Bitcoin Forum

President Barack Obama was in Riyadh on Tuesday to pay his respects to the late Saudi King Abdullah. His visit, for which he cut short a much-hyped trip to India, underscores how important the U.S.-Saudi relationship remains to the American leadership. On social media, however, much of the attention has focused on something else: His wife's attire.

As noted by the Associated Press, Michelle Obama did not wear a headscarf or veil Tuesday. In Saudi Arabia, that's unusual: The country is one of the few on Earth where women are expected to cover their heads, and most Saudi women wear niqabs.

Exceptions are made for foreigners, however, and Michelle – who did wear loose clothing that fully covered her arms – appears to have been one of them. In photographs from the official events, other foreign female guests are also shown not wearing headscarves.

The president and Mrs Obama cut short their trip to India to pay their respects to the Saudi Arabian royal family on the death of King Abdullah
But the First Lady did not look happy during the brief trip to Riyadh to meet the new King Salman
During a meet and greet with Saudi dignitaries, many of the men refused to shake her hand
Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world where women are banned from driving cars, among other restrictions
Many have criticized Mr Obama and former presidents for not pushing the oil-rich Saudis on their women's rights record