Why Donald Trump Is Banned from the Met Gala – For Good
Once a regular on the Met Gala red carpet—and even proposing to Melania on the way to one of the events—Donald Trump is now persona non grata at fashion’s most exclusive night. Despite his global fame and past appearances, Trump has been noticeably absent from the guest list for years, and that’s no accident.
Every first Monday in May, the Met Gala transforms New York City into the epicenter of fashion and celebrity. But one headline-making figure has been permanently excluded: former President Donald Trump.
The Ban Behind the Glamour
The decision to bar Trump came directly from Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, who has chaired the Met Gala since 1997. Speaking on The Late Late Show with James Corden in 2017, Wintour made her stance crystal clear:
“He will never be invited again.”
Reports suggest the ban was put in place soon after Trump entered the White House in 2016—and it remains firmly in effect even as he seeks a second term in office.
Trump’s Complicated Met Gala Legacy
Trump’s connection to the Met Gala stretches back decades. Throughout the ’80s and ’90s, he frequently attended the event with his then-wives, Ivana Trump and Marla Maples, mingling with fashion royalty and Hollywood elites. But his longstanding ties to the gala weren’t enough to secure a permanent spot—especially in the Wintour era.
In 2004, Donald Trump made headlines by proposing to Melania Trump en route to the Met Gala—a moment that lit up the American tabloid press. But while that night marked a personal milestone, it would be among his final brushes with the gala’s inner circle.
Over the years, the Met Gala has evolved far beyond its glamorous surface. While Anna Wintour insists the event is not about politics but rather “beauty, creativity, and reflecting history,” the guest list tells a more selective story—one that increasingly reflects deeper cultural values.
And it’s not just Trump who’s been shut out.
According to The New York Times, several of the former president’s high-profile allies were also notably absent from this year’s red carpet. Regulars like Elon Musk, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, and Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg were missing from the scene—perhaps signaling a shift in who the fashion world is willing to celebrate.
Fittingly, this year’s theme carried a bold political undertone: “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” spotlighting Black designers and the powerful role fashion has played in challenging stereotypes. Cultural critic Louis Piscano put it bluntly:
“The theme sends a clear message.”