In this op-ed, Muslim-American activist Ziad Ahmed explains why he believes the 2018 iftar dinner at the White House is just for show.

In 2015, I had the distinct honor of attending the White House iftar, a dinner where Muslims break fast during the holy month of Ramadan. I was just 16. It was a magical experience, and I left never having felt prouder to be American, to be Muslim, to be an American Muslim.

Last night, President Donald Trump hosted a White House iftar.

The White House iftar is a decades-long tradition dating back to the Clinton administration. Traditionally, for its iftar celebration, the White House has brought together diplomats, government officials, and American Muslim leaders for a celebration of community. Last year, Trump broke that tradition when he decided to forego hosting the dinner altogether. Perhaps he canceled it to play to his base — to further perpetuate the notion that somehow being Muslim is not consistent with being an American — but let me be clear: My identity as an American Muslim is in no way contradictory.

Trump’s campaign seemed to suggest that the more Islamophobic you are, the more patriotic you are. He actually said, “I think Islam hates us” in a March 2016 interview with Anderson Cooper on CNN. He has actively appointed people who’ve had ties to anti-Islam groups, like Mike Pompeo and Fred Fleitz, to senior positions in his administration, he has pursued policies that blatantly hurt Muslim communities, and he has emboldened Islamophobia. In a 2017 poll by the Institute of Social Policy and Understanding, more than 40% of Muslim students reported being bullied because of their faith, and a report released this year by the University of Illinois and the nonprofit South Asian Americans Leading Together found there has been a 46% increase in incidents involving hate violence/bias against Muslims or those perceived to be Muslims since the election. These statistics suggest that Trump's politics could be hurting Muslim Americans.

So I’m wondering: Who is he having the iftar for? And why now?

We are still waiting on the Supreme Court decision regarding the Muslim ban. But Trump is hosting a dinner to “celebrate Muslims” perhaps as a defense, so he can come back with “I love the Muslims! I had them over for dinner” when he’s called out for his policies. This iftar is a mask, a show, and a distraction, much like most of his administration. He is trying to use the Muslim community as a prop, but people are not props.