On Thursday, President Trump made his first known public visit to a Muslim place of worship while in office when he visited the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in the United Arab Emirates. In observance of Trump’s visit, the mosque—which is renowned for its exquisite white marble domes and Italian marble flooring with colored flower inlays—was closed for the day. Trump took off his shoes as he entered the mosque, as is usual, and was accompanied by Abu Dhabi’s crown prince, Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed Al Nahyan.
“Isn’t this beautiful?” Trump said, expressing his love for the mosque’s splendor. It’s really lovely. This culture is amazing. “This is the first time they’ve closed the mosque for the day,” he said, marveling at the fact that the mosque had been closed for the day in his honor. Is that accurate? They closed it for the first time. I believe it’s in honor of the United States. Better than in my honor. Let’s donate it to the nation. That’s a fantastic homage,” the Washington Post reported.
Trump’s broader Middle East diplomatic tour, which started with opulent ceremonies in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, includes this visit. Trump was greeted ceremoniously by honor guards and Arabian horses during his visit. According to NPR, Trump has significant family business holdings in all three nations, and Trump-branded golf courses and skyscrapers are being built.
The UAE’s decision to normalize relations with Israel during Trump’s first term served as the foundation for Trump’s relationship with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed. It’s interesting to note that in 2020, while serving as cabinet officials, Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, went to the same mosque.
Trump’s attempt to manage intricate diplomatic ties in the Middle East makes this visit a pivotal point in his presidency. Although US presidents frequently visit places of worship, very few have visited mosques for official business.
In 1957, President Dwight Eisenhower inaugurated a mosque in Washington, D.C., and in 2001, following the 9/11 attacks, former President George W. Bush spoke there. Trump, however, criticized former President Barack Obama for his 2016 visit to a mosque outside of Baltimore, saying on Fox News, “Perhaps he feels at ease there… He has a lot of options, but he decided on a mosque.
Trump has previously attacked mosques and nations with a majority of Muslims. Throughout his 2016 presidential campaign, he constantly advocated for mosques to be monitored and made unsupported claims that hate speech originates there. He has now toned down, though, stating in March during a Ramadan iftar at the White House, “The Muslim community was there for us in November.” And I will support you when I am president.”