Trump’s Deal with Michigan’s Muslim Mayor: A Potential Quid Pro Quo?

Donald Trump and Mayor Amer Ghalib

By Tony Bruce and Mary Jones | Wednesday, October 30, 2024 | 5 min read

The endorsement of Donald Trump by Hamtramck Mayor Amer Ghalib, leader of America’s only Muslim-majority city, reflects a convergence of factors, including weeks of engagement from the GOP, a meeting with Trump, and frustration over recent Democratic actions. Ghalib’s support took root following a series of events that showcased his dissatisfaction with the Democratic response to Middle Eastern issues, particularly after an incident involving Vice President Kamala Harris.

In early August, Harris addressed a rally near Detroit, where she was confronted by Arab American protesters calling for a U.S. arms embargo on Israel. She responded sharply, saying, “If you want Donald Trump to win, then say that.” Ghalib, outraged by what he saw as a dismissal of his community’s concerns, expressed his frustration online, accusing Harris of indifference to the violence in Gaza​.

By late September, Ghalib had made his endorsement public, calling Trump a “man of principle” despite Trump’s 2020 unpopularity in Hamtramck, where he won only 13% of the vote. This endorsement is particularly significant given Hamtramck’s recent decision to endorse the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which Trump opposes. According to James Zogby, founder of the Arab American Institute, Ghalib’s endorsement symbolizes growing frustration within Arab American communities, which feel sidelined by the Democratic Party’s foreign policy. This shift has been reflected in recent polling, suggesting an even split between Trump and Harris among Arab American voters—a dramatic change from 2020.

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This dissatisfaction was met with GOP outreach, notably from Tiffany Trump’s father-in-law, Lebanese-American businessman Massad Boulos, who has been actively connecting Trump’s campaign with Arab American leaders in Michigan. Boulos joined other local GOP figures to host small community gatherings, where the Michigan GOP’s Rola Makki helped facilitate dialogue between Ghalib and Trump. Weeks later, Ghalib joined Trump for a short meeting in Flint, where the former president pledged to work toward Middle Eastern peace—a promise that resonated with Ghalib, even if he remained skeptical of Trump’s follow-through​.

The involvement of Massad Boulos, a Lebanese-American businessman and father-in-law to Tiffany Trump, introduces an interesting dynamic into this story. Boulos’s background is indeed rooted in Nigeria, where he amassed substantial wealth through his family’s companies, particularly in the motorcycle, vehicle distribution, and healthcare sectors. While Boulos’s business dealings in Nigeria have garnered both success and scrutiny, there’s limited verified public evidence tying him directly to corrupt practices. However, the wealth he acquired abroad and his connections to influential circles—including his daughter’s marriage into the Trump family—have led to his involvement in Arab-American outreach for Trump’s campaign in Michigan.

Given the Trump family’s complex financial relationships, including sizable investments from entities like Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, some view Massad Boulos’s recent involvement in Michigan politics with a degree of suspicion. The Trump Organization has been known for various legal disputes, including recent court cases involving inflated real estate valuations, which raised questions about transparency in its business dealings. Further adding to the intrigue is Trump’s network in the Middle East, which includes previous financial connections with Gulf nations and figures tied to Saudi Arabia, which some speculate could create conditions for informal influence trading or quid pro quo arrangements​.

These financial entanglements are central to skepticism around Boulos’s role in connecting Arab American leaders, including Hamtramck Mayor Amer Ghalib, to Trump’s campaign. Given Boulos’s ties to the Lebanese and Arab American communities and his recent political outreach efforts, some analysts and community members question whether these connections might reflect mutual interests that align with Trump’s Middle East business pursuits, creating perceptions of indirect influence on campaign support​.

In sum, Boulos family’s network, combined with Trump’s connections in the Middle East, does raise questions about possible quid pro quo arrangements, especially in the context of recent Arab-American political shifts in Michigan. However, following financial trails to confirm such links would indeed be challenging, given that international assets often move through complex networks of trusts and offshore accounts. This leaves some unanswered questions about the extent of Boulos’s influence and financial motivations in this political alignment.

Massad Boulos, father-in-law to Tiffany Trump, emphasized Trump’s anti-war stance, claiming Trump is committed to ending ongoing conflicts, including the crisis in Gaza. Boulos indicated that Trump reiterated his peace-focused approach in a recent meeting with Hamtramck Mayor Amer Ghalib, making clear his opposition to prolonged conflicts and commitment to “working from day one” to stop wars​.

Mayor Ghalib, who has distanced himself from the Democratic Party due to perceived neglect on Middle Eastern issues, commented on the GOP nominee’s unexpectedly attentive approach, contrasting it with the limited outreach from Democrats. He also appreciated Trump’s preparedness and respect during their meeting, even though Ghalib has been cautious about making promises to his community. Although Ghalib declined an invitation to speak at a recent Trump rally in Flint, he left open the possibility of supporting the former president in future engagements​.

Bishara Bahbah, founder of Arab Americans for Trump, believes Trump’s stance on Gaza might resonate with more skeptics, particularly as Trump is viewed as unpredictable and independent in his foreign policy approach. Bahbah suggested that if more Arab Americans were exposed to Trump’s messages, they might shift their support away from Democrats. Meanwhile, the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) has launched a $10 million ad campaign to portray Kamala Harris as aligned with progressive Democrats critical of Israel. Though RJC opposes many of Ghalib’s positions, spokesperson Sam Markstein noted that Ghalib’s endorsement highlights growing dissatisfaction with Democrats among Arab-American voters in battleground states​.

Copyright 2024 FN, NewsRoom.

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