Donald Trump was once a regular at the Met Gala, famously proposing to Melania on the way to the 2004 event. But that chapter has officially closed — for good.

When the 2025 Met Gala took place, Trump’s absence wasn’t a surprise. That’s because, as Anna Wintour confirmed back in 2017 on The Late Late Show with James Corden, Trump is permanently banned. “He will never be invited again,” she said — a statement that’s held true across both of Trump’s presidencies.

Trump’s ties to New York high society once made him a red carpet staple, especially in the ’80s and ’90s with Ivana Trump and later Marla Maples. But the Met Gala has evolved. Wintour’s guest list now reflects broader cultural values, and Trump’s divisive persona no longer aligns.

He wasn’t the only major figure excluded in 2025. Other high-profile absences included Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg — all previously gala attendees.

This year’s theme, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, celebrated Black designers and cultural influence, signaling a strong shift toward inclusion and social meaning. As cultural critic Louis Piscano noted, the gala is clearly “sending a message.”

For Trump, once part of fashion’s most elite night, that message is clear: he’s no longer welcome.