Leading up to the inauguration in Washington, D.C. this Friday, there was plenty of speculation over which designers would or would not dress First Lady, Melania Trump. Several designers — including Marc Jacobs and Tom Ford — said they would not participate, while designer Ralph Lauren embraced the opportunity and the brand is now facing a boycott. As it turns out though, Melania Trump had another designer in mind for her big day: Naeem Khan.

In an interview with AP, Naeem revealed that he was approached by "a common social friend" to dress Melania, but he ultimately "declined to pursue the opportunity." Not only does he have close ties to the Obama family (he's dressed Michelle on several occasions and even Malia and Sasha), he's also been outspoken about his feelings toward the Trump administration. In an earlier interview, he said: "I'm not a politician, I'm a fashion designer — but I do have a point of view and I do have loyalty. I really care for the values of our country and I feel like there's something missing in the new administration. I am very skeptical and I'm afraid of where it's going. But, I think we have to see."

Melania also wore a white Hervé Pierre gown for the inaugural ball which she reportedly co-designed. Pierre expressed his gratitude in a statement following the evening. "I feel lucky and honoured to dress Melania Trump," he said of the opportunity. As we head into the next four years, it's clear that dressing Melania will continue to be a contentious issue in the fashion industry.

Related: People Are Boycotting Ralph Lauren for Dressing Melania Trump

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