U.S. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrived at the Vatican on Wednesday morning for their meeting with Pope Francis, and the first lady was wearing a mantilla, or lace head scarf covering her hair.
Fussing over the fashion choices of presidential wives is pretty silly, but it is worth noting — as Trump, in 2015, blasted then-first lady Michelle Obama for not wearing a headscarf during a Saudi visit.
“Many people are saying it was wonderful that Mrs. Obama refused to wear a scarf in Saudi Arabia, but they were insulted,” he tweeted at the time. “We have enough enemies.”
Women in the kingdom, including visitors, are ordinarily required to cover their hair, according to Islamic custom.
Women are not required or generally encouraged to cover their head in the Catholic Church. Ivanka Trump, a convert to Orthodox Judaism, wore a head-scarf at the Vatican, too.
Later in the morning, Trump will call on Italy´s president and prime minister while Melania visits a children´s hospital and Ivanka discusses migrant issues with members of the St Egidio religious community.
