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The inevitable “OMG the First Lady isn’t wearing a head scarf” flap
Hot Air.com ^ | May 20, 2017 | JAZZ SHAW

Posted on 05/20/2017 2:25:50 PM PDT by Kaslin

As advertised, the President embarked on the first trip abroad of his presidency this week, with the initial stop being in Saudi Arabia. He was joined by both the First Lady and his daughter Ivanka. Seen exiting Air Force One, Melania Trump, as always, looked completely stunning.

Since they were landing in Saudi Arabia, you may have noticed something conspicuously missing from the First Lady’s ensemble. She’s not wearing a head scarf as is the custom in that country and some other Muslim majority nations. (Ivanka was spotted not wearing one either.) Lest you think that Hot Air has suddenly turned into a fashion blog, fear not. I am assured by some reliable sources in the mainstream media that is a Big Freaking Deal. (Hat tip to Joe Biden.) In fact, so important was the question that the Washington Post was running a lengthy article yesterday, nervously wondering… would she or wouldn’t she?

They begin by discussing the last First Lady trip to this location when Michele Obama showed up there, also with her hair uncovered.

Before long, her lack of headscarf was triggering discussion back in the United States, as well. Many supported the first lady, arguing that gender equality shouldn’t take a back seat to religious sensitivities. However, one prominent Twitter user disagreed: “Many people are saying it was wonderful that Mrs. Obama refused to wear a scarf in Saudi Arabia, but they were insulted,” Donald Trump wrote. “We have enuf enemies.”

Two years later, the shoe is on the other foot. This weekend President Trump will arrive in Riyadh for his first trip as leader of the United States. Accompanying him will not only be his wife, Melania, but daughter Ivanka. It is unclear if the president will insist that they wear headscarves in Saudi Arabia, though it seems unlikely.

Clearly this article had less to do with whether or not the FLOUTS would don a scarf than exploiting the opportunity to accuse the President of hypocrisy or flip flopping or what have you, all based on a tweet from years ago.

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

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 29, 2015

So if Michele Obama did the same thing and the world didn’t end, is the story still really a big deal? Apparently so. Across the pond, the Telegraph was all over this news as soon as the doors on the plane opened. And back home, ABC was going live with it before most of the country was even awake.

First lady Melania Trump stepped off Air Force One at King Khalid International Airport Saturday morning without a head scarf — following the example of her predecessor, Michelle Obama — and potentially creating a stir in this conservative Islamic country.

Women here, including visitors and foreign dignitaries, are expected to be fully covered in public, including their head and hair, per religious and legal code.

Senior adviser Ivanka Trump, traveling as part of the presidential entourage, was also seen not wearing an abaya.

Everyone is looking for an angle and ABC seems to be no exception, working the phrase, “potentially creating a stir” into their very first sentence. But while there may have been some more conservative Saudis sitting at home and taking offense, nobody in the royal family or their entourage seemed to bat an eye. After the arrival ceremony the First Family was seen sitting inside of an opulent hall, with both Melania and Ivanka chatting away with men from the royal family and it looked like all smiles and cordial conversation.

This wasn’t a surprise because the Saudis have really backed off on that rule when it comes to foreign dignitaries. Not only did Michele Obama go there sans scarf, but she was imitated by other high ranking women including Hillary Clinton, Angela Merkel, Marine Le Pen and Theresa May. Even if some of the most conservative Saudis don’t care for it, it seems that the ruling family has finally dragged themselves out of the fifteenth century and accepted the fact that not everyone is going to go along with those rules. They could either change with the times or stop hosting a lot of western leaders.

And really, how would it have looked if the First Lady had come off the plane wearing an abaya? Given the President’s tough talk on radical Islam and his take on American exceptionalism it would have conveyed the appearance of bending a knee to the Saudi royal family. That’s just not his style. So all in all, it looks as if the media is far more “concerned” over this than anyone in either of the governments involved.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial
KEYWORDS: firstladymelania; flotus; flotusmelania; foreignrelations; headscarf; melania; muslimwomen; muslimworld; presidenttrump; trumpvisit
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To: Kaslin

21 posted on 05/20/2017 2:51:22 PM PDT by brucedickinson
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To: KC_Lion

Melania is too beautiful to cover her head in a hefty bag. Michelle and Hillary looked better bagged, than unbagged.


