Why Arabs and Muslims Welcomed Trump’s Victory — Until They Realized He Sees Them as Vermin

Some Arab Americans who voted for Trump say they are concerned about his picks for key positions

By Tony Bruce and Mary Jones | Friday, November 22, 2024 | 5 min read

Barely a week after winning key Arab-majority cities across the U.S., President-elect Donald Trump has sparked criticism with his Cabinet choices. Chief among the concerns is his nominee for ambassador to Israel, a staunch supporter of Israeli policies who has dismissed the existence of Palestinians, stating, “there is no such thing as Palestinians.”

For many, these decisions feel unsurprising. After all, it was Trump who, during his first term, made the controversial move to relocate the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, signaling his unwavering support for Israel.

Meanwhile, the two advisers who led Trump’s outreach to Arab Americans have yet to receive roles in the incoming administration, leaving many in the community uncertain about their influence moving forward.

These decisions have elicited mixed reactions among Arab Americans and Muslims in Michigan, a battleground state that narrowly backed Trump. Some voters, wary of Vice President Kamala Harris and her policies, viewed their vote more as opposition to her than an endorsement of Trump. Others, who openly supported Trump, remain hopeful. They trust that he will take charge of key policies and follow through on promises to address conflicts in the Middle East, despite the controversial appointments.

Albert Abbas, a Lebanese American community leader whose brother owns the Dearborn, Michigan, restaurant where Trump made a high-profile campaign stop in his final days, stood alongside the former president during that visit and publicly voiced his support.

Now, Abbas is taking a wait-and-see approach. “It’s too early to judge Trump,” he said. “We all need to take a deep breath, step back, and let him do the work he needs to do to achieve this peace.”

Reflecting on the alternative, Abbas pointed to the current administration’s handling of Israel’s war in Gaza and the invasion of Lebanon. “What did you expect from me or many others in the community?” he asked.

While Trump has promised peace in the Middle East, he’s provided little detail on how he plans to achieve it. His transition team declined to comment when asked for specifics.

Throughout the campaign, Trump’s surrogates often focused on criticizing Vice President Kamala Harris rather than outlining his agenda. Meanwhile, visuals of the devastating conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon—resulting in tens of thousands of deaths—have fueled anger in Arab and Muslim communities over President Joe Biden and Harris’ unwavering support for Israel.

Amin Hashmi, a Pakistani American from Michigan who also voted for Trump, voiced frustration but held onto hope. “I am disappointed but not surprised,” he said, urging Trump to honor his campaign pledges. “Keep the promise you made to the people of Arab descent in Michigan.”

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Members of the Arab and Muslim community have expressed concerns over several of President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet picks, particularly former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, nominated as ambassador to Israel. Huckabee has consistently dismissed the idea of a Palestinian state in territories occupied by Israel and has strongly supported Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He has also opposed a two-state solution and controversially stated that “there really isn’t such a thing” as Palestinians, referring to the descendants of those who lived in Palestine before Israel’s establishment.

While Huckabee has drawn the sharpest criticism, other Cabinet nominees have also worried community members due to their hardline stances on Israel. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, Trump’s choice for secretary of state, has openly rejected calls for a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict, stating that Israel should “destroy every element of Hamas they can get their hands on.”

New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, selected as ambassador to the United Nations, has led aggressive questioning of university leaders over antisemitism on campuses and opposed funding for the U.N. Relief and Works Agency, which provides aid to Gaza.

Pete Hegseth, a Fox News host and Army National Guard veteran, was chosen to lead the Department of Defense. Hegseth has publicly opposed a two-state solution and controversially advocated for rebuilding a biblical Jewish temple on the site of Al-Aqsa Mosque, one of Islam’s holiest sites.

Meanwhile, Trump’s picks have been celebrated by groups like the Republican Jewish Coalition. Sam Markstein, the group’s political director, called the nominees a “pro-Israel dream team” and praised Trump’s record as “second to nobody” on Israel. “The days of trying to balance both sides of this issue are over,” Markstein said. “Peace through strength means no daylight between Israel and the United States.”

Some Arab American voters supported Donald Trump in part because they believed his prominent allies would play key roles in his administration.

Massad Boulos, a Lebanese businessman and the father-in-law of Trump’s daughter Tiffany, spearheaded outreach to the Arab American community, organizing dozens of meetings in Michigan and other regions with large Arab populations. These events often featured Richard Grenell, the former acting director of national intelligence, who earned praise from many who met him.

However, neither Boulos nor Grenell has been tapped for roles in the new administration so far. Grenell, once rumored to be a contender for secretary of state, lost out to Sen. Marco Rubio. Boulos declined to comment, and Grenell did not respond to requests for comment.

“Some people expected Trump to be different and thought Massad would play a significant role,” said Osama Siblani, publisher of the Dearborn-based Arab American News, which chose not to endorse any presidential candidate.

Siblani himself rejected an offer to meet with Trump after the newspaper’s non-endorsement. “But now people are coming to us and saying, ‘Look what you’ve done,’” he said. “We had a choice between someone actively shooting and killing you and someone threatening to do so. We had to punish the person who was shooting and killing us at the time.”

Copyright 2024 FN, NewsRoom.

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