An imam who previously declined to condemn Hezbollah was removed from President Trump's inauguration ceremony today, where he had been scheduled to deliver a benediction alongside other religious leaders.
Imam Husham Al-Husainy, who leads the Karbalaa Islamic education center in Dearborn, Michigan, was notably absent from the Capitol rotunda ceremony despite being listed in earlier versions of the inauguration program. His removal appears linked to resurfaced footage of a controversial 2007 Fox News interview where he refused to acknowledge Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.
During that interview with Sean Hannity, Al-Husainy repeatedly avoided direct questions about Hezbollah's status, responding that "Hezbollah is a Lebanese organization" and referring to the term's "biblical meaning" as "people of God" across Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. When pressed specifically on whether Hezbollah was a terrorist group, Al-Husainy responded "No," contradicting the U.S. government's 1997 designation of Hezbollah as a foreign terrorist organization.
The interview had originally gained attention following Al-Husainy's delivery of an invocation at the Democratic National Convention winter meeting in January 2007, which Hannity noted had "raised many questions."
Today's benediction proceeded with three other religious leaders: Rabbi Ari Berman, president of Yeshiva University; Senior Pastor Lorenzo Sewell of Detroit's 180 Church; and Rev. Father Frank Mann of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn. The ceremony took place in the Capitol rotunda with Vice President JD Vance, former President Biden, and former Vice President Harris in attendance.
The Trump administration has not responded to requests for comment about Al-Husainy's removal from the program. This marks the second Trump inauguration without Muslim religious representation, as his 2017 ceremony also did not include an imam among its faith leaders.
Jewish Insider contributed to this article.
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