Abdullah Hasan, assistant press secretary and the primary brazenly training Muslim to function a White Home spokesperson, is leaving the Biden administration.
Hasan, who served because the president’s lead spokesperson on points associated to local weather, greater training, immigration, and oil and fuel, will likely be beginning legislation college at Georgetown College this fall. His final day will likely be Friday.
“Being one of the first comes with a lot of responsibility,” Hasan stated in an interview. “It’s also special in many ways.”
“I’m very mindful that someone with a name, like Abdullah Hasan carries a stigma, and I’m often reminded of that stigma when I see certain reactions on Twitter or elsewhere with statements or tweets I put out under my name,” he added. “But it’s also a testament to the president and the first lady that they’ve valued, they’ve prioritized, and they’ve supported diversity, and that they have trusted people like me to speak on their behalf.”
Hasan is among the greater than 100 Muslim American appointees at the moment working within the administration.
There was a so-called Muslim blue wave in 2018, when greater than 90 American Muslims ran for workplace up and down the poll, emboldened to push again towards then-President Donald Trump’s hateful rhetoric and insurance policies towards their neighborhood. Muslim Individuals secured seats in lots of ranges of state and federal authorities, and Democratic Reps. Rashida Tlaib (Mich.) and Ilhan Omar (Minn.) grew to become the primary Muslim girls elected to serve in Congress.
However progress remains to be to be made. For instance, no Muslim American has served in a Cupboard-level place.
“Speaking on behalf of the president and speaking on behalf of the White House is important,” Hasan stated. “Not just important for our community to see themselves represented in government, but also for the folks who may not know our community or may misunderstand it.”
Hasan beforehand served because the deputy communications director on the Workplace of Administration and Finances earlier than becoming a member of the White Home press employees final June. He additionally held numerous communications roles within the Obama administration in 2015.
“Abdullah is a special talent and has been a huge part of both the communications office at OMB and the White House press office,” stated Shalanda Delores Younger, the director of the OMB. “He is sharp, tactful, and an all-around great person. I can’t wait to see what incredible things he does in the future.”
