President Donald Trump made his inaugural visit to a mosque as the sitting U.S. president on Thursday. This visit occurred at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, marking a significant moment in his diplomatic tour across the Middle East during his second term in office. The visit to the mosque was a part of a broader diplomatic initiative designed to strengthen ties in the region.
President Trump, adhering to the customs of the mosque, removed his shoes upon entry and was accompanied by Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is renowned for its exquisite white marble domes and intricate Italian-marbled floors adorned with colorful flower inlays, making it a notable cultural hub for tourists, politicians, and celebrities visiting Abu Dhabi.
During his trip, Trump met with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, the ruler of the UAE, further solidifying their rapport, which has been partly built on the UAE’s historic decision to normalize relations with Israel during Trump’s first term. The UAE represents one of the key stops on Trump’s Middle Eastern diplomatic journey, which commenced with elaborate ceremonies in Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
President Trump has deep business connections in the region, with ongoing developments of Trump-branded towers and golf courses. Additionally, a UAE fund recently utilized the Trump family’s cryptocurrency venture, World Liberty Financial, to facilitate a significant $2 billion investment in the crypto exchange, Binance.
This visit follows previous family engagements with the mosque, as Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner visited in 2020 while serving as administration officials. Former President Joe Biden also visited the mosque in 2016.
Historically, U.S. presidents have seldom made official visits to mosques. President Dwight Eisenhower inaugurated a mosque in Washington, D.C., in 1957, and former President George W. Bush visited the same mosque following the September 11 attacks. In 2016, former President Barack Obama visited a mosque near Baltimore. During his 2016 campaign, Trump suggested without substantiation that mosques could harbor hateful ideologies and proposed surveillance. He later enacted a travel ban affecting several Muslim-majority countries.
Nevertheless, Trump’s rhetoric has softened over time. In the recent November election, he received substantial support from Arab and Muslim voters, crucial in securing the swing state of Michigan. His administration’s stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict and domestic immigration policies have, however, led to strained relations with some Muslim communities.
In the UAE, President Trump reiterated a contentious proposal to oversee the Gaza Strip, suggesting U.S. administration could transform it into a zone of freedom and prosperity. His Middle Eastern tour is scheduled to conclude on Friday.
