AFRICA/MELANIA: “A half a world away from the spectacle of Washington, Melania Trump still managed to create one of her own during a Kenyan safari on Friday [10-5-18], riding out into the grassland wearing a crisp white pith helmet — a common symbol of European colonial rule. It may not have been the most glaring faux pas the hyper-scrutinized Mrs. Trump has ever made. That title probably goes to the ‘I really don’t care. Do U?’ jacket she wore on the way to visit detained migrant children in Texas in June. But to some — especially those who study African history — her fashion choice in Kenya was still a big error on the global stage: the sight of a first lady wearing something so closely associated with the exploitation of Africans. Hours before Washington woke up, critics were pointing out how Mrs. Trump — who is here representing a husband widely reported to have disparaged African nations in vulgar terms — had fumbled this segment of her visit. Mrs. Trump is in Africa on a four-nation tour, with plans to visit Egypt this weekend after stops in Ghana, Malawi and Kenya.”
–Katie Rogers, “Melania Trump Raises Eyebrows in Africa With Another White Hat,” The New York Times online, October 5, 2018