White House Iftar dinner explained

The White House Iftar dinner is an annual reception held at the White House and hosted by the U.S. President and the First Lady to celebrate the Muslim month of Ramadan. The annual tradition started in 1996 when Hillary Clinton hosted a Ramadan Eid celebration dinner. The modern iteration of the reception is attended by prominent members of the Muslim American community including politicians, community leaders and students.

History

Thomas Jefferson held the first White House Iftar dinner while hosting Sidi Soliman Mellimelli, an envoy of Beylik of Tunis, on December 9, 1805.[1] Jefferson adjusted the timing of the meal to after sunset to accommodate Sidi Soliman Mellimelli's Ramadan tradition.[2]

Following this, it is probable that Ramadan was not commemorated at the White House until 1996, although Jimmy Carter sent Eid greetings to "our fellow Americans of the Muslim faith" in 1980.[3] [4]

Annual receptions

President Bill Clinton continued the tradition,[5] as did George W. Bush who hosted an iftar dinner at the White House in 2001. Bush subsequently continued the dinners every year of his two terms. Barack Obama hosted his first Ramadan dinner in 2009, and subsequently every year of his presidency.[6]

In 2017, Donald Trump broke the two decade old White House tradition by opting not to host an Iftar dinner at the White House.[7] Donald Trump reestablished the Iftar dinner tradition at the White House on June 6, 2018[8] and in 2019 the White House held the Iftar dinner on May 13, 2019.[9]

President Joe Biden resumed the tradition on Eid-Ul-Fitr in 2022.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Shellnutt . Kate . August 4, 2011 . Thomas Jefferson held first White House Ramadan celebration . IIP Digital . blog.chron.com . 6 July 2016 . August 18, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160818163645/http://blog.chron.com/believeitornot/2011/08/thomas-jefferson-held-first-white-house-ramadan-celebrate/ . dead .
  2. News: First White House iftar was earlier than you think . 3 April 2024 . ShareAmerica . 29 June 2015.
  3. Book: Salem . Jackleen . Curtis . Edward E. . The Practice of Islam in America: An Introduction . 2017 . NYU Press . New York . 978-1-4798-8267-0 . 101 . Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr, and Eid al-Adha: Fasting and Feasting.
  4. News: Carter Marks End of Ramadan . Richmond Times-Dispatch . Aug 12, 1980 . 9.
  5. Book: One Nation Under God? Religion and American Culture.. 2013. Taylor and Francis. Hoboken. 978-1135207854. 15–16.
  6. Web site: September 1, 2009 . Guest list for Obama's White House Ramadan dinner .
  7. Web site: Delk. Josh. Trump breaks with "tradition", forgoes Ramadan dinner. The Hill. 25 June 2017. 25 June 2017. June 17, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180617042952/http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/president-trump-breaks-ramadan-dinner-tradition?rnd=1498352613%2F. dead.
  8. Web site: Remarks by President Trump Before White House Iftar Dinner. 6 June 2018. National Archives. whitehouse.gov. 6 June 2018.
  9. Web site: Remarks by President Trump at 2019 White House Iftar Dinner. 13 May 2019. National Archives. whitehouse.gov. 13 May 2019.

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