22 posted on 05/20/2017 2:51:38 PM PDT by blackbetty59
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To: McGavin999

I’ll always picture Michelle as that wide load going up the steps with two weight-height proportionate ladies following.


23 posted on 05/20/2017 2:52:48 PM PDT by Farmer Dean (Every time a toilet flushes,another liberal gets his brains.)
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I have never been able to figure out why we must make allowances for their customs and dress but they can’t recognize our culture and dress....Melania is a beautiful First Lady and woman! I saw POTUS get the utmost RESPECT from the Saudis today no matter what they think of us. Impressive welcome!


24 posted on 05/20/2017 2:52:57 PM PDT by TnTnTn
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To: McGavin999
First Lady Melania looked absolutely stunning.

Moochelle on the other hand looked like a heifer

25 posted on 05/20/2017 2:53:30 PM PDT by Kaslin ( The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triump. Thomas Paine)
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To: Kaslin

And we won’t see Trump bowing to his Muslim overlord


26 posted on 05/20/2017 2:54:10 PM PDT by FatherofFive (Islam is EVIL and needs to be eradicated)
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To: Kaslin

those that think of the head scarf as necessary for American women are terribly ignorant

they are not only ignorant but fearful, weak


27 posted on 05/20/2017 2:56:50 PM PDT by Thibodeaux (the long night is over)
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To: Kaslin
"Moochelle on the other hand looked like a heifer "

I've always been reminded of one of these:


28 posted on 05/20/2017 2:57:30 PM PDT by blam
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Comment #29 Removed by Moderator

To: Kaslin

The Mooche could go uncovered, men are allowed.


30 posted on 05/20/2017 3:09:22 PM PDT by doorgunner69
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To: brucedickinson
the entire middle east can suck on part of my body

Why would anyone in the middle east want to suck on your big toe?

31 posted on 05/20/2017 3:11:39 PM PDT by GGpaX4DumpedTea ((I am a Tea Party descendant...steeped in the Constitutional Republic given to us by the Founders))
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To: doorgunner69

>The Mooche could go uncovered, men are allowed.

^Top KEK


32 posted on 05/20/2017 3:13:04 PM PDT by JohnyBoy
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To: LeoWindhorse
After years of having to endure the orangutan...

Why are you insulting orangutans?

33 posted on 05/20/2017 3:14:18 PM PDT by GGpaX4DumpedTea ((I am a Tea Party descendant...steeped in the Constitutional Republic given to us by the Founders))
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To: Kaslin

She is stunning


34 posted on 05/20/2017 3:16:58 PM PDT by ronnie raygun (Trump plays chess the rest are still playing checkers)
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To: brucedickinson

the entire middle east can suck on part of my body

____________________________________________________________

That’d start chaffing a bit after the first few hundred.


35 posted on 05/20/2017 3:18:23 PM PDT by Grimmy (equivocation is but the first step along the road to capitulation)
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To: abb

Sorry, but I don’t like it any better on Melania. SHE, on the other hand, is FABULOUS!!!!!!!!!!

Boob belts are just ridiculous to me, no matter the wearer.


36 posted on 05/20/2017 3:23:52 PM PDT by TXBlair (We will not forget Benghazi.)
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To: GGpaX4DumpedTea

sorry


37 posted on 05/20/2017 3:27:51 PM PDT by LeoWindhorse (America First !)
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To: TXBlair

Melania looks good no matter what she’s wearing... or not.


38 posted on 05/20/2017 3:29:04 PM PDT by abb ("News reporting is too important to be left to the journalists." Walter Abbott (1950 -))
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To: brucedickinson

You must have a really big elbow.


39 posted on 05/20/2017 3:29:05 PM PDT by Yaelle
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To: Kaslin

Nothing is conspicuously missing from the First Lady’s ensemble. She is not a m*slim. The media go to hell.


40 posted on 05/20/2017 3:30:52 PM PDT by I want the USA back (Acting consistently in a way that is contrary to nature results in insanity.)
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