump’s first presidency—and it hasn’t changed, even as he embarks on a second White House bid.
A Complicated History
Trump’s relationship with the Met Gala isn’t new. In fact, he was a staple of the event in the 1980s and ’90s, often seen on the red carpet with his then-wives, Ivana Trump and Marla Maples. At one point, he even proposed on the way to the gala.
But times have changed. What was once a familiar sight—Trump mingling among celebrities and designers—is now firmly a thing of the past.
In 2004, Donald Trump made headlines when he proposed to Melania Knauss en route to the Met Gala—a tabloid-ready moment that captured the spotlight. But as the years have passed, the event’s tone and cultural significance have shifted dramatically.
While Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour insists the Met Gala is not a political platform but a celebration of “beauty, creativity, and reflecting history,” the reality appears more nuanced. The guest list increasingly reflects a set of unspoken values—and some figures, regardless of fame or fortune, no longer make the cut.
Trump isn’t alone in his exclusion. According to The New York Times, several of his high-profile allies were also absent from this year’s event. Among those missing: tech titans Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg—all of whom have been regular fixtures at the gala in previous years.
This year’s theme added an unmistakable layer of cultural commentary: “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” with a sub-focus on “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.” The exhibit spotlighted the work of Black designers and explored how fashion has served as a tool for Black men and women to challenge stereotypes and reclaim narrative power—making the absences of certain powerful figures all the more telling.
