President Trump names Saudi Arabia as major non-NATO ally
At a dinner with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, President Donald Trump announced that he would designate Saudi Arabia as a major non-NATO ally.
Melania Trump is dressed to impress the Saudi delegation.
The first lady wore an emerald green strapless Elie Saab dress to a black tie dinner hosted by the White House to welcome Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday, November 18th. The night was one of the first official White House dinners with a foreign leader during President Donald Trump’s second term, and drew attention because the prince was previously named by the CIA as the person who played a leading role in the murder of Washington Post reporter Jamal Khashoggi.
The first lady’s attire was an unusual display of public allegiance to her husband’s goal of strengthening ties with the country.
Melania Trump’s presence, unusual for many official White House events, further emphasized the importance of the occasion and the fabric she chose. The deep green of the dress was taken from the Saudi Arabian flag, all in one color, emblazoned with a white sword and an Arabic phrase that translated to “There is no god but God, Muhammad is the messenger of God.”
The first lady has largely taken a backseat during her husband’s second stint in the White House, breaking with tradition and winning a role as the administration’s messenger. Tuesday’s dinner was unusual not only in Melania Trump’s color choice but also in the message from the designer behind her ruched, floor-length dress.
The New York Times reports that the dress is sewn from a leather-like fabric and is by Lebanese designer Saab. Saab’s pieces, which currently sell for $3,350, play a particularly important role in White Housewear, as the brand hosted the largest fashion show in history in the Middle East last year. where? In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The event was one of the most high-profile at Riyadh Fashion Season, a new festival that is part of Bin Salman’s National Vision 2030 plan, according to the Times.
President Trump’s meeting with bin Salman signals a change in US tone Despite heavy criticism over human rights, President Trump invited the Saudi crown prince for a heated meeting filled with promises of military and economic deals.
President Trump ignored the calls of human rights activists and dismissed concerns about bin Salman’s alleged involvement in the killing of Washington Post reporter Khashoggi. “It’s an honor to be your friend and an honor to have you here,” he told the prince in the Oval Office.
Contributors: Cybele Mayes-Osterman, Francesca Chambers, USA TODAY
