Will Trump Host Ramadan Iftar Dinner At White House?
Will Trump Host Ramadan Iftar Dinner At White House?: President Trump has broken the tradition of the annual White House Iftar Dinner, and it seems that there will not be a White House Iftar this year either. Although Trump has the right as President to not host an Iftar dinner at the White House, it is important to remember the history of this tradition. President Jefferson hosted the first Iftar dinner at the White House in 1805. The tradition was revived when President Clinton was in office, and President Bush and President Obama continued the tradition.
Thomas Jefferson, the third US president, was the first to hold an iftar when he delayed the start of a White House dinner on Dec. 9, 1805 until after sunset to accommodate his guest, Sidi Soliman Mellimelli, the envoy from Tunis.
Hillary Clinton revived the practice in 1996, when she was First Lady, hosting a reception to mark Eid Al-Fitr which was attended by about 150 diplomats, legislators and Muslim community leaders. From 1999, the iftar became a fixture on the White House calendar, continued by both George W. Bush and Barack Obama.
President Bush even held one after the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001, insisting that it was more important than ever to show that the White House and the US were inclusive.
President Obama gave annual Iftar dinner during his term inviting all Muslim leaders and diplomats.
Relations between the new US administration and Muslims were hardly friendly during Ramadan in 2018. On the campaign trail in 2015, leading up to the election in November 2016, the president called for a “total and complete shutdown” of Muslims entering the US.
Last year, Ramadan passed with barely a mention from the White House, apart from a statement, signed by Donald and Melania Trump and released at the end of the holy month, which said: “Muslims in the United States joined those around the world during the holy month of Ramadan to focus on acts of faith and charity. Now, as they commemorate Eid with family and friends, they carry on the tradition of helping neighbors and breaking bread with people from all walks of life. “During this holiday, we are reminded of the importance of mercy, compassion, and goodwill. With Muslims around the world, the US renews our commitment to honor these values. Eid Mubarak.” The statement did not appear on Trump’s social media feeds.
So it is hardly surprising that Trump was widely condemned for not opening up his White House during Ramadan last year.
This year in 2018, Trump wished “all Muslims a joyful Ramadan” on Twitter. He recalled his visit to Saudi Arabia and promised that “America will always stand with our partners against terrorism and the ideology that fuels it. During this month of Ramadan let us be resolved to spare no measure so that we may ensure that future generations will be free of this scourge and able to worship and commune in peace.”
The question remains there if Trump will keep the tradition alive and host an Iftaar dinner at White House like all previous US Presidents did.
Iftaar Dinners in USA
Islamic Relief USA hosted a “grand iftar” on May 19 and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency hosted an iftar on May 25 for Gaza. The American-Arab Anti-discrimination Committee is holding an “iftar banquet” on May 31 in Alexandria, outside Washington DC. There are fund-raising iftars, corporate iftars and even an “open mic” iftar by the DC Muslim Writers Collective.
The UAE embassy also hosted an interfaith iftar last Thursday.
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