When is a dress just a dress? When it comes to first ladies, next to never, as social media posters weighed in on Melania Trump’s choice of an emerald green gown that some speculated was a gesture toward the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Whether it was or wasn’t, the choice was unmissable after an eventful and controversial day at the White House where Saudi Arabia’s authoritarian leader was welcomed by President Donald Trump. It was the crown prince’s first visit to the U.S., since the killing and dismemberment of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. The CIA concluded that Prince Mohammed bin Salman had ordered Khashoggi’s killing in Istanbul.
The president defended him and rebuked a female ABC reporter for asking about the killing of Khashoggi. The visit led to Saudi Arabia increasing its pledge of $600 billion to nearly $1 trillion worth of investments — largely in defense and minerals — in the U.S. Although Tuesday night’s event was not an official state dinner, Trump rolled out the red carpet for the crown prince, who acts as prime minister of Saudia Arabia. The last state dinner in honor of Saudi Arabia was held in February of 1985 for Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
President Donald Trump, Crown Prince and prime minister Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia, and first lady Melania Trump prepare to attend a dinner at the White House.
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For the occasion, the first lady chose a strapless green Elie Saab dress that had been purchased off-the-rack, according to her stylist Hervé Pierre. Asked if there was any message behind the dress, he declined to comment. Some observers suggested the green was similar to the color of Saudi Arabia’s national flag.
FLOTUS seldom wears strapless dresses but she is known to wear styes that are purchased in stores. Shoppers can find the $3,350 ruched coated jersey Elie Saab gown at Neiman Marcus and other retailers. A press manager for Saab confirmed that the dress had been bought in one of the company’s boutiques. The designer had not been informed that Trump would be wearing the dress to the White House dinner beforehand. Asked to comment about the occasion, the press manager said, “We prefer not to comment on political events.”
At the dinner, Portuguese soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo, who plays for Saudi Pro League club Al-Nassr and signed a new two-year deal that was valued for more than $400 million, was joined by his fiancé Georgina Rodriquez. The model and actress wore a backless gown and her $5 million engagement ring. Donald Trump Jr.’s girlfriend Bettina Anderson, a model and influencer, was also among the guests that included Tesla’s Elon Musk, Nvidia’s Jensen Huang, Apple’s Tim Cook, and Pershing Square’s Bill Ackman. During his remarks at the dinner, the president said that his youngest son Barron is “a big fan” of Ronaldo.
