Unusual Welcomes for Trump: From a Blue Carpet in Turkey to Lavender in Saudi Arabia

US President Donald Trump received an unusual welcome during a working visit to Turkey, where he was greeted with a blue carpet instead of the traditional red carpet typically used for state guests. In the moment, as reported by Gulf News on Friday (10/7/2026), Trump was welcomed directly by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The two leaders then walked side by side on the blue or turquoise carpet during the official welcoming ceremony held at the Turkish presidential complex. The use of a blue carpet is considered unusual, as traditional welcomes for important guests, especially visiting heads of state and high-ranking officials, generally use a red carpet. The unusual blue carpet immediately sparked widespread discussion on social media. Many netizens questioned whether Turkey was sending a specific diplomatic message or providing a special welcome for Trump. “President Trump upon arriving in Ankara, Turkey, was greeted with a turquoise carpet. I am quite sure other heads of state are not welcomed like this. If you haven’t realised it yet, Trump is not just an ordinary world leader,” wrote X social media user @PaulGoldEagle. “He did not roll out the red carpet. The blue carpet is a clear sign of dominance over Trump,” retorted another X user, @MagaMan000. “The blue carpet itself is widely explained as relating to the visual identity of NATO blue and the Ankara summit, not as a specific insult or trap aimed at Trump, although commentators interpret it symbolically,” stated the account @nee53074808. Turkish authorities did not provide an official explanation regarding the use of the blue carpet. However, the blue carpet is widely viewed as reflecting the distinctive NATO blue colour for the summit, rather than a special protocol deliberately prepared for Trump. Analysts opined that the choice of carpet colour likely simply reflected the visual identity of the summit, without carrying deeper political symbolism. Meanwhile, as reported by Newsweek, Trump momentarily appeared to lose his bearings while walking on the blue carpet. In circulating video footage, Erdogan was seen briefly holding Trump’s arm and guiding him to the correct position during the welcoming ceremony for the NATO summit in Ankara. The brief, spontaneous moment quickly became a focal point in ongoing debates regarding the US President’s physical fitness, public image, and double standards in US political media. The absence of a red carpet for important guests also previously occurred in Saudi Arabia. When Trump visited the kingdom in 2025, he was greeted with a lavender carpet now used for all official state welcomes in the country. The colour was chosen because it symbolises the wild lavender flower and Saudi Arabia’s national heritage.