THE MUSLIM teenager arrested after taking a homemade clock to school that was mistaken for a bomb has paid a visit to the White House.
Ahmed Mohamed got a personal invitation from President Barack Obama for Astronomy Night at the White House yesterday (Oct 19).
The president uses the event to encourage students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, The Grio reported.
The two met and chatted briefly during Monday night’s event.
Earlier that same day, Ahmed said he was grateful for the president’s support and said he’s OK with the nickname that so many have given him over the past few weeks — “clock kid.”
He said the lesson of his experience is: “Don’t judge a person by the way they look. Always judge them by their heart.”
Last month, Ahmed brought the clock to his high school in Arlington, Texas, to show a teacher, but another teacher thought it could be a bomb. The school contacted police, who ultimately chose not to charge Ahmed with having a hoax bomb, though he was suspended from school for three days.
Obama subsequently tweeted an invitation to Ahmed and said the US should inspire more kids like him to enjoy science.