Former U.S. President Donald Trump received an bizarrely 'cultural' welcome during his visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Thursday — and the internet can’t stop reacting to it. Upon his arrival at Qasr Al Watan, the UAE’s Presidential Palace, Trump was greeted with a performance of Al-Ayyala, a traditional Emirati and Omani dance.
What stole the show and the internet’s attention was the synchronised hair-flipping moves by a group of women dressed in flowing white gowns, which many netizens compared to ghostly scenes from horror movies.
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A video of the unusual welcome was posted on X by White House aide Margo Martin, showing Trump being led past a formation of performers flipping their long hair from side to side in perfect rhythm with drums and chants.
“The welcome ceremony in UAE continues!", Martin captioned the clip.
The moment that was meant to showcase culture, but instead became meme material online.
Social media users quickly reacted to the scene.
Internet reactions
“Don’t do this at midnight,” one user quipped, referencing horror movie tropes.
“In Korea, a long black-haired girl in a white dress means a dangerous ghost,” another wrote.
Others commented that the performance looked like an elaborate shampoo commercial.
“Looks like a shampoo ad", one said. "No dandruff here,” added another.
More about the dance
United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) sees Al-Ayyala as a traditional performing art of the Sultanate of Oman and the United Arab Emirates, describing that it involves chanting poetry, drum music and dance, and simulates a battle scene. It is inclusive of all ages, genders and social classes.
