US President Donald Trump hosted Iftar dinner at the White House on Wednesday (June 6), the first since he took office in 2017.
“To the Muslims around the world, Ramadan Mubarak! In gathering together this evening, we honor a sacred tradition of one of the world's great religions,” Trump said.
During Islam's holy month of Ramadan, believers abstain from food and drink during daylight hours and break their fast with the iftar evening meal.
The dinner comes weeks after the Trump administration recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital and moved the embassy there, reversing decades of US policy and upsetting the Arab world and Western allies.
Most countries say the status of Jerusalem - a sacred city to Jews, Muslims and Christians - should be determined in a final peace settlement between Israel and Palestinians and that moving their embassies now would prejudge any such deal.