Last Updated:April 26, 2025, 11:31 IST
US President Donald Trump hosted an Iftar dinner at the White House.
The tradition of White House iftars can be traced back over 200 years. (Photo Credits: X)
US President Donald Trump hosted the annual iftar dinner at the White House on Thursday. Acknowledging the significance of the holy month of Ramadan, Trump expressed appreciation for the support of the Muslim American community in the 2024 election.
“As we are in the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, let me begin by saying to my Muslim friends — Ramadan Mubarak,” said Trump, as he opened the evening. He added, “The Muslim community was there for us in November — and while I’m president, I’m going to be there for you.”
During his address, Trump also underscored his administration’s diplomatic initiatives in the
Middle East, highlighting the Abraham Accords. “My administration is engaged in relentless diplomacy to forge a lasting peace in the Middle East, building on the historic Abraham Accords, which everyone said would be impossible. Now, we’re going to start filling them out, as you know, Biden did nothing to fill them out,” he said.
Morgan Ortagus, the Deputy Special Presidential Envoy to the Middle East, shared photographs from the event on X (formerly Twitter). She captioned the post, “A beautiful @WhiteHouse #Iftar last night hosted by the WH Faith Office and @realDonaldTrump. Thank you to all of the foreign ambassadors to the US who attended.”
History of White House Iftars
The tradition of White House iftars can be traced back over 200 years. According to a report in TOI, IN 1805, President Thomas Jefferson hosted a sunset meal for Sidi Soliman Mellimelli, the Muslim ambassador from Tunisia, in recognition of his Ramadan observance. While not an official iftar, this event is considered the first known instance of a US president accommodating Ramadan traditions.
This moment was referenced by former President Barack Obama during his tenure. He remarked, “The first Muslim ambassador to the United States from Tunisia was hosted by President Jefferson who arranged a sunset dinner for his guest because it was Ramadan, making it the first known iftar in the White House more than 200 years ago,” Obama said during one of his official Iftar dinners.
Here’s a look at an Iftar dinner hosted during former President Obama’s tenure:
IFTAR PARTY AT WHITE HOUSE pic.twitter.com/jmK1vgnCsQ
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It was former President Bill Clinton who formally established the White House iftar tradition in 1996. Former First Lady Hillary Clinton oversaw arrangements for an Eid al-Fitr reception, welcoming around 150 guests.
The practice was continued by George W. Bush, even in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, as a gesture of unity and inclusivity.
Since then, the White House iftar has become an annual event.
But in 2017, Trump broke with tradition by not hosting an iftar during his first year in office, a decision that drew significant criticism. However, he revived the event in 2018.
Former President Joe Biden carried the tradition forward by celebrating Eid al-Fitr with an iftar in 2022.
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