Female Western leaders cover their hair sometimes, but not in Saudi Arabia

Melania Trump didn't do anything new.
By Jason Lemon

Melania Trump accompanied her husband, U.S. President Donald Trump, to Saudi Arabia over the weekend, and as is the norm for Western female leaders visiting the kingdom, she went without covering her hair. 

Every time this happens, social media goes crazy with people cheering Western female leaders for "standing up against the patriarchy." British Prime Minister Theresa May, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen and former U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama have all visited the kingdom sans headscarf in recent years.

But this time, many were quick to point out the irony of Melania visiting Saudi Arabia without covering her hair. Why? Because Trump actually tweeted his criticism of Obama when she chose to visit the kingdom without a headscarf back in 2015.

He said Saudis were "insulted" by Obama's decision.

That didn't stop many of Trump's supporters from cheering Melania for doing what most female Western leaders have been doing for years.

But interestingly, while many have been applauding these women for refusing to cover their hair when visiting the kingdom, few have criticized them when they covered their hair to visit the Roman Catholic Pope at the Vatican.

Here's former U.S. First Lady Nancy Reagan with former U.S. President Ronald Reagan visiting the Pope

Here's Hillary Clinton with her husband, former U.S. President Bill Clinton

Here's former First Lady Laury Bush with former U.S. President George W. Bush

And here's Michelle Obama with former U.S. President Barack Obama

So, when Western women visit Saudi Arabia without covering their hair they are fighting the patriarchy?

But when they cover their hair at the Vatican ... it's fine?

But hey, once upon a time Theresa May even wore a headscarf when visiting a mosque ...

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