In a striking sartorial statement, First Lady Melania Trump donned an elegant, strapless emerald gown as she and President Donald Trump hosted Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for a lavish dinner in the East Room on Tuesday night. The color of her dress, which mirrored the green of Saudi Arabia’s national flag, was likely a deliberate choice, symbolizing a gesture of diplomacy and respect.

Although she was absent from earlier meetings earlier that day, Melania joined President Trump to extend a warm welcome to the crown prince, commonly referred to as MBS, as he arrived at the White House’s South Portico. Her presence at the evening’s event underscored the significance of the diplomatic occasion.

The First Lady’s sartorial nod came amid a backdrop of controversy surrounding MBS’s visit. The crown prince’s return to the White House has been contentious due to lingering outrage over the 2018 murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, as well as Saudi Arabia’s alleged connections to the September 11 attacks.

Adding to the day’s political drama, President Trump faced scrutiny related to the notorious Jeffrey Epstein case. The Saudi leader’s visit coincided with legislative moves in both the House and the Senate to release documents pertaining to Epstein. While Trump has indicated his willingness to sign off on the bill, the timing of this dinner might influence the legislative process.

Trump has said he will sign the bill, but the dinner could impact the timing.  

Weather in Washington had turned cold and rainy, but Mrs. Trump remained poised, holding hands with the president as MBS’ black car pulled up. 

MBS attended the dinner solo, but was joined by a Saudi delegation and a number of U.S. business leaders including Elon Musk – marking his return to the White House after his dramatic falling out with Trump in June. 

President Donald Trump (left) and First Lady Melania Trump (right) wait for the arrival of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for a dinner in the East Room Tuesday night at the White House 

The Trumps held hands while they waited for MBS to arrive back to the White House after several hours of meetings Tuesday afternoon, with the weather turning cold and rainy 

First Lady Melania Trump (center) smiled as President Donald Trump (left) greeted MBS (right) on the South Lawn Tuesday night 

First Lady Melania Trump (right) wore a dramatic emerald strapless dress, which matched the flag of Saudi Arabia 

President Donald Trump (left) again put his hand on the back of MBS (center) as he and First Lady Melania Trump (right) escorted the Saudi leader into the White House 

The Saudi visit already took a tense turn, as there were fireworks between the president and the press in the Oval Office earlier Tuesday afternoon. 

ABC News’ Mary Bruce asked the president about the Trump Organization’s real estate projects in the gulf nation – and whether they represented a conflict of interest – and then turned her attention to the crown prince.

She asked him about the 2018 death of Khashoggi. 

Bruce cited U.S. intelligence agencies when saying to MBS ‘you orchestrated the brutal murder of a journalist’ and also noted that ‘9/11 families are furious that you’re here in the Oval Office.’

‘Why should Americans trust you?’ she asked, with Trump asking, ‘Who are you with?’ throughout her inquiry.

The president answered for MBS.  

‘You’re mentioning someone that was extremely controversial,’ he said of Khashoggi, whose writings were extremely critical of the Saudi royal family, including MBS. 

‘A lot of people didn’t like that gentleman that you’re talking about. Whether you like him or didn’t like him, things happen. But he knew nothing about it,’ Trump said of the crown prince. 

President Donald Trump (right) defended Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (left) after a reporter asked the Saudi leader about the 2018 killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi

‘You don’t have to embarrass our guest,’ the president added. 

Trump blew up at the journalist a second time, even threatening to pull ABC’s license, when she asked a follow-up on the Epstein files. 

‘It’s not the question that I mind, it’s your attitude,’ Trump snapped. ‘I think you’re a terrible reporter,’ he added, calling her an ‘insubordinate.’ 

MBS answered the Khashoggi inquiry by saying that it was ‘really painful to hear anyone losing his life for no real purpose or not in a legal way.’ 

‘And it’s been painful for us in Saudi Arabia. We did all the right steps of investigation, etc., in Saudi Arabia. And we’ve improved our system to be sure that nothing happened like that,’ the crown prince added.

Trump’s warm welcome – which included a military flyover and a parade of horses – received criticism, especially due to it being a splitscreen moment with the Epstein files vote. 

‘With the coincidence this afternoon of the vote in the House of Representatives and the visit of MBS to the White House, it feels like a clarifying moment: On one side, Trump, Epstein and MBS. On the other, those who respect decency and honor humanity,’ wrote the Bulwark’s Bill Kristol, a Republican critic of Trump. 

Representative Ro Khanna, a California Democrat behind the Epstein bill alongside Kentucky Republican Representative Thomas Massie, called attention to Trump’s meeting with MBS on the House floor. 

‘Right now, Trump is meeting the Saudi prince MBS,’ Khanna said. ‘That’s not America First To me, America First means meeting with Epstein survivors to make sure American girls will not be raped.’