Teen arrested for making clock will visit White House
WASHINGTON — A Texas teen who gained national attention after he was arrested for bringing a homemade clock to school is expected to hear from President Barack Obama in person Monday when he participates in the second White House Astronomy Night.
In the hours after his arrest last month, #IStandWithAhmed was trending worldwide on Twitter, with critics alleging that Ahmed Mohamed, 14, was the victim of religious profiling.
Obama added his support to the mix, inviting Ahmed — and his clock — to the White House.
"Cool clock, Ahmed," Obama tweeted. "Want to bring it to the White House? We should inspire more kids like you to like science. It's what makes America great."
The tweet was followed up with an official invite to Astronomy Night, where Ahmed will be joined by other American students, as well as teachers, scientists and astronauts.
The event, which is being held this year for the second time, aims to promote STEM programs (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) in schools, and will take place on the White House South Lawn.
Ahmed's visit to the White House is hardly his only big trip since his rise to fame in September.
In the past month, he, of Irving, Texas, has made a pilgrimage to Mecca with his family, visited Google and met with Queen Rania of Jordan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu of Turkey.
He also drew controversy for a visit to Sudan last week, where he met with President Omar al-Bashir, according to the Sudan Tribune.
Bashir is an international pariah who has been charged with genocide by the International Criminal Court.
Ahmed's father, Mohamed Elhassan Mohamed, immigrated from Sudan and has twice run for that country's presidency.
Ahmed posted a picture from his plane as he was landing in Sudan to Twitter, saying, "I am coming home, tell the world I am coming home #sudan"
