 "Was Donald Trump 'banned' from the Met Gala event?")
The Met Gala — fashion’s most iconic and extravagant night — returned on May 5 this year with its usual dose of drama, couture, and star-studded spectacle.
From Oscar winners to music legends and social media royalty, the red carpet at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York attracted the creme de la creme of the entertainment world.
Yet, while the who’s-who of the global elite strutted and sparkled for the cameras, one high-profile name has been missing from the guest list for years . Donald Trump.
According to The Independent, the Trumps were a regular at the Met Gala till 2012, but shortly after the business mogul was sworn in as the President of the United States for the first time, he was scrubbed off the guest list. But why? Here’s the full story behind it.
Why is Donald Trump ‘banned’ at the Met Gala
Donald Trump may currently hold the highest office in the United States, but when it comes to the Met Gala, even that title won’t get him a seat at the table.
And the reason for that? Anna Wintour.
The longtime Vogue editor-in-chief not only oversees the Met Gala but also curates the star-studded guest list. In a 2017 appearance on The Late Late Show with James Corden, Wintour was asked who she would never invite again to the Met Gala.
Without skipping a beat, she said, “Trump.” Her answer was met with cheers from the audience, prompting Corden to respond, “That is a great answer.”
Though Wintour has never publicly explained the decision, it’s widely believed to be rooted in her political leanings. A known supporter of the Democratic Party, she has long shared a warm relationship with the Obamas and hasn’t shied away from criticising Trump’s policies in the past.
Interestingly, Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, was once a Met Gala regular. But her last appearance on the event’s red carpet dates back to 2016, a year before Wintour’s remark.
While there has been no official word on her exclusion, it’s widely speculated that the entire Trump family has since been removed from the Met’s guest list.
Who else is banned from the Met Gala red carpet?
It’s not just Donald Trump who’s been shown the door at the Met Gala — several other celebrities have found themselves crossed off Anna Wintour’s carefully curated guest list.
Among them is Riverdale star Lili Reinhart, once a regular at the event until 2022. Her fall from grace reportedly followed her outspoken criticism of Kim Kardashian’s extreme dieting to fit into Marilyn Monroe’s iconic dress. Speaking to W Magazine, Reinhart said, “I don’t think I’ll be invited back, I said a certain something about a certain person in a certain dress.”
Fashion mentor and TV personality Tim Gunn also claims to be blacklisted. In an interview with E! Entertainment, he revealed that he’d once told a story about Anna Wintour being carried down five flights of stairs by two bodyguards at a fashion show. “All hell broke loose,” Gunn said. “It was insane. We’ve had an open war ever since.”
Then there’s Zayn Malik. The British singer made his only Met Gala appearance in 2016 with then-girlfriend Gigi Hadid. But he didn’t seem impressed by the glitz and glam.
Other names who’ve allegedly been banned include actors Tina Fey, Rachel Zoe, and Eugenio Casnighi, all of whom have spoken critically about the event or found themselves out of favour.
Indians who dazzled the Met Gala red carpet this year
India is being represented at the Met Gala 2025 by a slew of A-list celebrities and business leaders. This year’s event spotlighted Black style through the lens of dandyism’s subversive history.
-Reliance heiress Isha Ambani
-Actor Shah Rukh Khan
-Actor Kiara Advani
-Actor and singer Diljit Dosanjh
-Actor Priyanka Chopra and her husband Nick Jonas
-Indian-origin entrepreneur Mona Patel
-Fashion designer Manish Malhotra
-Socialite Natasha Poonawala
-Diya Mehta Jalia
With input from agencies
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