Provocative New York magazine cover shows topless Trump, 78, and Biden, 81, amid fears about their age and health: 'Wildly disrespectful'

New York magazine stunned readers this week with a provocative cover showing both Presidential candidates standing on scales in nothing but their underwear. 

The issue itself was dedicated to health, not only that of the candidates, with articles and commentary about mammograms and the latest advancements in brain cancer treatment. 

But the cover image using AI overshadowed all of it. 

It has sparked national backlash, with many calling it 'wildly disrespectful,' 'unnecessary,' and 'bad form.' 

Others were baffled that such a 'ridiculous' - in the public's terms - cover passed muster with magazine leadership. 

One said: 'Was no one else in the room when this got approved or is everyone there on bath salts?' 

While another posted on the magazine's Instagram page: 'Why was this the approved cover? How bad were the other options?' 

The image itself shows both President Biden, 81, and former President Trump, 78, standing on scales as if in a medical office for a check up. 

New York magazine's executive editor, Genevieve Smith, said of the cover: 'We had already been thinking about how to address the fact that this health issue would drop in the middle of the presidential campaign, when the presidential debate put the health and age of the candidates in the center of the national conversation.' 

While the health of candidates is of vital interest to voters, the public expressed that a photo like this was far from warranted. 

In one commenter's words: 'Putting potential world leaders on display (be it Ai or not) in their underwear is egregious Unless this is an emperor’s new clothes analogy done poorly.'

Another put it more succinctly: 'We didn't ask for this.'