Did Vanity Fair Really Put Melania Trump on the Cover as “The American Queen”?
A viral image of Melania Trump wearing a crown on what appears to be a Vanity Fair cover has been making waves on social media. Supporters of former President Donald Trump celebrated the supposed cover, calling the former First Lady “The American Queen.” But the truth is, the cover is completely fake.
The fabricated image shows Melania dressed in black, with her hair styled back, a gold crown on her head, and the bold headline: “The American Queen.” Some posts even claimed that legendary photographer Annie Leibovitz had staged the photoshoot with extravagant props like white doves and a gold eagle.
The hoax gained traction after Next News Network posted the image, suggesting Vanity Fair’s staff was in “revolt” over the supposed cover. But the magazine has never produced such an edition. In fact, Gary Franchi of Next News Network later admitted in a YouTube video that he created the image using AI tools. He described it as satire meant to “troll the left,” while clarifying that the cover was never real.
Despite being debunked, many MAGA supporters enthusiastically shared the fake cover, with some users insisting they would buy a copy once released. Conservative influencers like Laura Ingraham and Laura Loomer reposted the image, fueling the buzz. On the other hand, critics on X (formerly Twitter) quickly flagged the post as misinformation, with some pointing out that it would be “a terrible mistake” for Melania to pose that way.
In reality, Vanity Fair has not announced any upcoming issue featuring Melania Trump. The viral cover is just another example of how AI-generated content and political memes can easily spread as fact on social media.
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