President Barack Obama invited the 14-year-old high schooler whose homemade clock was confused for a bomb to the White House.
“Cool clock, Ahmed. Want to bring it to the White House?” Obama wrote on Twitter Wednesday.
Ahmed Mohamed, a 14-year-old 9th grader at MacArthur High School in Irving, Texas, was arrested on Monday and suspended from school after his homemade clock was mistaken for a bomb. Mohamed said he had built the clock because he is interested in technology.
Obama billed his invitation to Mohamed as an opportunity to inspire children to take an interest in science. In recent months, the White House has worked to encourage young Americans to pursue STEM—science, technology, engineering and math—careers.
“We should inspire more kids like you to like science,” Obama wrote. “It’s what makes America great.”
Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton also chimed in, encouraging Mohamed to “stay curious and keep building.”
More Must-Reads From TIME
- The 100 Most Influential People of 2024
- How Far Trump Would Go
- Scenes From Pro-Palestinian Encampments Across U.S. Universities
- Saving Seconds Is Better Than Hours
- Why Your Breakfast Should Start with a Vegetable
- 6 Compliments That Land Every Time
- Welcome to the Golden Age of Ryan Gosling
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Write to Justin Worland at justin.worland@time.com