Before he became president of the United States, New York real-estate magnate Donald Trump was a regular attendee of the Met Gala.
The annual fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute features a high-profile guest list curated by Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour. On a 2017 episode of “The Late Late Show with James Corden,” Wintour revealed that she would not invite Trump back to the event.
In 2024, single tickets to “fashion’s biggest night” cost $75,000 each, while tables cost $350,000. Last year’s Met Gala raised almost $26 million, according to the museum.
Ahead of this year’s event on Monday, May 5, here’s a look back at the Trump family’s Met Gala appearances through the years.
Donald Trump married Ivana Trump in 1977. She gave birth to Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and Ivanka Trump before they divorced in 1989.
At the 1985 Met Gala, where the theme was “Costumes of Royal India,” Donald Trump wore a black tuxedo, while Ivana Trump wore a purple leopard-print dress with a matching shawl.
For the “Dance” theme in 1986, Ivana Trump wore a sequined red dress with a sweetheart neckline and accessorized with a matching shawl and clutch.
The Met Gala celebrated the Costume Institute’s 50th anniversary in 1987 with the theme “In Style.”
Ivana Trump wore a black gown embellished with pearls for the gala’s theme of “The Age of Napoleon: Costume from Revolution to Empire, 1789-1815.” Donald Trump stuck with his black tuxedo and black bow tie, but this time, his white shirt featured black buttons.
In 1998, the theme of the event was “Cubism and Fashion.” Donald Trump wore his standard tuxedo, while Murray wore a strapless black dress with a front slit and carried a beaded bag.
Donald Trump and Melania Trump met at a party in New York City in 1998 while he was separated from his second wife, Marla Maples. They wed in 2005.
Melania Trump wore a cream micro-pleated dress and carried a shiny silver clutch for the 2003 Met Gala’s “Party of the Year” theme. Donald Trump wore his usual tuxedo.
Donald Trump proposed to Melania Trump at the 2004 Met Gala with a 15-carat diamond ring valued at $1.5 million.
Ivanka Trump chose a peach off-the-shoulder dress with butterfly-shaped lace cutouts and a thigh-high slit.
She also carried a Chanel clutch for the 2005 theme of “The House of Chanel.”
She added diamond jewelry and black open-toe heels to complete the outfit.
The theme of the Met Gala that year was “Anglomania: Tradition and Transgression in British Fashion.”
She wore her hair in an updo and carried a cream bag.
The 2007 Met Gala honored French designer Paul Poiret as “The King of Fashion.”
Wu also designed Michelle Obama‘s 2009 inaugural ball gown.
The theme of the 2008 Met Gala was “Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy.”
She appeared on the red carpet with designer Gilles Mendel of J. Mendel.
Years later, Melania Trump wore a Dolce & Gabbana blazer in her first official White House portrait. She also garnered controversy in 2017 when she wore an expensive jacket from the designer to the G7 Summit that retails for $51,500 — more than most Americans make in a year.
Ivanka Trump and Kushner met at a networking lunch in 2007. They broke up in 2008 due to religious differences but rekindled their relationship three months later. After Ivanka Trump converted to Judaism, the pair got engaged in July 2009.
At the 2009 Met Gala, Ivanka Trump wore a pale Brian Reyes dress with touches of black throughout the outfit. Kushner appeared in a classic black suit with a black tie.
In 2017, Siriano told Time magazine that he would not dress Melania in her capacity as first lady because he did not support the political outlook she represented.
“I dress people that I can support and support what they’re doing in their lives,” he said. “That’s why it’s important to me and it should be important to every designer because the people that you put in your brand represent the brand.”
Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner wed in October 2009 at the Trump National Golf Club in New Jersey.
She added a gold clutch and accessories from Alexander McQueen to complete the look.
The theme that year was “Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations.”
Ivanka Trump wore a navy gown with cutouts and sheer panels by Peter Pilotto, while Kushner joined her in a tuxedo.
Ivanka Trump’s ensemble featured a black top, a green floor-length skirt with a high slit, and gold spiked jewelry.
Oscar de la Renta also co-chaired the 2014 Met Gala.
The theme of the 2015 Met Gala was “China: Through the Looking Glass.”
Ivanka Trump wore a red Ralph Lauren jumpsuit for the theme “Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology” just over a month after giving birth to her and Kushner’s third child, Theodore James.
She and Kushner have not been back to the Met Gala since serving as advisors in Donald Trump’s first White House administration.
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What members of the Trump family have worn to the Met Gala through the years – Business Insider
