The President will visit the Islamic Society of Baltimore on Wednesday and deliver remarks there, the White House confirmed on Saturday. This will be the first time the President has paid an official visit to a mosque during his seven years as President. However, Obama has toured mosques while on overseas trips.
"The president believes that one of our nation's greatest strengths is our rich diversity," White House spokesman Keith Maley said, confirming reports. "As the president has said, Muslim Americans are our friends, and neighbors; our co-workers, and sports heroes -- and our men and women in uniform defending our country."
The Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR)--which has been declared a terrorist organization in the United Arab Emirates and was named by federal prosecutors as an unindicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation's Hamas-funding operation--welcomed Obama's decision.