It’s been more than ten years since Donald Trump graced the red carpet at the Met Gala, but a resurfaced interview clip from 2017 may finally shed light on his noticeable absence from fashion’s most high-profile night. Before stepping into the political arena, Trump was a fixture at the event, often attending with Melania, turning heads in classic formalwear and photogenic poses. Yet, since 2012, he’s been missing in action—sparking ongoing speculation about whether he’s been intentionally left off the guest list.
Trump’s former Met Gala appearances featured his signature style: sharp tuxedo, white shirt, and his famously coiffed hair. Melania was always his elegant counterpart, making them one of the event’s standout couples. In fact, it was during the 2005 Met Gala that Trump proposed, presenting Melania with a 12-carat emerald-cut diamond ring—an engagement moment that grabbed headlines.
The speculation about his absence took a sharp turn in 2017 when Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of Vogue and the force behind the Met Gala guest list, appeared on The Late Late Show with James Corden. When asked if there was anyone she would never invite back to the Met Gala, her one-word answer was clear: “Trump.”
That brief response, delivered with her trademark composure, fueled the belief that Trump had effectively been blacklisted from the event. With the 2025 Met Gala now concluded, the topic is trending once again across social platforms.
One user on X quipped, “Michelle Obama and Kamala Harris got invited… he’s probably SEETHING… GOOD!” Others were quick to highlight the irony, pointing out that the Met Gala once held sentimental value for Trump as the place where he got engaged to Melania.
But not every comment was celebratory. Some critics took the opportunity to question Wintour’s continued relevance and the direction of Vogue, saying the event had strayed from being a fashion institution to more of a celebrity spectacle. Still, others applauded her consistency and willingness to draw lines on political grounds without fanfare.
During the 2000s, Trump and Melania were regular attendees, frequently photographed in coordinated, glamorous ensembles. A 2004 photo of Melania flaunting her engagement ring, and another from 2012 showing them dressed to the nines, are still circulated today. They projected a polished image—poised, affluent, and influential.
Melania’s rise to Met Gala regular wasn’t instantaneous. Born to modest beginnings in Eastern Europe, she worked her way up through the modeling world before landing in New York. She met Trump at a Fashion Week party in 1998—an unexpected encounter that turned into a relationship. Initially hesitant, Melania was eventually won over by Trump’s persistence—and his collection of phone numbers scrawled on cards. After years of dating and a lifestyle filled with private jets and penthouses, she moved into Trump Tower. The couple wed in 2005 and welcomed their son, Barron, a year later. Trump’s children from previous marriages—Donald Jr., Ivanka, Eric, and Tiffany—rounded out the family.
For the Trumps, the Met Gala isn’t just about couture—it represents a chapter in their personal story. And while this year’s red carpet dazzled with star power, Trump’s absence continues to spark conversation. Whether his omission is the result of Wintour’s decision or a shift in his own priorities, one thing is clear: the Met Gala has moved on without him, leaving behind a legacy he once helped shape.
