Fox News hosts Jesse Watters and Brian Kilmeade stirred up controversy this week after ranking first ladies based on their appearance during a live segment on The Five.
The discussion began on Wednesday, August 27, when the pair reacted to reports that Vanity Fair’s new global editorial director, Mark Guiducci, is considering featuring former first lady Melania Trump on the magazine’s cover to attract conservative readers.
Watters, 47, asked Kilmeade, 61, whether more recent first ladies, Jill Biden and Michelle Obama, had been featured on the cover before. Jill has appeared once, while Michelle was featured three times.
“Do you think those two women are prettier than Melania Trump?” Watters asked. “Is it about pretty or is it about fashion? Because Melania’s also more fashionable.”
Kilmeade didn’t hesitate to reply: “Right. She’s the most attractive first lady ever, let’s be honest.”
The conversation quickly turned playful when Kilmeade joked about not having “seen Martha Washington” and Watters quipped back, “She’s not your type?” They both laughed over the challenges of judging “portraits instead of pictures.”
The hosts also debated other first ladies, with Watters bringing up Jackie Kennedy Onassis, which prompted a lighthearted back-and-forth between the two.
But the Fox News banter comes amid real drama at Vanity Fair. Reports suggest some staff members are furious over the possibility of Melania Trump being placed on the cover. One editor reportedly told The Daily Beast they would quit if it happens, saying, “I will walk out the motherf—— door, and half my staff will follow me.”
The source added, “We are not going to normalize this despot and his wife; we’re just not going to do it. If [Guiducci] puts Melania on the cover, half of the editorial staff will walk out, I guarantee it.”
The debate has reignited conversations about media bias, political divides, and how first ladies are perceived in the public eye — and it doesn’t seem to be cooling down anytime soon.
If half the staff leaves, it’s just that many LESS to give pink-slips to for a lack of taste :Exhibit “A”, Big Mike O’Bongo !
FWIW…..Jackie had to be a very close 2nd place !