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The reason why Melania Trump chose to wear a veil at the Vatican but not to wear a headscarf in Saudi Arabia

WHEN in Saudi Arabia, the first lady went without the head scarf. Now she’s been accused of double standards for wearing a veil at the Vatican.

2 min read
May 25, 2017 - 1:33PM
First lady Melania Trump chose to wear a veil to meet the Pope but not a headscarf to meet the King of Saudi Arabia. Picture: AFP.
First lady Melania Trump chose to wear a veil to meet the Pope but not a headscarf to meet the King of Saudi Arabia. Picture: AFP.

JUST days after winning plaudits for saying heave-ho to the headscarf in Saudi Arabia, Melania and Ivanka Trump had many people scratching their heads asking why they opted to don black, almost funereal, veils in the Vatican.

It’s raised accusations of double standards for the Trumps, that they would forgo respectful headwear in a Muslim-majority country but gladly wear it in the presence of the head of the Catholic Church.

Indeed, back in 2015 when then-first lady Michelle Obama arrived in Saudi Arabia sans scarf, Trump said she had “insulted” her hosts and that we had “enuf (sic) enemies”.

In Saudi Arabia, first lady Melania Trump accompanied by President Trump and King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud did not wear a headscarf. Picture: AFP.
In Saudi Arabia, first lady Melania Trump accompanied by President Trump and King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud did not wear a headscarf. Picture: AFP.
But at the Vatican, she and Ivanka Trump wore veils. Picture: AFP.
But at the Vatican, she and Ivanka Trump wore veils. Picture: AFP.

But earlier this week, as first lady Melania descended the stairs of Air Force One in Riyadh she sported a $2000 dollar Stella McCartney jump suit with gold buckle — but no headscarf.

Fast forward a few days to Rome and an audience with the Pope and the first lady wore a Dolce and Gabbana black dress with veil. Ivanka, the President’s Daughter sported an even larger veil.

So was it double standards or was is there another explanation?

Well, apparently, it all comes down to how strictly the dress rules are enforced and how you choose to abide by them. In this case, the Vatican are more hard-line on fashion than Saudi Arabia.

“Per Vatican protocol, women who have an audience with the Pope are required to wear long sleeves, formal black clothing, and a veil to cover the head,” Stephanie Grisham, the first lady’s spokeswomen told CNN.

However, the Associated Press said it wasn’t necessarily a rule that was hard and fast and many women have met the Pope without a veil. But as a practising Catholic, Melania chose to wear one.

Some have also noted the striking similarity in her choice of garb at the Vatican to another first lady — style icon Jackie Kennedy.

In Saudi Arabia, women are encouraged to wear abayas — long flowing cloaks with headscarves. But these rules aren’t enforced for women from outside the kingdom.

Indeed, British Prime Minister Theresa May and German Chancellor Angela Merkel both shunned the headscarf on recent visits to Saudi Arabia.

“It was not required for her to wear a headscarf and nobody asked her to, and based on that she chose not to,” Ms Grisham said.

Indeed, local papers actually raved about the first lady’s outfit choices. Arab News said Melania’s togs were “classy and conservative”.

Despite the lack of a headscarf, local commentators said her choice of outfit combined elements of traditional Arab clothing with a bit of Western razzle dazzle.

But there was another reason for the difference in headwear. When in Saudi Arabia, Melania didn’t visit any religious sites where a headscarf would have been insisted on.

That’s unlike in Rome, where she visited Vatican City, the centre of Catholicism.

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/the-reason-why-melania-trump-chose-to-wear-a-veil-at-the-vatican-but-not-to-wear-a-headscarf-in-saudi-arabia/news-story/f367aaeca0daa8274da03808de98fb0c