The wedding of Donald and Melania Trump in 2005 was a star-studded event, reflecting their connections across various fields like fashion, sports, politics, and entertainment. Their guest list was impressive, but some notable names, such as Bruce Willis and Oprah Winfrey, were absent. A highlight was the attendance of NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal, who humorously claimed to have given Donald a Phantom Rolls-Royce as a gift. At the reception, Donald joked about how being next to Shaq, who stands at 7 feet 2 inches, felt like an eclipse, showcasing his ongoing fascination with height, especially regarding his son Barron.
In a twist, Shaquille O’Neal later supported Joe Biden in 2020, a move that likely disappointed Donald, considering their past camaraderie at the wedding. It’s curious to ponder whether the same guests would even be invited if Donald were to marry again given the context of politics today.
Hillary Clinton’s Unexpected Presence
Despite past tensions, Hillary Clinton found herself seated prominently at Donald Trump’s wedding. While Donald has publicly criticized Hillary, she attended the ceremony and Bill Clinton joined later at the reception. Their conversation reportedly revolved around golf, reflecting a cordiality amid the couple’s political history.
Hillary cited her curiosity about experiencing a Trump wedding as her primary reason for attending, noting that she didn’t know Melania beforehand. While Donald claims he insisted that they be there, Hillary’s only substantial donation from him prior to the wedding was a modest $1,000, hinting at a mere acquaintance rather than a close friendship.
Katie Couric’s Secret Camera Blunder
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Journalist Katie Couric later expressed her criticism of Donald Trump’s presidency, supporting Biden and denouncing Trump’s administration in various platforms. In a humorous turn of events, Couric attended Trump’s wedding, where guests were prohibited from taking photos. However, she smuggled in a purse that contained a hidden camera. On her podcast, she recounted this experience with fellow guest Kelly Ripa, noting the irony of secretly capturing a moment at a lavish event while holding stark political opinions against the host.
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Ripa shared a memory of Couric throwing her a hidden recording device to capture Shaquille O’Neal’s arrival. Couric humorously remarked, “I thought it was hilarious. … Maybe I was just bored.” She continued by saying, “I believe it got taken away.”
In 2005, a representative for Trump clarified the incident to the Palm Beach Post, stating that Trump had given Couric permission to film, intending to use the footage for a special. However, this was done without first informing Melania Trump, who eventually caught Couric in the act.
Trump’s Comments on Klum
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Months after Heidi Klum attended Trump and Melania’s wedding, Donald appeared on “The Howard Stern Show” and declared his loss of attraction to Klum, saying, “I looked at her the other day, and it’s off.” A decade later, he again criticized her, stating, “Sadly, she’s no longer a 10,” during an interview with The New York Times.
Klum humorously responded via X (formerly Twitter) with a video showing her posing with a sign that read “10.” A person in a Trump mask sudenly snatched it away, implying she had been downgraded to a 9.99.
Despite Trump’s ongoing barbs, Klum expressed her confusion regarding his disdain, as there were no incidents linking her to him, such as rejecting a date or an appearance. On “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” she mentioned how much Trump’s comments surprised her, especially since she jokingly remarked that he lost a potential vote by saying, “may the best woman win.”
Billy Joel Seeks Change
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In a 2019 interview with Rolling Stone, Billy Joel discussed his reluctance to engage in political discourse, fearing it might alienate fans. However, he unreservedly expressed his disapproval of Trump, particularly criticizing his response to the neo-Nazi protests in Charlottesville. Joel remarked he was motivated to wear a yellow Star of David at a concert as a protest, citing, “This president missed the boat.”
Interestingly, while Joel attended Trump’s wedding, he did not know Trump personally. He revealed it was his then-wife, Katie Lee, who was eager to go, calling it “an interesting freak show.” He humorously mentioned his confusion over why he was invited, seemingly just to provide Trump a touch of celebrity status.
Joel took full advantage of the open bar that night, admitting his memories were rather foggy but amusedly mentioned he might have entertained guests by modifying the lyrics to “The Lady is a Tramp” for the occasion—potentially what Trump had been after all along: free entertainment.
Melania Trump’s wedding dress graced the cover of Vogue, making it natural for her to invite Anna Wintour, the magazine’s editor-in-chief, to her wedding. However, during Melania’s time as first lady, she was not featured on another Vogue cover, unlike her predecessors, Michelle Obama and Jill Biden. Melania shared her feelings about this exclusion during a 2022 interview on “Fox & Friends.” She expressed that it was clear there was bias in the editorial choices.
Melania’s observations about Wintour were insightful, considering Wintour’s well-known feelings toward the Trump family. On “The Late Late Show,” she made it clear that Donald Trump would no longer be welcome at the Met Gala, an event she co-chairs and where Trump proposed to Melania in 2004.
In 2020, Wintour openly supported Joe Biden through an article in Vogue, where she criticized Donald Trump’s handling of the pandemic, calling him a narcissist and a liar. It’s evident that she is not a supporter of the MAGA movement.
Sophia Michaels
