President Trump tours Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque with Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi on May 15, 2025.
Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, and RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — On Thursday, President Trump made a historic visit to a mosque, marking his first known trip to an Islamic place of worship during his presidency.
The president’s visit to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in the UAE was part of a greater diplomatic journey throughout the Middle East, constituting the primary international trip of his second term.
During his time at the mosque, Trump followed etiquette and removed his shoes, accompanied by Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed Al Nahyan.
“Isn’t this magnificent? It’s truly beautiful,” Trump remarked, admiring the architecture. “This showcases an incredible culture.”
This iconic mosque is recognized for its stunning white marble domes and intricate tiled floors adorned with floral designs. It attracts numerous visitors, including tourists, political figures, and celebrities in Abu Dhabi.
Director of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Yousif al-Obaidli, shows President Trump around the mosque in Abu Dhabi on May 15, 2025.
Brendan Smialowski/AFP
Trump shares a strong relationship with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, the ruler of the UAE, who greeted him upon arrival; this bond partly stems from the UAE’s landmark decision to normalize relations with Israel during Trump’s initial term.
This visit marks the third stop on his Middle Eastern tour, following extravagant welcome ceremonies in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. In both locations, Trump received ceremonial honors that included presentations with Arabian horses and military guards.
The Trump family has significant business interests in the three nations, with various Trump-branded properties and golf courses in development. Additionally, a UAE investment fund was involved in the Trump family’s cryptocurrency project, World Liberty Financial, facilitating a $2 billion investment into Binance, a cryptocurrency exchange.
President Trump is guided through the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque by UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and mosque officials on May 15, 2025.
Win McNamee/Getty Images Europe
Trump’s daughter, Ivanka Trump, and her spouse, Jared Kushner, had previously visited the mosque in 2020 as part of their roles in the administration.
Joe Biden also visited the mosque during his vice presidential trip in 2016.
It’s worth noting that Trump has not been known to attend any mosques in the U.S. during his presidency, and while he may have visited one privately, that has not been confirmed.
While U.S. presidents typically visit churches, only a small number have officially visited mosques, as per the White House Historical Association. President Dwight Eisenhower inaugurated a mosque in Washington, D.C., in 1957 and former President George W. Bush visited the same mosque in 2001 after the September 11 attacks. In 2016, President Barack Obama toured a mosque near Baltimore.
During his 2016 campaign, Trump suggested that mosques could be incubators for hateful ideas and even recommended they be monitored. He followed through on a commitment to impose travel bans on several Muslim-majority countries once in office.
However, he has softened his rhetoric since then. In November, Arab and Muslim voters played a crucial role in securing a victory in Michigan for Trump, aided by those casting votes for third-party candidates. Many expressed dissatisfaction with the Biden administration’s consistent support for Israel amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which has resulted in numerous civilian casualties.
“The Muslim community supported us in November, and as long as I’m president, I will stand by you,” Trump stated during a White House iftar celebration during Ramadan in March.
Despite this, his relationship with Muslim voters has grown increasingly strained since his inauguration. A ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict arranged during Biden’s administration has disintegrated. Moreover, residents in Gaza have been unable to receive humanitarian aid due to ongoing blockades imposed by Israel. Domestically, some Muslim students have been detained as part of Trump’s broader immigration enforcement strategy, having faced arrest for voicing support for Palestinian rights.
Throughout his UAE visit, Trump also proposed the controversial idea of U.S. administration over the Gaza Strip, which has been met with skepticism from regional leaders.
“I would be proud for the United States to take control, establish a freedom zone, and allow positive developments to unfold,” Trump suggested.
His Middle East tour is expected to conclude on Friday.