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.
House GOP rams through new DHS funding plan with shutdown far from over
Spanberger denies ‘deal’ with swing-district Democrat as gerrymandering claims abound statewide
House Republicans pass rival DHS plan, setting up Senate fight as shutdown set to become longest in history
Fulton County makes case for return of 2020 ballots seized by FBI
At least 2 students killed, several injured in school bus crash in Tennessee: ‘A parent’s worst nightmare’
Trump touts progress in Iran talks and success in Venezuela, says ‘Cuba is next’
Watchdog blasts BBC, CNN, NYT for applying ‘war crime’ label almost exclusively to US, Israel in Iran conflict
LA United School District scandal leads to charges as $22M scheme allegedly drained funds meant for students
Pima County deputy accused of kidnapping woman in custody, fired from department investigating Guthrie case
Leftist Bob Costas Admits Men Have No Business in Women’s Sports: ‘Common Sense Is Not Transphobic’
Utah’s Republican Governor Signs Bill Protecting Gunmakers from Frivolous Lawsuits
White House slams ‘trash reporting’ over claims ICE chief hospitalized for stress, yelled at by Trump admin
Breaking: Tiger Woods Involved in Rollover Crash in Florida
ICE arrests Latin Kings member after NYC sanctuary release despite assault charge on first responder
WATCH: Trump goes viral for illustrating how to cut government waste with his favorite White House pen
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.









