Trump courts divided Arab-American voters in must-win Michigan

In Dearborn, Michigan, Donald Trump met with Arab-American business leaders just days before the presidential election. On a bright and sunny day, many people gathered outside the Great Commoner cafe to catch a glimpse of him. Trump, dressed in a blue coat and tie, addressed the group, stating, 'What we want is peace. ' However, the atmosphere outside was tense, with pro- and anti-Trump supporters shouting at each other, highlighting the deep divisions within the community regarding the upcoming election. Trump's visit to Dearborn is significant as it marks his efforts to win over the Arab-American voters in Michigan, a state with over 200,000 Arab-Americans. This demographic could play a crucial role in the election, especially since Michigan has been a battleground state in recent elections. In 2016, Trump narrowly won Michigan by just 10,000 votes, while Biden managed to reclaim it in 2020 with a margin of 150,000 votes. The Trump campaign has been promoting the message that he stands 'for peace' in the Middle East, while portraying Kamala Harris as pro-Israel. This strategy seems to resonate with some voters, as Trump has received endorsements from the mayors of Dearborn Heights and Hamtramck, a small city with a majority Muslim population. However, Dearborn's Mayor Abdullah Hammoud declined to meet with Trump, indicating a split in support among local leaders. Abbas Alawieh, a leader of the Uncommitted movement, expressed concern about the growing sentiment among voters who feel they must choose between Trump and Harris. He stated, 'I’ve been hearing … a lot more of the feeling that this is a binary choice, and some voters feeling like maybe we should just vote for Donald Trump because he’s saying he’s a pro-peace candidate. ' On the other hand, the Harris campaign has emphasized its commitment to the diverse Muslim community in the United States. Nasrina Bargzie, the campaign director for Muslim and Arab American Outreach, stated, 'The Vice President is committed to work to earn every vote, unite our country, and to be a President for all Americans. ' She also mentioned that Harris would work to ensure the community can 'live free from the hateful policies of the Trump administration. ' Despite frustrations with the Biden-Harris administration's approach to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, many community leaders remain skeptical about Trump's ability to provide a solution. Rexhinaldo Nazarko, the executive director of the American Muslim Engagement and Empowerment Network, pointed out Trump's past actions, such as the 'Muslim ban' he implemented in 2017, which restricted travel from predominantly Muslim countries. Nazarko and other leaders believe that expressing their dissatisfaction with the Biden-Harris administration's pro-Israel stance is more important than the outcome of the election itself. They have encouraged voters to consider third-party candidates or even abstain from voting altogether. This sentiment was echoed by Hassan Abdel Salam, a former Democrat and leader of the Abandon Harris campaign, who spoke to a packed room at the American Muslim Center in Dearborn. He stated, 'Our intention is to show that we are punishing someone, a leader who for a year we protested and we gave ultimata, warnings. ' He believes that even though Trump is a problematic figure, there is no 'lesser evil' in this election. Political experts note that the Harris campaign has chosen to focus on securing moderate voters and increasing turnout in traditionally Democratic areas like Detroit, rather than specifically targeting Muslim and Arab-American voters. They are also concerned about losing support from pro-Israel Jewish voters, who are more likely to vote. Saeed Khan, a professor at Wayne State University, mentioned that many voters who initially considered third-party candidates will likely end up voting for Harris to prevent Trump from winning. Wael Alzayat, CEO of the Muslim voter outreach group Emgage, emphasized the importance of this decision, stating, 'A vote for third-party is a vote for Trump, which will bring about the worst outcome. ' Mohammad Hassan, a member of Hamtramck's city council, noted that while 80 percent of his Bangladeshi Muslim community is voting for Harris, there is still a divide among voters. He explained that Yemeni Muslims in the same city may be split evenly between Trump and Harris. The anger within the Arab-Muslim community regarding the situation in Gaza is palpable, but Hassan pointed out that they do not vote in large numbers. Many Arab Americans and Muslims desire a more balanced narrative about the conflict, advocating for greater empathy towards the suffering of Gazans and Lebanese. Khan criticized Harris for focusing on the plight of Israeli hostages while neglecting the significant loss of life in Gaza, stating, 'For Harris to talk about 100 some-odd [Israeli] hostages, and not mention 45,000 to 50,000 Gazans killed, to not consider that there was an impact on American citizens, families and lives, that I think was seen as egregious. ' The ongoing violence has resulted in over 43,000 deaths in Gaza since Israel's military campaign began in response to Hamas's attack in October 2023. Alawieh, the Uncommitted leader, expressed that supporting Harris is not an easy decision, as her campaign has not shifted its stance on Israel, which may alienate young Democratic voters and voters of color. He remarked, 'It feels to me like the Harris campaign here in Michigan left a lot of votes on the table. ' Alawieh hopes that the campaign's strategy is part of a larger plan for victory and that they do not regret their choices after the election.