As the world turns its attention to the iconic steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art for the 2025 Met Gala, one name is conspicuously missing from the guest list: US President Donald Trump.
The Met Gala takes place on the first Monday of May and launches the Costume Institute’s annual fashion exhibition, earning its reputation as the most exclusive event in global fashion.
Although Trump, his wife Melania, and daughter Ivanka attended in the past, reports claim organisers have banned them from this year’s gala.
This exclusion has reignited a long-standing fashion-world feud and fuelled public speculation across media outlets.
The Trump family’s absence is not without precedent. Vogue’s editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, the undisputed gatekeeper of the Met Gala, reportedly made her stance clear back in 2017.
During a candid interview on a late-night talk show with host James Corden, Wintour responded to the question “Who would you never invite back to the Met Gala?” with a single name: “Trump.”
The audience cheered, and the statement went viral.
Although the Trumps attended the Met Gala in 2004 and 2012, Ivanka has not appeared since 2017—further fuelling rumours of an unofficial blacklist. Now, in 2025, the ban appears very much real.
This year’s theme, ‘Superfine: Tailored for You’, marks the first time in over two decades that the Met Gala celebrates menswear.
Many see this as a bold move toward rethinking gender norms in fashion, aiming to push boundaries around inclusion and self-expression.
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Ironically, while the theme champions diversity, the exclusion of one of America’s most recognisable political figures adds an undercurrent of controversy to the red carpet event.
Fashion commentators suggest that this deliberate omission sends a message—that the Met Gala is as much about values as it is about style.
The Trumps are not the only public figures to face exclusion. Riverdale actress Lili Reinhart previously questioned whether she’d ever be invited back after criticising Kim Kardashian’s controversial Marilyn Monroe-inspired look at a past Gala.
Likewise, names such as Tim Gunn, Rebecca Minkoff, Rachel Zoe, and model Eugenio Casnighi have all reportedly been ‘unofficially banned’, according to BuzzFeed.
Still, Anna Wintour has never publicly confirmed a ban, apart from Trump.
Despite the controversies, the Met Gala 2025 promises a spectacular evening. This year’s co-chairs include Anna Wintour, Colman Domingo, Pharrell Williams, A$AP Rocky, Lewis Hamilton, and—for the first time—LeBron James.
Representing India on the red carpet are Bollywood legends Shah Rukh Khan and Diljit Dosanjh, both making their Met Gala debuts. Also expected is actress Kiara Advani, who, as a mum-to-be, brings a fresh glow to the star-studded night.
As fashion and politics collide under the Met’s grand façade, the Trump family’s absence serves as a sharp reminder: the Met Gala is no ordinary party.
It’s a cultural battleground where influence, image, and ideology are tailored just as sharply as the suits on display.
Would you like a visual timeline of Trump’s history with the Met Gala or a list of this year’s top celebrity looks?
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