More of a critic than a sage foreign diplomatic, President Donald Trump was always quick to attack former President Barack Obama when he was over seas meeting with world leaders. Over the years, Trump has blasted his predecessor for bowing to the Saudi king in public and railed against his wife, former First Lady Michelle Obama, for not donning a head scarf in Saudi Arabia.
On Saturday, Trump's first day of a nine-day tour abroad, both the president and the first lady fell for the very same traps critics laid for the Obamas years ago.
Before deplaning Air Force One in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Saturday Trump apparently informed his team team that there would be a harsh punishment for anyone caught bowing in the Muslim-majority kingdom.
Meanwhile, many observers around the world were impatiently waiting for Melania Trump to deboard the plane, curious to see if she would be wearing a headscarf in observance of the norms in Saudi Arabia.
In the past, Trump suggested that Michelle Obama had "insulted" the Saudis for not wearing a headscarf on her trip in early 2015.
Turns out, Melania Trump also chose not to wear a headscarf.
This would not even be the biggest contradiction on the first day of the trip.
Early Saturday, Fox News and Matt Drudge gleefully reported that Trump refused to bow to King Salman when they met at the steps of Air Force One upon the president's arrival.
Hours later, however, Trump appeared to bow and curtsy to Salman after he was presented a gold medal, the Collar of Abdulaziz Al Saud, the nation's highest honor.
The internet had a field day at the blatant hypocrisy.
Shares