(PatriotSpotlight.org) – Despite the Biden administration’s attempt to connect with Muslim and Arabic citizens through a White House Ramadan Dinner, also called an iftar dinner, the planned celebration only served to highlight tensions surrounding the Israel-Hamas war.
During the celebration, the White House allowed attendees to ask questions, most of which centered around the Biden administration’s failure to address the increasing hostilities between Israel and Hamas. One Palestinian attended the Ramadan dinner and reportedly asked if Biden had ever interacted with people who identified with Palestine before walking out in protest, further highlighting Biden’s inability to connect with Muslim and Arabic Americans.
While the Biden administration meant for the Ramadan dinner to serve as a celebration, several outlets reported that the one Palestinian in attendance, Thaer Ahmad, walked out of the event due to his experience working in Gaza. Other community leaders who came to the event seemed similarly aggravated at the White House’s response to the Israel-Hamas war, further highlighting the divide between Biden and Americans with Middle Eastern heritage. Political experts cite the event as the latest example of Biden failing to connect with key, typically Democratic, audiences, which could cost him significant losses in the upcoming 2024 presidential election.
Ahmad claimed that he had to leave the dinner due to how many Palestinian civilians have died in the Israel-Hamas conflict, a decision that the Biden administration classified as a “peaceful protest.” Biden’s press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, addressed the walkout and said the White House supported his decision to leave the event. Jean-Pierre also said the Biden administration understands the intense emotions surrounding the conflict between Israel and Hamas. The White House reportedly wanted the dinner to feature a smaller guest list than last year’s reception, dropping the guest list from 350 to a smaller, undisclosed number.
The primary reason for shortening the guest list was to create a more direct line of communication between Arab and Muslim community leaders and the Biden administration so that concerned citizens could express their beliefs and speak about how the conflict affects them personally. Among the dinner guests were several medical professionals who have worked in Gaza during the conflict, all of whom reportedly talked to President Biden about their experience.
Although the dinner saw multiple Muslim community leaders speak to President Biden, the president seems mostly supportive of Israel in its fight against Hamas. Biden famously claimed the United States would provide financial and military aid to Israel due to the nation’s right to defend itself. Israel’s recent actions have caused some to speculate that Biden could lessen support for the country, as he’s frequently criticized Israel for failing to protect civilians and called for increased negotiations between Israel and Hamas.
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