Vanity Fair Staff Reacts to Proposed Melania Trump Cover

There was quite the uproar among Vanity Fair employees when management suggested featuring Melania Trump on the magazine cover. Reports indicate that Global Editor-in-Chief Mark Guiducci had shown interest in this idea, which prompted a fierce backlash from some staff members who even hinted at resigning if the plan proceeded, according to the New York Post.

“I walked out the motherfucking door and half of my staff followed me,” an editor shared with the publication. It seems the proposal struck a nerve, leading to strong statements from staff members. One editor remarked, “We are not going to normalize this tyranny and his wife. We are not going to do that. We are not going to support the right thing.” They expressed that they might completely withdraw their support.

The frustration was palpable, with one editor saying, “If you have to bag groceries at Trader Joe’s, I’ll do that,” adding that if Melania’s image made it to the cover, half of the editorial staff would likely leave.

Interestingly, not all staff felt that way. Some believed the outrage was more of a show. “It’s all about it,” another employee noted. “If they put her on the cover, people will protest and complain about it, but I have no one left such an honorable job.” This employee went on to assert that while there might be resistance, ultimately, the decision lies with Guiducci: “He’s not the rest of us; he’s the one who sinks or swims with that choice.”

During Donald Trump’s presidency, Melania never made the cover of Vanity Fair or Condé Nast’s Vogue, while Michelle Obama graced the cover of Vogue three times. Interestingly, Melania’s past as a model had also landed her on the covers of numerous magazines, though those were separate from her role as First Lady.