Several prominent MAGA media personalities and Fox News hosts erupted in celebration this week at the prospect of Melania Trump finally appearing on the cover of Vanity Fair. Many declared they could not “wait to see all the liberal meltdowns” over such a move. There was just one catch — the cover image they circulated was fake.
The frenzy followed a report by Semafor that new Vanity Fair editor-in-chief Mark Guiducci is reshaping the magazine’s editorial approach since replacing Radhika Jones. According to the outlet, Guiducci has expressed interest in featuring figures who may alienate some of the magazine’s liberal readers, with Melania Trump cited as a possible cover subject.
That suggestion ignited outrage among some staff. One unnamed mid-level editor was quoted saying they would “walk out the motherf***ing door, and half my staff will follow me” if the former first lady were featured, accusing the magazine of attempting to “normalize this despot and his wife.”
Right-wing media quickly amplified the story. For years, conservatives have fumed that major fashion publications largely shunned Melania Trump, despite her modeling background. On Fox News, Fox & Friends host Brian Kilmeade called for the anonymous editor to be exposed and fired. Co-host Ainsley Earhardt vowed she would purchase “several editions” if Melania graced the cover.
Columnist Miranda Devine, however, downplayed the speculation, reporting that Melania was “not the slightest bit interested” in appearing on Vanity Fair. Still, the chatter fueled days of right-wing commentary portraying the magazine as out of touch and hostile to conservatives.
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The narrative took a stranger turn Thursday when the conservative YouTube channel Next News Network, known for spreading misinformation, shared what it claimed was a “LEAKED” Vanity Fair cover featuring Melania. The image, however, was quickly identified as AI-generated.
Despite its inauthenticity, the fake cover spread widely on social media, reinforcing the perception among Trump supporters that their grievances with the mainstream media had been vindicated. For Vanity Fair, the episode underscored the intense scrutiny and polarization surrounding Guiducci’s leadership — and the ongoing culture war over which public figures are deemed worthy of glossy magazine covers.