President Obama made his first visit as president to a US mosque this week, but despite many praising him for his act of solidarity, some Muslims claimed that it was done too late. The Twitter hashtag #TooLateObama started trending as many Muslims claimed that the president had done too little, too late, in his efforts to improve US-Islamic relations.
Some called Obama out as a hypocrite, claiming that increased drone strikes in Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia made him no better than former president George Bush in his policy regarding the Islamic world.
Despite the president’s words of condemnation aimed at anti-Muslim rhetoric coming from a certain side of the political spectrum, not everyone was impressed with the visit.
“We have to reject a politics that seeks to manipulate prejudice or bias and targets people because of religion,” he said. “None of us can be silent. We can’t be bystanders to bigotry.”
But for many, this was not enough.
The hashtag #TooLateObama saw criticism and condemnation of the president’s policy in the Middle East.
See some comments below, via Twitter.
Some accused Obama of hypocrisy in his dealing with the Islamic world.
I see people praising Obama for visiting mosques here while aiding the destruction of mosques overseas #TooLateObama
— Talha (@AK_vicious) February 4, 2016
He bombs mosques in the Middle East then visits one after 7 years in his home country? That's real politique #toolateobama
— Farshad Miraftab (@FarshadMiraftab) February 3, 2016
Others gave the president a reality check.
#TooLateObama You dropped 23,144 bombs on Muslim majority countries in 2015 and you think visiting a mosque changes that?
— OccPal-Gaza (@OccPalGaza) February 3, 2016
There was some dark humor.
i guess when Obama droned that mosque in Pakistan during friday prayers it didnt count as a visit? #TooLateObama
— The Kominas (@TheRealKominas) February 3, 2016
Some accused him of only visiting because he is not running for re-election.
Muslims getting gassed because after 7 years in office & no chance of 3rd term #Obama finally visits a US mosque. #MosqueVisit #TooLateObama
— Zermina (@TheMinastic) February 3, 2016
Is it too late now to say sorry?
the only legit response to #TooLateObama will be this https://t.co/D43UvQtGvk
— Ramah Kudaimi (@ramahkudaimi) February 4, 2016
