Will Melania Trump Ever Be At A Met Gala Again? Here's Why It's Unlikely

The years of seeing Donald and Melania Trump at the Met Gala are likely over. The two were frequent attendees at the coveted event, a star-studded fundraising night for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. According to Vogue, the event is commonly referred to as "fashion's biggest night out," and the attendees don't disappoint, showing up in red-carpet outfits that are both outrageous and gorgeous. The Trumps were among the glitterati in years past, first attending the event in 2003 and showing up every year until 2012. Additionally, Donald literally proposed to Melania on the night of the 2004 Met Gala, so she arrived showing off her 12-carat diamond ring. The event was a big deal for Donald and Melania.

However, it seems likely that their Met Gala days are over. In 2017, while on "The Late Late Show with James Corden," Met Gala organizer Anna Wintour said that she would never invite Donald Trump back. While Wintour didn't expressly include Melania in the ban, it's unlikely that the first lady would go alone. Other celebrities have historically delivered incredible, on-theme looks. Kim Kardashian has a stunning collection of Met Gala looks, and similarly, we've ranked Beyoncé's compilation of her most gorgeous Met Gala outfits. Even without Melania there, other stars will create enough of a dazzle on the steps of the Met to keep things interesting.

While Anna Wintour firmly banned Donald Trump — and by association, Melania — from attending the Met Gala, there's one loophole to the ban that might make it possible for the Trumps to attend the event again. However, Wintour stepped down from the position of editor-in-chief of Vogue in June 2025, handing over the reins to Chloe Malle, as the Head of Editorial Content. While Wintour will continue to host the Met Gala for the foreseeable future, her power over the fundraising night is shifting. Furthermore, Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos are the primary donors of the 2026 Met Gala and hold significant influence over the event. The Bezos couple was at Trump's inauguration in January 2025, and Trump was invited to the Bezos' Venice wedding in June of that year. Trump declined the invitation, but Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner attended. 

With Bezos' increased involvement in the Met Gala, it's possible that Donald and Melania could be invited back in the future, considering how much Bezos is trying to show his support of Trump. On top of this, Wintour's involvement will likely lessen over the years to come. So, while Melania might not be at the 2026 Met Gala, it's possible that she could show up at the illustrious event in the future.