Trump Will Host Ramadan Dinner Tomorrow After Skipping Last Year

Following Years of Anti-Muslim Comments, Trump Will Host Ramadan Dinner Tomorrow

Trump Will Host Ramadan Dinner Tomorrow After Skipping Last Year
Gage Skidmore is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
Trump is hosting his first iftar celebration

President Donald Trump will be hosting his first iftar dinner at the White House tomorrow.[/tweetit] This action signifies that the White House has again recognized Ramadan after it was canceled in 2017. The White House is yet to disclose guest details.

The iftar dinner refers to a meal which Muslims consume at sunset after they a long day of Ramadan fasting.

Following Years of Anti-Muslim Comments, Trump Will Host Ramadan Dinner Tomorrow[/tweetthis]

Former presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush hosted the event every year. The office of President Trump released a statement last month celebrating the beginning of Ramadan. The president through the statement said, “Ramadan reminds us of the richness Muslims add to the religious tapestry of American life.”

The Trump administration suffers a tense relationship when it comes to its interactions with the American Muslim community. There are excellent reasons for this. Donald Trump, during his presidential election, asked for a complete ban on Muslims who wish to enter the United States. As president, Trump has issued several travel bans from Muslim nations.

The cold relationship from that time has thawed a little. The Trump administration's latest statement noted that Muslims are an integral part of American life and “we are all blessed to live under a Constitution that fosters religious liberty and respects religious practice.” President Trump faced intense criticism in 2017 when he chose to cancel the traditional iftar dinner. Instead, the first couple released statements which acknowledged Muslim religious days. One statement mentioned terrorist attacks on Americans and American property overseas and the country's determination to defeat those terrorists along with their abnormal ideology. This led to a public backlash.

The White House has not issued any statement detailing the name and number of invitees. Political tradition dictates the U.S. President and First Lady should preferably host these events. Melania Trump, First Lady of the United States of America, has been absent from public view since the second week of May, following surgery. Political pundits have already started to speculate where she resides at present. There was, however, a social media message from Melania Trump's account stating she is residing in the White House.

Resources

Follow the Conversation on Twitter