Donald Trump was once a familiar figure at the Met Gala, even turning the event into a personal milestone when he proposed to Melania Knauss en route to the 2004 soirée. But those days are long gone — and they’re not coming back.
When celebrities, designers, and tastemakers gathered in New York for the 2025 Met Gala, Trump’s absence wasn’t surprising. It was expected — and entirely by design.
The reason for his permanent exclusion dates back to 2017, when Vogue’s editor-in-chief Anna Wintour publicly declared on The Late Late Show with James Corden that Trump would “never be invited again.” Her decision came just after Trump assumed the presidency and has remained unchanged through both of his terms in office.
Once a mainstay on the Met Gala guest list throughout the 1980s and 1990s — often appearing with his then-wives Ivana Trump or Marla Maples — Trump’s flair for the dramatic made him a media fixture. But as the event evolved, so too did its standards for attendance.
While Wintour has maintained that the Met Gala celebrates fashion, history, and beauty, the selection of guests increasingly reflects broader cultural values. And in today’s social climate, Trump’s divisive public image doesn’t align with the event’s direction.
He wasn’t the only notable figure missing from this year’s event. Billionaires like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg were also left off the list, suggesting a shift in the gala’s priorities and message.
The 2025 theme, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, spotlighted the creativity and impact of Black designers and aimed to challenge long-held fashion norms. Cultural analyst Louis Piscano described the theme as “a clear statement,” emphasizing the event’s movement toward meaningful representation and inclusion.
For Trump, once a staple of New York’s high society, the message from the fashion world is clear: his invitation to the Met Gala is not just lost — it’s been permanently revoked.
