washington secretary state rex tillerson decline request host event mark islam holy month ramadan two u.s. officials say apparently break bipartisan tradition place exceptions nearly 20 years since 1999 republican democratic secretaries state nearly always host either iftar dinner break day fast ramadan reception mark eid al-fitr holiday end month state department tillerson turn request state department office religion global affairs host eid al-fitr reception part ramadan celebrations say two u.s. officials decline identify authorize speak publicly accord april memo see reuters office typically initiate events recommend tillerson hold eid al-fitr reception rejection request suggest plan year high-profile ramadan function state department month fast prayer muslims get way many countries saturday ask reuters comment tillerson decline request host eid al-fitr event july ramadan state department spokesperson say still explore possible options observance eid al-fitr mark end month ramadan u.s. ambassadors encourage celebrate ramadan variety activities hold annually missions around world muslim activists accuse president donald trump administration unfriendly attitude toward islam encapsulate attempt ban citizens several muslim-majority countries enter unite state administration say strongly oppose islamist militants quarrel islam aid point trump visit month saudi arabia birthplace islam address leaders 50 muslim countries evidence members congress muslim civil society community leaders diplomats muslim countries senior u.s. officials usually attend state department ramadan event symbol u.s. government diplomatic efforts muslim countries people tillerson avoid host one year could send message important administration engage muslims say former u.s. diplomat farah pandith serve bush obama administrations help plan ramadan events white house state department tillerson issue statement friday mark start ramadan call month reverence generosity self-reflection importantly cherish time family friends gather give charity less fortunate say former secretary state madeleine albright start tradition 18 years ago america top diplomat host public event ramadan lunar month secretary state time usually give remark mean ramadan april state department office religion global affairs make request tillerson office deliver remark eid al-fitr reception year suggest two-week range date july event would serve highlight state department initiatives importance muslim engagement memo say note host reception ramadan rather iftar often sumptuous dinner sunset state department event could hold time day thus prevent late even secretary several weeks late office offices state department alert tillerson decline request officials say reuters tell request decline see tillerson reply official office religion global affairs respond request comment several prominent muslim-american group washington area normally invite ramadan event tell reuters week yet receive invitation state department say unusual one invite say rabiah ahmed spokeswoman muslim public affairs council washington representative group invite state department event past say trump administration fraught relationship muslims presidential candidate republican urge temporary ban muslims enter unite state call surveillance mosques warn radical muslims try take children trump since tone rhetoric court halt temporary travel ban people six mostly muslim countries white house officials respond request comment whether would continue tradition year host ramadan-related event white house state department celebrate religious traditions though commemorations well-established state department ramadan event 2014 then-secretary state john kerry host first ever celebration state department mark diwali hindu festival white house also traditionally host annual christmas easter events well seder dinner mark jewish passover top u.s. diplomat personally host ramadan event every year since 1999 often state department grand benjamin franklin room apart three years 2006 2015 deputies secretary state time host either iftar dinner eid al-fitr reception 2014 kerry host reception eid al-adha another important muslim holiday exclusive tillerson decline host ramadan event state department