White House adviser Ivanka Trump donned a hijab — a traditional head covering to show modesty — during a visit to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Saturday.
In the past, both Ivanka Trump and First Lady Melania Trump had declined to cover their heads while visiting Muslim countries — as in President Donald Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia in May 2017.
And for much of her visit this weekend to the United Arab Emirates, where she was the keynote speaker at the Global Women’s Forum, Ivanka Trump did not cover her head.
But in a visit to a mosque, a holy site, diplomatic protocol typically requires adherence to custom and decorum — as is the case for the holy sites of other faiths, such as the Western Wall in Jerusalem, where men of all faiths are expected to wear kippot or yarmulkes in accordance with Jewish tradition. At the Vatican, both Melania and Ivanka Trump covered their heads when meeting with Pope Francis.
Obama Center takes heat as critics cry foul over ID rules for free entry — while Dems blast voter ID laws
Watch: Hegseth Describes Pilot’s Miraculous Easter Rescue in Terms the Godless Biden Admin Wouldn’t Dare Utter
New poll reveals Spanberger’s popularity is plummeting amid backlash over gerrymandering
Tim Walz-Appointed Judge Throws Out All Charges Against Woman Accused of Interrupting Easter Service
Orban accuses Ukraine of terrorist plot against pipeline amid uphill election battle
Megan Rapinoe Back in the Spotlight – And Getting Torched – For Blasting Rule Protecting Women Athletes
Trump claims he’d win as the president of Venezuela — just needs to ‘quickly’ learn Spanish
Steve Daines’ handpicked Senate successor Kurt Alme vows to keep Montana in Republican hands in 2026
CIA Director Says Iran Was ‘Embarrassed’ and ‘Humiliated’ After American Rescue Mission
Woman gives birth midflight as air traffic controller suggests fitting name for baby
Trump and Hegseth lean hard on religion in post-Easter Iran press conference: ‘God is good’
Murder suspect on ICE hold accused of luring teen into death trap where victim’s final plea went unheard
Congress urged to open antitrust investigation into Apple and OpenAI over ‘left-leaning bias’
Trump Reveals Botched Attempt to Send Guns to the Iranian People: ‘I’m Very Upset’
Angel Dad Calls Out His State’s Dem Senators for Ignoring His Daughter’s Killing by Previously Deported Illegal
In the Jewish faith, which Ivanka Trump shares, many married religious women also cover their heads out of modesty, especially in religious settings, though there is no Jewish equivalent of the Islamic veil.
In that context, Ivanka Trump’s visit to the mosque was also significant, as she is among the first Jewish people to be an honored guest of a kingdom that has been, until recently, cold toward Israel and Jews.
#إيفانكا_ترامب تزور #مسجد_الشيخ_زايد الكبير في #أبوظبي وتؤكد أن الجامع تحفة معمارية إسلامية رائعة من حيث الحداثة والتصميم #IvankaTrump#GWFD2020#البيان_القارئ_دائما pic.twitter.com/JA0ePP1atU
— صحيفة البيان (@AlBayanNews) February 16, 2020
The United Arab Emirates has, until recently, barred Israelis from entering the country, in a policy that has been described as antisemitic. However, relations are warming and those restrictions are being eased.
Ivanka Trump praised the United Arab Emirates for recent reforms that granted more freedom to women in the country, the AP reported.
Story cited here.
