WASHINGTON: Last year, the White House hosted a Ramadan celebration attended by hundreds of Muslims. However, this Ramadan saw a notably different response.

With many Muslim Americans expressing outrage over President Biden’s backing of Israel’s siege of Gaza, the White House opted for a smaller Iftar dinner on Tuesday evening. The event was restricted to individuals working within the administration.

Wa’el Alzayat, who heads a Muslim advocacy organization and attended last year’s gathering, declined an invitation to break his fast with President Biden this year, stating, “It’s inappropriate to hold such a celebration while there’s a famine ongoing in Gaza.”

The decision to abstain from dining with the president underscores the growing divide between Biden and the Muslim community, evident six months after the conflict in Gaza. When the Democratic president assumed office three years ago, many Muslim leaders were hopeful for a departure from Donald Trump’s discriminatory policies, including his promise to implement a “total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States.”

However, there is now concern among Democrats that Biden’s diminishing support among Muslims could pave the way for his Republican predecessor to return to the White House. The outcome of this year’s election is likely to be influenced by several battleground states, including Michigan, which has a significant Muslim population.