This week Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour checked in with “The Economist’s Asks” podcast, a series hosted by Anne McElvoy who grilled her on an array of topics including diversity in fashion, the impact of influencers and Wintour’s decision not to have a personal social media presence. The interview was highlighted by the interviewers queries about Melania Trump, about whom Wintour artfully avoided commenting on with a skill set akin to Mariah Carey when asked about Jennifer Lopez.
When asked about what appears to be a decision not to cover Melania in the print issue of Vogue, Wintour replied, “There are so many women in politics that deserve celebration,” and went on to list Senators Kirsten Gillibrand, Kamela Harris and Elizabeth Warren.
When asked about Donald Trump’s recent racist tweets about Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ayanna Pressley, Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, Wintour opined, “I think the president is playing to his base and I personally feel that’s behind a lot of what he says and does. He’s very conscious and aware of who is supporting him. And there are many, many people in this country who don’t and I think unfortunately the divide is getting bigger and all I can say is that I hope we will see things differently come 2020.
McElvoy then circled back to asking about coverage of Melania and once again Wintour sidestepped the question by responding, “I think it’s important to cover women who are leading change in this country.”
Undeterred, McElvoy tried a new approach by reflecting on Trump and Melania’s fashion choices on their recent visit to the United Kingdom. Clearly unimpressed by her fashion choices, Wintour responded by speaking admiringly about Michelle Obama. “I think First Lady Michelle Obama really was so incredible in every decision she made about fashion,” she said, and added, “She supported young American designers. She supported designers from all over the world. She was the best ambassador this country could possibly have in many ways.”
When the reporter pointed out Obama is not the First Lady now, Wintour continued, “To me [Obama] is the example I admire.”
Check out the interview below.
