America’s First Lady, Melania Trump has found herself the subject of increasing ridicule this week after a fake Vanity Fair mock-up featuring her as the cover star began to circulate on social media.
The cover story in question, which featured a dramatic photo of Mrs.Trump wearing a crown, labels her “The American Queen” alongside dubbing her the “most enigmatic First Lady.”
It also went on to tease a story about her “Silent Revolution” – all underpinned by the tagline: “Fashion, power & the art of staying silent.”
Immediately after the image began to circulate online, MAGA supporters were quick to sing its praises, despite not quite recognising the tongue in cheek nature of the design, or the fact it was AI generated.
In particular, dubbing Melania America’s Queen, was a direct nod to the protestors of the Trump administration, who filled the streets earlier this summer for a set of nationwide “No Kings” protests.
Yet while MAGA supporters may have been thrilled at the prospect of Melania stepping into the spotlight, it later emerged that the cover was fake and that she had in fact, turned down the invitation to feature on a cover for the publication.
According to Page Six, she wasn’t interested and actually “laughed” at the offer when it was extended to her back in July.
A source close to the First Lady told the magazine: “She doesn’t have time to be sitting in a photo shoot. Her priorities as First Lady are far more important… These people don’t deserve her anyway.”
The apparent snub came after staffers of Vanity Fair reportedly threatened to walk out, if Mrs.Trump was given the coveted cover spot.
The magazine’s new global editorial director Mark Guiducci tried to woo Mrs. Trump back in July but his employees were so incensed by the idea, many threatened to quit on the spot.
“’If [Guiducci] puts Melania on the cover, half of the editorial staff will walk out, I guarantee it.” a mid–level editor told the Daily Mail on Monday.
“I will walk out the motherf***ing door, and half my staff will follow me… If I have to work bagging groceries at Trader Joe’s, I’ll do it… It sickens me.”
To make matters worse, following the release of the fake cover online, California Governor Gavin Newsom couldn’t resist twisting the knife as he released his own AI cover of himself on the cover, poking fun at the ludicrous nature of the initial image.
In his version, copied almost identically, Gavin is seen sporting a similar pose to Melania, while also wearing a crown underneath the title: “The American King, Gavin Newsom’s Vocal Revolution.”
It then goes on to say: “Inside the private world of America’s most enigmatic governor” before concluding with a satirical tagline: “Hair, Gel and the Art of being so handsome.”
Reposting the image to X, Newsom’s press team wasted no time in mocking Donald Trump himself, by mirroring his own social media posting style alongside the caption: “AN HONOR! THANK YOU!!!”
It isn’t the first time the Democrat has poked fun at the Trumps, with his new social media strategy of mimicking the President, having significantly benefitted his poll numbers in recent days, with Newsome currently sitting as the top candidate among Democratic primary voters for the 2028 presidential election.
