The most prominent Muslim elected official in America sees a ‘message of hope’ in Trump’s ‘weakness’

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), one of Congress’s two Muslim lawmakers, says it’s business as usual despite Donald Trump’s proposal to temporarily ban Muslims from the country. Here, he is with colleagues at a ceremony marking the 150th anniversary of the passage of the 13th Amendment on December 9, 2015. (Photo by Linda Davidson / The Washington Post)

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A Koran and prayer beads lay in a prominent spot on Ellison’s desk. (Photo by Linda Davidson / The Washington Post)

By Elise Viebeck-December 13

Keith Ellison, the most prominent Muslim elected official in America, was having a pretty good day.

Never mind that the Republican front-runner in the presidential contest — Donald Trump — had proposed to temporarily bar all people of the congressman’s faith from entering the United States, roughly a quarter of the world’s population. Never mind that his House colleague — Indiana Democratic Rep. Andre Carson, the only other Muslim in Congress — received another death threat. And never mind that a Republican colleague — Iowa Rep. Steve King — was, at that very moment, questioning his patriotism in the press, saying the Detroit-born progressive Democrat has not sufficiently denounced Sharia law. Ellison had greeted King with a smile several times that day, even shaking his hand.

The Most Prominent Muslim Elected Official in America Sees a ‘Message of Hope’ in Trump’s ‘Weakness’ by Thavam Ratna