Donald Trump not welcome at the Met Gala – here’s why

He’s graced the Met Gala in previous years—once even pausing en route to pop the question. However, this year, Donald Trump was notably absent from the high-profile event, and according to longstanding reports, his exclusion is nothing new.

Each year, on the first Monday of May, the elite of the fashion world and Hollywood’s A-list convene on the red carpet outside the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. The Met Gala, known for its extravagant themes and strict guest list, is considered one of the most glamorous gatherings globally. Yet, missing from the glittering affair in 2025 was one of the world’s most recognizable figures: former President Donald J. Trump.

Trump’s Exclusion from the Met Gala

One doesn’t need to dig deep to understand the reason behind Trump’s ongoing omission. Anna Wintour, Vogue’s iconic editor-in-chief and the Met Gala’s driving force since 1997, made it crystal clear several years ago that Trump is no longer welcome at the exclusive soirée.

“He is permanently disinvited,” she said during an appearance on The Late Late Show with James Corden in 2017.

Reports indicate that Wintour’s decision was made shortly after Trump entered the White House in 2016. That stance has remained firm—even as Trump launches into another political chapter.

A Storied Past at the Gala

Many will remember that Trump was once a staple of the Met Gala scene. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, he regularly attended the fashionable evening, often appearing alongside his then-wives, Ivana Trump and Marla Maples.

In 2004, Trump made headlines when he proposed to Melania Knauss (now Melania Trump) on the way to the event—a moment widely covered by American tabloids and celebrity magazines. It was the kind of bold, headline-grabbing gesture that epitomized Trump’s flair for public spectacle.

However, the Met Gala has evolved since then. Though it has always celebrated opulence and creativity, the event now leans more toward cultural significance and artistic expression, often intersecting with social and political narratives. Wintour has publicly maintained that the gala’s core values center on beauty, imagination, and historical resonance—not politics. Yet, decisions about the guest list seem to suggest otherwise.

Not Just Trump: Other High-Profile Absences

Trump isn’t the only prominent figure excluded from this year’s festivities. According to reporting by The New York Times, several individuals closely associated with him were also not seen on the iconic steps. Among the absent were tech tycoon Elon Musk, who has previously been a regular attendee, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, and Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg.

Their absence, whether coordinated or coincidental, contributes to a broader conversation about who gets to be part of modern culture’s most exclusive celebrations—and who doesn’t.

A Politically Charged Theme

The theme for this year’s Met Gala was particularly telling. Titled Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, the exhibition centered on the contributions of Black fashion designers and how Black communities have used clothing as a medium for challenging stereotypes and expressing identity.

Cultural commentator Louis Piscano remarked that the chosen theme “conveys a powerful message.” He noted that highlighting Black artistry in the fashion world serves both as an overdue recognition and a political act in itself. It was a theme that celebrated not just garments, but the resilience, innovation, and cultural richness behind them.

The Future of the Gala—and Its Guest List

As the Met Gala continues to evolve, it becomes increasingly clear that its guest list is about more than fame and fortune. The event is shaping a vision of cultural relevance, one that values creative voices and progressive ideals over notoriety or political influence.

Trump's ongoing exclusion signals a shift in what the gala stands for—and perhaps a broader cultural shift about who holds space at the intersection of fashion, celebrity, and power.