WASHINGTON, DC – In a stark contrast to his predecessors, US President Donald Trump issued a statement on Friday on the holy month of Ramadan, focusing primarily on violence and terrorism instead of explaining the true Islamic belief.

“This year, the holiday begins as the world mourns the innocent victims of barbaric terrorist attacks in the United Kingdom and Egypt, acts of depravity that are directly contrary to the spirit of Ramadan,” Trump said, The Washington Post reported.

“Such acts only steel our resolve to defeat the terrorists and their perverted ideology.”

“At its core, the spirit of Ramadan strengthens awareness of our shared obligation to reject violence, to pursue peace, and to give to those in need who are suffering from poverty or conflict,” he added.

Trump noted recent terrorist attacks in the United Kingdom and in Egypt, “acts of depravity that are directly contrary to the spirit of Ramadan. Such acts only steel our resolve to defeat the terrorists and their perverted ideology.”

Trump also noted his recent visit to Saudi Arabia, where he gave a speech on terrorism.

“I reiterate my message delivered in Riyadh: America will always stand with our partners against terrorism and the ideology that fuels it,” he said in the statement.

President Barack Obama did not mention terrorism in his previous statements commemorating the Islamic holiday.

Similarly, former President George W. Bush emphasized how millions of Americans are Muslim and explained Islamic belief in his message on Ramadan issued in the aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001.

In Ramadan, adult Muslims, save the sick and those traveling, abstain from food, drink, smoking and sex between dawn and sunset.

Muslims dedicate their time during the holy month to become closer to Allah through prayer, self-restraint and good deeds.

It is customary for Muslims to spend part of the days during Ramadan studying the Noble Qur’an.

Many men perform i`tikaf (spiritual retreat), spending the last 10 days of the month exclusively in the mosque.

Offensive Message

The fact that Trump speech framed terrorism around Ramadan was annoying to many American Muslims.

Shadi Hamid, a fellow at the Brookings Institution who is Muslim, said his expectations of Trump are so low that he seemed surprised Trump said something “vaguely nice” in parts of the statement.

“Trump has so rarely recognized that American Muslims even exist, but this offers apparent proof that he is aware of our existence. Great!” he said.

“Putting all that context aside, it’s offensive and pretty much terrible.”

Hamid added that Trump’s statement tied American Muslim citizens to the problem of terrorism.

“We, as American Muslims, shouldn’t be defined solely in our relationship to bad things that we have nothing to do with,” Hamid said.

“We’re also normal people who happen to be Muslim and to see us and our history in America so narrowly is plain out offensive.”

Asma T. Uddin, editor of AltMuslimah, said she thinks Trump’s statement is typical of his position on Islam, though it’s less infused with fear.

For instance, Trump said a year ago, “I think Islam hates us.”

“To the extent he’s playing nice, it’s again and always linked to Muslims’ utility in countering radicalism/solving terrorism,” she said.

Wajahat Ali, a writer and lawyer who has studied the anti-Muslim movement in the United States, joked about how Trump’s statement seems odd in context of Ramadan during which Muslims focus on helping others, especially the poor.

“I didn’t know Allah sent down Ramadan, a month of mercy, peace and blessings, to deputize American Muslims to help the US fight ISIS,” Ali said, referring to the Islamic State by another name.

“Here I was thinking it’s a month where Muslims reconnect with our spirit, our creator, our family and our communities and uplift ourselves through fasting, restraint, generosity and prayer.”

Compared with Trump and his comments on Islam, Bush is “seen as a moderate, enlightened sage,” Ali said.

“I mean do you really want us to fight ISIS during Ramadan?” Ali said.

“We’ll be weak. I’m fasting from dawn until sunset. Not even water? Not even water! I mean, I could kill terrorists with my Ramadan breath.”