What do you think about President Barack Obama's visit to the American mosque? "We have to respect the fact that we have freedom of religion", Obama said.

Obama cast blame on the entertainment industry for perpetuating negative stereotypes that cast Muslims in roles linked to storylines of terror.

During an interview with Greta Van Susteren, the Fox News host asked Trump about the visit.

Funnily enough, Obama even joked about the Obama-is-a-Muslim conspiracy theory, saying that he was not the only victim of such rumours. Although Obama has visited mosques overseas, he waited until now to make such a visit at home.

President Barack Obama visited a mosque in the United States for the first time during his presidency on Wednesday, delivering a stirring address that condemned hateful rhetoric against Muslims and called on Americans of all faiths to stamp out bigotry. There are a lot of places you can go, and he chose a mosque.

"Inexcusable political rhetoric against Muslims that has no place in our country", Obama said.

Speaking to the Islamic Society of Baltimore, Obama said many Americans had a "hugely distorted impression" of Muslim-Americans that was resulting in significant harm - both physically and mentally - to the community of almost 3 million people in the U.S.

Some Republican candidates have issued strongly anti-Muslim statements during the presidential election cycle, particularly businessman Donald Trump who called for a ban on Muslims entering the USA due to security concerns.

But it was the president's reference to the impact that rhetoric is having on young Muslim Americans that Dr. Elfass said would have special meaning for his community. So Muktar argued that the president's actual presence at a mosque is a strong symbol by itself - one that she said she's personally thankful for.

"The president said he recognised that Muslim-Americans were being "targeted and blamed for the acts of a few".

"The very word Islam comes from "Salam" - peace", he said.

Obama has visited mosques in other countries, but this marks the first time he has visited a mosque here in the United States during his presidency. "We must not give them legitimacy", Obama said.

"Let me say as clearly as I can as president of the United States: you fit right here", Obama told the audience.

He spoke Wednesday at the Islamic Society of Baltimore where he shined a light on efforts to confront religious intolerance.