Arab American Backlash Against Democrats Opens Door for Trump in Key Swing State
A growing number of Arab Americans in Michigan, a pivotal swing state, are abandoning the Democratic Party over its handling of the war in Gaza and Lebanon — and some are now backing former President Donald Trump.
Yemeni American activist Samraa Luqman is one of those voices, calling for the Arab American community to take credit if Democratic candidate Kamala Harris loses in the upcoming U.S. presidential election.
“I will show up the next day if Harris loses,” Luqman told reporters in Dearborn. “It is because of Gaza and because of the genocide that you lost.”
The shift is driven by widespread outrage over the Biden-Harris administration’s unwavering military support for Israel amid mounting civilian deaths and destruction in Gaza and Lebanon. Luqman and others argue that Democratic candidates have taken Arab American support for granted — and now, the community is ready to make its discontent known at the ballot box.
Wearing a pendant with the map of historic Palestine and a Palestinian flag around her neck, Luqman said she views voting for Trump as a strategic move — not an endorsement. “Even if he will continue this genocide at a 99 percent chance, I’m going to take that 1 percent chance that he’s going to stop it,” she said.
Trump's Outreach in Dearborn
Trump, who once vilified Dearborn with false claims of Islamic law and "no-go zones," made a brief campaign stop in the Arab-majority city on Friday. His visit marked a stunning political reversal, welcomed by a crowd of Arab American supporters and business leaders.
Businessman Albert Abbas, standing beside Trump, publicly criticized the current administration's “betrayal” and urged action on both Lebanon and Gaza. “No amount of money or power should be prioritised over human life,” he said.
Some supporters, like Dearborn resident Hassan Hussein Abdullah, argued that life was better under Trump. “If he said he’s going to stop the war, he’s going to stop the war,” Abdullah said.
A Community Divided
Not all Arab Americans are on board. Outside the Trump event, protesters waved Palestinian flags and chanted “Free Palestine.” Egyptian American Fawzi Mohamad called out Trump’s past anti-Muslim rhetoric and described support for either Trump or Harris as turning a blind eye to the crisis in Gaza.
“This community knows what Trump stands for — we suffered through it for years,” Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud posted on social media, rejecting a sit-down with the former president. Still, he criticized the Democratic Party for creating the political vacuum Trump is now filling.
Hedging in Hamtramck
Trump’s recent visit to Hamtramck, the first Muslim-majority city in the U.S., highlights his growing appeal among socially conservative Arab voters. Mayor Amer Ghalib, a Yemeni American, has openly endorsed Trump, citing frustration with Democrats over cultural issues and foreign policy.
Ghalib’s shift toward the GOP began even before the Gaza conflict, sparked by clashes over LGBTQ+ books in public schools and a flag neutrality resolution that banned the pride flag on city property. The controversy won him praise from right-wing circles and criticism from Democratic allies.
Economic Concerns and the Search for Peace
For many Arab Americans, foreign policy isn't the only issue. Economic anxieties also loom large. Dearborn restaurant owner Ali Aljahmi, whose eatery now displays “Vote Trump” signs in Arabic, cited both Middle East violence and economic struggles as top concerns.
“We believe that Donald Trump is the only one that can bring the peace that we are striving for,” he said.
Trump's message — that the world was more stable during his presidency — resonates with voters like Dearborn Heights Mayor Bill Bazzi, a Lebanese American and Marine veteran.
“Trump wants peace. He doesn’t want wars,” Bazzi said, recalling Trump’s attempts to withdraw U.S. forces from Iraq and Afghanistan. “When he was president, there were no new wars.”
Trump’s Record and Community Response
Critics argue Trump’s record contradicts the peace narrative. He withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal, authorized the killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, and oversaw escalated support for Israel — including moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem and cutting aid to Palestinian refugees.
Despite this, some Arab Americans see him as a disruptive force who could shift Washington’s pro-Israel consensus.
“Trump is more likely to face pushback than Harris, who’s backed by a party unwilling to check its own,” Luqman said. “If we show our strength now, both parties will have to take us seriously in the future.”
She added: “If we exert our political muscle and cause reverberations in this election, it will show that we are a bloc that can make a change.”
