Employees revolt as Vanity Fair mulls Melania Trump cover: 'Half of the editorial staff will walk out'
WASHINGTON, DC: Vanity Fair employees erupted in outrage after reports revealed that the magazine’s new global editorial director, Mark Guiducci, is courting first lady Melania Trump for an upcoming cover feature.
Furious staffers even vowed to quit and take jobs at supermarkets if the first lady appears on the front page.
The backlash exploded after Semafor reported Guiducci’s efforts to feature Melania, marking a potential shift in the magazine’s long-standing editorial stance. But what’s driving this intense reaction? And what exactly are staff members saying? Read on to find out.
What did Vanity Fair employers claim?
A mid-level Vanity Fair editor expressed outrage on Monday, telling the Daily Mail they would “walk out the motherf***ing door, and half my staff will follow me” if first lady Melania Trump lands on the magazine’s cover,
The explosive remarks came just hours after Semafor reported that new global editorial director Mark Guiducci is actively trying to recruit Melania for a feature.
“We are not going to normalize this despot and his wife,” the editor said. “We’re just not going to do it. We're going to stand for what's right.”
They went on to say they would rather bag groceries at Trader Joe’s than support the decision. “If I have to work bagging groceries at Trader Joe's, I'll do it. If [Guiducci] puts Melania on the cover, half of the editorial staff will walk out, I guarantee it,” they warned. “It sickens me, Even the idea of it.”
However, not everyone at Vanity Fair shares the same level of outrage. A second staffer took a calmer view, telling the outlet they doubted any real resignations would happen.
“It’s all talk,” the journalist said. “If they put her on the cover, people will protest and gripe about it, but I don't see anyone quitting such a prestigious job over that.”
They added, “Honestly, there will be people who push back, but it's ultimately Mark's decision. He's the one who will sink or swim over that choice, not the rest of us.”
Melania Trump has complicated history with fashion magazines
As Vanity Fair staff express outrage over a possible Melania Trump cover, it’s important to remember her complicated history with fashion magazines. During Donald Trump’s first presidency, Vogue notably excluded Melania from its pages, and she still hasn’t appeared in the magazine during his second term.
In contrast, Vogue featured Michelle Obama on three covers throughout Barack Obama’s eight years in office.
Jill Biden received two covers during Joe Biden’s term, and Hillary Clinton appeared on the cover in 1998 while her husband Bill was still president.
Melania Trump does have one Vogue cover to her name, from January 2005, when the magazine published exclusive images from her wedding to Donald Trump. She also appeared on the cover of Vanity Fair's Mexican edition in January 2017, posing with a platinum necklace twirled like spaghetti.
Sources say Vogue offered Melania a photoshoot during Trump’s first term, but she declined after learning she would not be guaranteed the cover. Unlike her predecessors, Melania has never received the traditional first-lady invitation from Vogue in the 27 years the magazine has followed this custom.
Both Donald and Melania Trump have publicly criticized fashion magazines for sidelining her. Anna Wintour oversaw Michelle Obama’s three covers, further fueling claims of bias.
“They are biased. They have likes and dislikes, and it's so obvious," Melania told Fox News in 2022. "And I think American people and everyone see it, and I have much more important things to do — and I did in the White House — than being on the cover of Vogue.”
What’s Mark Guiducci’s motive for featuring Melania Trump on the cover?
Mark Guiducci, the newly appointed editor of Vanity Fair, maintains a close relationship with Vogue editor Anna Wintour.
That connection has fueled speculation that featuring Melania Trump in Vanity Fair could serve as a stepping stone toward finally landing her on the cover of Vogue, one of the world’s most influential fashion magazines.
Guiducci assumed leadership of Vanity Fair after former editor-in-chief Radhika Jones stepped down. During her tenure, the magazine experienced a noticeable decline in web traffic and lost many staff members, continuing a trend that began after the departure of longtime editor Graydon Carter.
Both Carter and Jones took a strong editorial stance against Donald Trump. However, Guiducci appears to be steering the magazine in a different direction. After the 2024 presidential election, he reportedly began shifting Vanity Fair’s editorial tone to include more right-leaning voices.
