Trump Dumps Muslim Imam From Inauguration Line-Up After Pressure from Pro-Israel and Right-Wing Groups

In a surprising and controversial move, the second inauguration of Donald Trump as the 47th President of the United States unfolded with political drama and societal division. 

Among the notable controversies was the removal of Iraqi-American Muslim Imam Husham Al-Husainy from the lineup of religious leaders scheduled to offer prayers during the ceremony. 

Al-Husainy, who oversees the Karbalaa Islamic Education Center in Dearborn, Michigan, was originally set to make history as the first Muslim cleric to deliver a prayer at a U.S. presidential inauguration. 

However, his name was quietly dropped from the program, with the benediction instead delivered by Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman, President of Yeshiva University. 

The Trump administration did not provide an explanation for the last-minute change, but the decision was met with approval by some pro-Israel and conservative groups. 

Al-Husainy’s past statements and political activism have been the subject of controversy, including accusations of being sympathetic to Hezbollah, a Lebanese Shia group classified as a terrorist organization by the United States. 

In a 2007 interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, Al-Husainy addressed these accusations, saying, “Hezbollah is a Lebanese organization, and I’ve got nothing to do with that. But there is a biblical meaning of Hezbollah—it means people of God in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.” 

Born in Iraq, Al-Husainy fled Saddam Hussein’s regime in 1979 and has since been a vocal critic of oppressive governments. After immigrating to the United States, he founded the Karbalaa Islamic Education Center in 1995 and has participated in various pro-Palestinian and anti-ISIS protests over the years. 

Despite his initial support for the U.S.-led overthrow of Saddam Hussein, Al-Husainy later criticized U.S. foreign policies, particularly as they shifted focus toward Iran. 

Al-Husainy’s support for Trump has also drawn criticism from within the Muslim community. 

During the 2024 campaign, he expressed his backing for Trump, stating, “I lean towards Mr. Trump because I found him closer to the Bible, the Torah, and the Quran. Because I support peace, no war.” 

The cleric’s controversial history and affiliations likely played a role in his removal from the inaugural ceremony. Trump’s decision to exclude an imam from his inauguration mirrors his first term, where no Muslim cleric was included. 

While the ceremony continued with Trump’s swearing-in by Chief Justice John Roberts, the absence of Al-Husainy left unanswered questions about the administration’s stance toward Muslim Americans. 

As Trump declared, “The golden age of America begins right now,” his agenda hinted at divisive policies, including ending birthright citizenship and declaring a national emergency on the US-Mexico border. 

Meanwhile, protests erupted across Washington, D.C., with thousands participating in the People’s March, signaling continued resistance to Trump’s policies. 

As America grapples with its political and social crossroads, the question lingers: Who will benefit from Trump’s promise to “fix it”?