Dr Jill Biden has become the first first lady to feature on the cover of Vogue since Melania Trump was denied the honour, a decision that infuriated the former president and his wife. The August edition shows Biden wearing a floral dress by Oscar de la Renta, marking a return to the tradition of first ladies appearing on the magazine's cover.
In the accompanying interview, Biden described her husband, President Joe Biden, as 'a calmer president' than Donald Trump, adding that 'part of the reason Joe was elected' was because people wanted someone to 'heal this nation, not just from the pandemic… but also he lowers the temperature'. The comments come amid ongoing comparisons between the Biden and Trump administrations.
The snub of Melania Trump by Vogue was previously highlighted by Donald Trump in a December tweet, where he shared a Breitbart News article accusing 'elitist snobs in the fashion press' of ignoring his wife, whom he called 'the greatest of all time'. The Trumps had reportedly been angered by the magazine's decision not to feature Melania on the cover during her tenure as first lady.
Biden also discussed her fashion choices in the interview, noting that she does not work with a stylist and prefers to 'choose from a diverse group of designers'. She wore a 'LOVE' blazer at the G7 summit, widely interpreted as a response to Melania Trump's controversial 'I really don't care, do u?' jacket. Biden said the message was about 'bringing love from America' and fostering unity after the pandemic.
The editor of the Instagram page Dr Jill Biden Fashion praised the first lady's approach to sustainable fashion, stating that she 'wears them a lot and she wears them for years', which is 'a good look during a pandemic when people are struggling'. The positive reception contrasts with criticism over the lighting and respect of Kamala Harris's Vogue cover in February.
