Politics

Melania Trump arrives in Saudi Arabia without headscarf

Melania isn't the first to choose not to cover her head.

US President Donald Trump has arrived in Saudi Arabia with his wife, First Lady Melania Trump on their first official foreign trip. Somewhat controversially, the First Lady stepped off the plane without a head covering, which is standard in the very conservative Islamic nation. 

She certainly isn’t the first First Lady or politician to not cover her hair, but it isn’t so much that which makes it controversial. Like many things that get the current President into trouble, this one started with a tweet. 

Indeed, back in 2015 Trump was aghast that Michelle Obama didn’t wear a head covering on an official visit to Saudi Arabia, and tweeted his criticism of Obama and his concern about the US making enemies, six months before he entered the presidential race.

“Many people are saying it was wonderful that Mrs. Obama refused to wear a scarf in Saudi Arabia, but they were insulted.We have enuf enemies,” Trump said on Twitter in January 2015. 

Read more: Melania Trump makes army green look red hot

And of course, Trump isn’t getting away with this transgression easily, with Twitter users mercilessly quoting his old tweet alongside the pictures of Melania emerging, uncovered from Air Force One. 

https://twitter.com/DabAggin/status/865909082066223104

While there have been plenty of past official visitors to Saudi Arabia who have elected not to cover their hair, our own foreign minister Julie Bishop did in fact wear a scarf out of respect on a visit to Iran in 2015.

Melania and Trump’s daughter Ivanka have shown respect for Saudi culture by wearing full-coverage clothing while in the country, if not a headscarf. 

Do you think it was hypocritical of Melania not to wear a scarf?

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