Two questions? What language was Melania speaking to the Saudi’s? She speaks five. What is the significance of the checkered red tablecloths the Saudi men wear on their heads vis a vis the pure white ones like the King and others were wearing?
The second one is above my paygrade, tough I am sure the reason carries great weight with them.
The color meanings of kefiyahs or shemags varies with the local area. White ones are considered more elegant and prestigious. There’s apparently a red and white Saudi/Bedouin pattern and other red and white patterns for other groups like Jordanians. Black and white is probably most common. Seems like more of a fashion statement, as historically Arabs and others around the Middle East wore turbans.