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.
Last words from @POTUS before deplaning Air Force One: "I catch one American bowing here and you're on the next Saudia flight home"…
— Steve Cortes (@CortesSteve) May 20, 2017
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.
Many people are saying it was wonderful that Mrs. Obama refused to wear a scarf in Saudi Arabia, but they were insulted.We have enuf enemies
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 29, 2015
Turns out, Melania Trump also chose not to wear a headscarf.
Melania Trump forgoes headscarf on Saudi trip. Her husband ripped Michelle Obama for that. via @mic https://t.co/Pvl8Yd6CuY pic.twitter.com/HWfzlhafqH
— 𝚑𝚒𝚜𝚙𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚌 𝚙𝚒𝚡𝚒𝚎 𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚖 𝚐𝚒𝚛𝚕 🍉 (@mathewrodriguez) May 20, 2017
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.
Sounds like someone needs to put Trump on the next "Saudia" flight home… pic.twitter.com/bmzrxTRx0R
— Matt McDermott (@mattmfm) May 20, 2017
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) May 20, 2017
The screenwriters for Trump's presidency just make him do literally everything he criticized Obama for doing. pic.twitter.com/AfuSBduW95
— Brian Klaas (@brianklaas) May 20, 2017
Candidly this makes me want to puke #JaredsIdea pic.twitter.com/tAeEWUXfI1
— Roger Stone (@RogerJStoneJr) May 20, 2017
The only silver lining to the dark cloud of the Trump era is the daily reminder of how full of shit conservative critics of Obama were https://t.co/qx9mu6O0JP
— Dan Pfeiffer (@danpfeiffer) May 20, 2017
Despite video/pics showing Trump bowing to receive gold medal from Saudi king, @foxnews has this story on on its front page: pic.twitter.com/6pOdTeEGmI
— igorvolsky (@igorvolsky) May 20, 2017
