Vogue’s Anna Wintour comes out swinging against Trump, postpones New York’s Met Gala

Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour has excoriated U.S. President Trump for inadequate action on the coronavirus outbreak in a March 16 editorial letter posted on Vogue.com.

In her most scolding tone, Vogue’s boss blames Mr. Trump for ad-hoc decision-making over the virus pandemic. She says the U.S. leader’s performance at this hour is reason for the country to elect Joe Biden as the next president.

The move to postpone the Metropolitan Museum’s Met Gala run by Ms. Wintour – a magnet for the nation’s leading actors, models and celebrities – is another devastating blow for New York’s economy and the fashion business.

Here is Ms. Wintour’s letter:

Anna Wintour on COVID-19, the Met Gala, and why she will be voting for Joe Biden

Like everyone else, I have been experiencing this COVID-19 crisis as a series of hurtling developments, where one never knows quite what each new day will bring. Through it all one fact, however, remains stubbornly unchanged: President Trump. I, like so many of us, have been appalled by how he has responded to the pandemic—the optimistic and fact-free assurances that all will be fine, the chaotic implementation of travel bans and claims about a “foreign virus,” the narcissistic ease with which he has passed blame to others, his dishonesty with the American people, and worst of all, his shocking lack of empathy and compassion for those who are suffering and fearful. Meanwhile, his administration has been unforgivably slow to provide testing, and to mobilize treatment to all who will need it. These weeks have been a reminder—as if we needed a reminder—that America must choose a new president.

Former vice president Joe Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden. Image credit: Photographed by Annie Leibovitz, Vanity Fair, December 2017

And it is my belief that we should choose Vice President Joe Biden. I have been impressed with the wider field of Democratic candidates this primary season, but after Biden’s decisive victories on Super Tuesday, I, like so many Americans, made up my mind to rally behind the Vice President. He is unmistakably a man of character and has so many qualities that we are in desperately short supply of in Washington right now: decency, honor, compassion, trustworthiness, and best of all experience. I know that we will get through COVID-19, but on the other side more challenges await—not the least of which is grappling with our ongoing climate crisis. We must choose a president who is ready to govern, who understands how to get results out of Congress, and who can set this country on a path to sustainability. And what a relief it will be to have a president who puts the well-being of others before his own, who doesn’t constantly think of himself first. For all these reasons, I look forward to casting my ballot in November for Joe Biden—together with whatever running mate he chooses (and he has wisely committed to choosing a woman). I am confident she will be qualified and equipped with the experience that Biden knows—as well as anyone—is required for the job. Election day cannot come soon enough.

One day that will not arrive on schedule will be the opening of the Costume Institute’s exhibition, About Time. Due to the unavoidable and responsible decision by the Metropolitan Museum to close its doors, About Time, and the opening night gala, will not take place on the date scheduled. In the meantime, we will give you a preview of this extraordinary exhibition in our forthcoming May issue.