Vanity Fair is reportedly considering featuring First Lady Melania Trump on an upcoming cover — a move that has sparked internal conflict among some staff members.
According to a report from Semafor, the magazine’s new global editorial director, Mark Guiducci, has floated the idea as part of a broader effort to refresh the publication’s direction. However, the suggestion has been met with sharp resistance from some editorial staff, who see the move as controversial given the Trump administration’s legacy.
In a quote shared by the Daily Mail, one anonymous staffer expressed intense frustration, stating, “I will walk out the motherf–king door, and half my staff will follow me.” The staffer went on to say, “We are not going to normalize this despot and his wife. We’re just not going to do it.”
(FACT) 🚨
If Vanity Fair puts Melania Trump on its cover… it’ll be the biggest selling cover in their history
There’s around (100M) of us MAGA folks that love our first lady… so do the math pic.twitter.com/3NtIpQETkm
— @Chicago1Ray 🇺🇸 (@Chicago1Ray) August 26, 2025
The backlash highlights a broader conversation in the media world about how former political figures, particularly those from polarizing administrations, are portrayed in major publications. Melania Trump, despite her background in fashion and modeling, was largely absent from magazine covers during her time in the White House — a contrast to coverage received by Michelle Obama and Jill Biden.
Some observers on social media have pushed back against the criticism, suggesting that featuring Melania would boost sales and reflect more balanced editorial judgment. Supporters of the idea argue that the strong reaction from staffers is an overreach and symptomatic of broader political polarization in media circles.
At this time, it remains unclear whether Vanity Fair will move forward with the proposed cover.