Terror attack survivor thanks Trump

A survivor of the Christchurch mosque attacks has thanked United States President Donald Trump in a meeting at the White House.

Farid Ahmed, whose wife, Husna Ahmed, was killed on March 15, joined a meeting of survivors of religious persecution in Washington DC.

After Trump’s introduction, Ahmed asked the president if he could say a few words.

‘‘Mr President, thank you from New Zealand,’’ Ahmed said.

‘‘Thank you for your leadership, standing up for humanity, standing up for religious groups and their rights and thank you for supporting us after the 15 March tragedy in Christchurch. God bless you, and God bless United States.’’

Trump thanked Ahmed and said: ‘‘You went through a lot. I know all about what happened and that was a terrible situation. Thank you very much for being here . . . appreciate it.’’

The pair then shook hands. Trump has in the past suggested that mosques and Muslims should be tracked and that Muslims should be banned from the US. He has also claimed that ‘‘Islam hates us’’.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern spoke to Trump on the phone shortly after the Christchurch attacks in March.

She said then that he had passed on his condolences, and asked if there was any help the US could provide.

‘‘He asked what offer of support the United States could provide. My message was: ‘Sympathy and love for all Muslim communities,’ ’’ Ardern said at the time.

In March, Farid Ahmed told Stuff that he did not hate the terror suspect.

‘‘I don’t hold any grudges . . . I have compassion for them, I hope and pray that they will learn, listen and they will be turned as better humans and they will care for people instead,’’ he said.

‘‘In any fruit basket you get one or two bad fruit, so we should not hold onto that thought. We are one people and some people are trying to spread hate to create animosity between us.’’

Ahmed and his wife of 24 years were in separate rooms inside the