Prior to her husband assuming office, first lady Melania Trump graced the cover of Vogue magazine in 2005 after she got engaged to then private citizen Donald Trump. Now that her husband entered politics as a conservative candidate, Vogue pretends she doesn’t exist. Vogue editorial director Anna Wintour refused to even acknowledge that Melania Trump holds the role of First Lady and is an icon for millions of people.

Patrice Onwuka, senior policy analyst at Independent Women’s Forum, explains how this clear bias manifests itself:

We now have a clearer picture of why the retired model is ignored by the fashion world she once occupied.

In an interview with The Economist’s Anne McElvoy, Wintour was asked about Trump’s fashion as an ambassador when visiting the U.K.

Wintour answered a totally different question, saying:

'Well, I think first lady Michelle Obama really was so incredible in every decision she made about fashion. She supported young American designers. She supported designers, indeed, from all over the world. She was the best ambassador this country could possibly have — in many ways, obviously, way beyond fashion.’

McElvoy didn’t let Wintour get away, but pressed her harder about Trump – not Obama – replying:

'But she’s not the first lady now. So what about the one you’ve got now?’

And Wintour again snubbed Trump, refusing to even acknowledge her:

'To me, [Obama] is the example that I admire.’

Wintour may be a big Democratic Party donor, but she’s also a fashion leader. In this exchange, we read between the lines that for her politics trumps fashion.

We shouldn’t be too surprised though about Vogue and other fashion magazines ignoring Melania Trump. This is a strategy that they employ – among many others – to silence conservative women.