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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. Thomas Jefferson is often cited as hosting the first Iftar dinner in 1805 when he received the first Muslim ambassador to the United States.
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Thomas Jefferson's Iftar dinner
On December 9, 1805, Thomas Jefferson hosted the first Muslim ambassador to the United States. Sidi Soliman Mellimelli, an envoy from the Beylik of Tunis, arrived during Ramadan and Jefferson invited him to the White House for dinner at the usual time of 3:30 PM. Having knowledge of Islam from his personal two-volume English translation of the Quran, Jefferson changed the meal to sunset to allow the envoy time to observe his religious tradition. Many such as President Obama and the Houston Chronicle call this incident "the first Iftar dinner held at the White House" .
Annual receptions
On 20 February 1996, Hillary Clinton welcomed Muslims in a reception dinner at the Old Executive Office Building. Clinton described it as an historic event, saying that:
Eid Mubarak. I want to welcome you all to the White House as you and Muslims all over the world celebrate the end of Ramadan. I am honored so many of you could take the time to share part of this holy month with us. This is a historic occasion–the first Eid Celebration ever at the White House. It is only fitting that, just as children and families of other faiths come here to celebrate some of their holy days, so you, too, are all here to mark this important Islamic tradition.
President Bill Clinton continued the tradition as did his successor President George W. Bush who hosted an iftar dinner at the White House in 2001. He subsequently continued the dinners every year of his two terms. President Barack Obama hosted his first Ramadan dinner in August 2010.