Former model and cover girl turned First Lady Melania Trump hit back at Vogue after its editor-in-chief Anna Wintour made her preference for Democrats clear to CNN.
Wintour told CNN, “You have to stand up for what you believe in and you have to take a point of view.”
With Wintour at the helm of Vogue, it has featured Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama on covers and profiled other liberal, female politicians as well as porn star Stormy Daniels. However, Trump has not yet graced the cover of Vogue as first lady.
Perhaps, that has to do with Wintour’s decided preference for liberals and prior fundraising for President Donald Trump’s political opponent: Hillary Clinton.
Melania Trump chastised Wintour through spokesperson Stephanie Grisham on April 15, saying, “Her role as first lady of the United States and all that she does is much more important than some superficial photo shoot and cover.”
“This just further demonstrates how biased the fashion magazine industry is, and shows how insecure and small-minded Anna Wintour really is,” Grisham added.
The response followed CNN chief international anchor Christiane Amanpour’s interview of Wintour on April 5. Wintour is a legendary fashion designer, Vogue editor-in-chief and former friend of the Trump family. Ironically, CNN praised Vogue’s “noteworthy efforts to diversify,” even though, a diversity of political viewpoints is clearly not part of the agenda.
Specifically asked about the first ladies featured in the magazine over the years, Wintour told Amanpour, “we believe in the stand that they're taking on issues, we support them in the fact that we feel that they are leaders.”
The famed editor acknowledged many of the magazine’s profiles have been of Democrats, especially Democratic women. As for what she was “trying to say” with the political coverage, Wintour said “I don’t think it’s a moment not to take a stand ...I believe, as I think those of us who work at Conde Nast believe, that you have to stand up for what you believe in and you have to take a point of view.”
Wintour’s support for Clinton went beyond a cover during her years as First Lady. She led fundraisers and voter registration events for her as she campaigned against Donald Trump. Clinton was also the first president candidate ever to be endorsed by Vogue, according to WWD.
