Staff Reports
Melania Trump is gearing up to reclaim her title as First Lady of the United States, and the hopes are high that this time, the mainstream media might just treat her like one. During her husband Donald Trump’s first term, Melania was conspicuously absent from magazine covers, an oversight that is both baffling and downright shameful considering her commendable efforts with initiatives like the “Be Best” anti-bullying campaign. Before stepping into the political arena, she was a celebrated cover model, captivating audiences across various publications. Yet, the same media that glorified her predecessors ignored her.
The disparity in media coverage is staggering. While Melania’s elegant fashion statements received glowing coverage from outlets like Breitbart News, they were largely ignored by the mainstream media. In stark contrast, Michelle Obama enjoyed a media love-fest – her outfits were often described as “interesting,” albeit with a hint of clashing colors that could only be appreciated by a select audience. Fast forward to Jill Biden, who graced the covers of fashion magazines just five months into the Biden administration, a clear nod to the media’s bias towards those aligned with the Democratic Party.
In first interview since leaving the WH, Melania is asked, “With your business background, and your fashion background, and your beauty, never on the cover of Vogue?”
A – “They’re biased .. I had much more important things to do .. in the WH than be on the cover of Vogue.” pic.twitter.com/OPENMbpcl5— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) May 14, 2022
In a candid moment during an interview in 2022, Melania took a swing at the blatant media bias against her during her husband’s presidency. She pointed out that Democratic First Ladies consistently received cover shots while she was left out in the cold, much like a winter coat at a spring fashion show. This lack of representation is not an isolated incident, a fact underscored by the coverage received by prior First Ladies. It’s clear the media has favored political allegiances over fair representation.
While the tabloids relished every juicy detail about Donald Trump’s alleged affairs, they seemed intent on using Melania’s dignified silence against her. Instead of recognizing her as a formidable First Lady, they pounced on her marriage to subject her to scrutiny, weaving narratives of scandal rather than focusing on her contributions to society. Such treatment often felt less like journalism and more like a desperate attempt to undermine a classic American story.
Now, with Donald Trump poised to make a political comeback, there is cautious optimism that Melania will finally receive the respect she deserves. There’s speculation about whether the media will extend an olive branch or if it will need some first-class convincing. If the press has any decency left, perhaps it should start with a simple apology for past missteps before rolling out the red carpet for the first true First Lady that America never got to really know in the way she should have been celebrated.
