Vogue Critiques Melania Trump’s Official Portrait Likens Her to a ‘Freelance Magician’

Vogue Magazine recently critiqued Melania Trump’s new official portrait, which the White House released on Monday. The magazine said the photo made her look more like she was appearing on “The Apprentice”—the TV show her husband used to host—rather than looking like a traditional first lady.

The black and white photo, taken by Régine Mahaux, shows Melania Trump leaning forward with her hands on a shiny table, with the Washington Monument in the background. She wore a dark suit with a white shirt.

Vogue was not impressed, describing her outfit as more fitting for a TV show boardroom. They commented that her tuxedo made her look more like a magician than a public servant. Vogue also noted her luxurious lifestyle and previous TV fame, suggesting she has not left behind her showy style, even in her role as first lady.

“Trump’s clothing certainly didn’t help the boardroom pastiche,” Vogue’s article reads. “The first lady wore a black Dolce & Gabbana tuxedo jacket with satin trimmed lapels over a white button-up, which she paired with a Ralph Lauren cummerbund and trousers.” 

“The choice to wear a tuxedo—as opposed to a blazer or blouse—made Melania Trump look more like a freelance magician than a public servant,” Vogue added.

“It’s perhaps unsurprising that a woman who lived in a gold-encrusted penthouse, whose fame is so intertwined with a reality television empire, would refuse to abandon theatrics—even when faced with 248 years of tradition.”

This new portrait is quite different from her first official portrait in 2017, where she smiled slightly and wore a softer look. Critics back then didn’t like that she showed off a very expensive diamond ring.

Vogue also criticized Ivanka Trump’s dress at the inaugural ball, which was a black and white dress inspired by a movie dress worn by Audrey Hepburn.

Overall, Vogue’s review highlights a clash between the Trumps’ glamorous style and what is usually expected in their public roles.