Beaverton Teen Visits White House, Introduces President

A 15-year-old from Beaverton had the moment of a lifetime Thursday, introducing President Obama at a White House reception.

Aisha Osman had written the president in May, saying that other children had bullied her, calling her a terrorist.

"There were moments in my life where I would just want to take off my hijab and leave my identity behind so I can fit in with my peers," she wrote.

That letter led to an introduction for her to introduce the president at a reception marking Eid al-Fitr, the end of a month of fasting and prayer for Muslins around the world.

He called her letter "heartbreaking. "

Obama opened by thanking her.

"It was such a kind introduction," he said. " I want to thank her for her eloquent letter and speaking out not just for herself, but on behalf of Muslim Americans everywhere. She was a little nervous when she came out, and she did great. I was nervous the first time I did this but I have to admit, I’ve done this a while now."

He then returned to Aisha.

"That’s a young American, full of promise, full of possibility, fearful because of her faith. And we’ve seen a spike in Muslim Americans, including children, being attacked, mosques being targeted, especially during the final, holiest days of Ramadan.

"And that shouldn’t be happening in the United States of America."