A Christchurch mosque shooting survivor has thanked US President Donald Trump for his leadership during a meeting at the White House.

Farid Ahmed whose wife Husna was killed at Masjid Al Noor in the March 15 mosque shootings was with a group of "survivors of religious persecution" invited to Washington.

In a video posted by The White House on YouTube, President Trump introduced and welcomed the "very important group of people".

After his introductory comments, Ahmed asked the president if he could say a few words.
"Mr President, thank you from New Zealand," says Ahmed.

"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 March 15 tragedy in Christchurch. God bless you, and God bless United States."

"Thank you very much," Trump replied.

"You went through a lot. I know all about what happened and that was a terrible situation."

And then the pair shook hands.

Ahmed hit global headlines after the March 15 attack when he spoke at a National Remembrance Service in Christchurch where he said he forgave the gunman who killed his wife.

"I want a heart that will be full of love and care and full of mercy and will forgive lavishly. This heart doesn't want any more lives to be lost," he said.

"This heart doesn't like that the pain I have gone through ... that any human being should go through that kind of pain. That is why I have chosen peace, I have chosen love and I have forgiven."