Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will be forgoing a State Department tradition in his first year serving as the nation’s top diplomat by not holding an event to commemorate the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, according to multiple reports.
Breaking with a tradition that has been relatively consistent for 18 years, dating back to when Madeleine Albright was secretary of state under President Bill Clinton, Tillerson declined a request by the State Department’s Office of Religion and Global Affairs to host the reception, CNN reported.
Typically such an event would mark the Eid al-Fitr or the end of the holy month of Ramadan, which gets started in several countries around the world on Saturday.
A State Department spokesman said the agency is “still exploring possible options for observance of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the month of Ramadan,” adding that U.S. ambassadors abroad are encouraged to celebrate Ramadan through a variety of activities, according to Reuters.
Tillerson did put out a statement marking the start of Ramadan.
“On behalf of the United States Department of State, Renda and I sincerely wish Muslims around the world a peaceful and blessed Ramadan,” Tillerson said. “Ramadan is a month of reverence, generosity, and self-reflection. Most importantly, it is a cherished time for family and friends to gather and give charity to those who are less fortunate. This time reminds us all of the common values of harmony and empathy we hold dear. I wish all those celebrating a very happy Ramadan Kareem.”
The White House held events to celebrate the Christian and Jewish holidays of Easter and Passover respectively, though notably Trump skipped out on the Passover Seder.
Trump has been criticized for his attitude towards Muslims, stemming largely from his proposal for a Muslim ban during the 2016 presidential campaign and his two travel bans from several Muslim-majority countries after becoming president. Trump did, however, receive a warm welcome from Muslim leaders during his visit to Saudi Arabia last weekend, where he delivered a speech urging cooperation in the fight against terrorism.
