Vogue Magazine harshly criticizes first lady Melania Trump’s official portrait, says she looks more like a freelance magician than a public servant

Melania Trump's official White House portrait is criticized by Vogue, which compared her to a freelance magician. The White House released Melania Trump's official portrait on Monday, which was heavily criticized by Vogue Magazine. According to the fashion magazine, Trump's ferocious photo appeared more like she was a guest star on an episode of "The Apprentice," the reality show her husband hosted for NBC in the 2000s.

Why did Vogue compare Melania Trump to a magician?

The black and white image, taken by photographer Régine Mahaux, shows Trump in a power pose, leaning forward a little and placing her hands on a table that reflects light. The Washington Monument is in the background. Instead, the former fashion model and first lady wore a dark suit with a white shirt underneath.

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Melania Trump's attire undoubtedly hindered the boardroom parody, according to the article in Vogue. "The first lady wore a black Dolce & Gabbana tuxedo jacket with satin-trimmed lapels over a white button-up, which she paired with a Ralph Lauren cummerbund and trousers,” as quoted in a report by Fox News.

"The choice to wear a tuxedo as opposed to a blazer or blouse made Trump look more like a freelance magician than a public servant," Vogue stated. "It’s perhaps unsurprising that a woman who lived in a gold-encrusted penthouse, whose fame is so intertwined with a reality television empire, would refuse to abandon theatrics, even when faced with 248 years of tradition."

Trump's official 2017 White House portrait, in which she is wearing a black blazer with her arms crossed and a slight smile in a soft-focus color photograph, contrasts with her new 2025 portrait.

Melania Trump faced criticism at the time for wearing a ring with 25-carat diamonds that was purportedly given to her by the president in 2024. Trump's wearing of the enormous sparkler, which is estimated to be worth $3 million, was criticized for being insensitive.

"Unlike the new black-and-white image, Trump’s first portrait was in color, featuring the First Lady—face airbrushed into oblivion—wide-eyed, smiling with a hint of teeth, her arms crossed to display a massive diamond wedding ring," Vogue responded to the report.

Vogue criticized the Trumps' new portrait, stating that the portrait remains more subdued, and the Trumps are displaying wealth through the coterie of tech CEOs who sat front row at the 2025 Inauguration, whose combined net worth was over a trillion dollars.

FAQs

Why did Vogue critique Melania Trump's portrait?
Vogue stated that her tuxedoed look was more theatrical than appropriate for a First Lady's official portrait.

What did Vogue say about Ivanka Trump's dress?
The magazine claimed that her Hollywood-inspired gown lacked the symbolic depth expected of political fashion.