Trump wins Dearborn/ Arab American voters/ Michigan election results/ Trump Gaza promises/ Arab American community election/ Newslooks/ DEARBORN/ Mich./ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Trump’s focus on outreach in Michigan’s Arab American communities paid off, as he became the first Republican presidential candidate to win Dearborn since 2000. Many Arab American voters were dissatisfied with Harris’s support for Israel in the Gaza conflict, with some shifting their support to Trump following his visit to a popular Dearborn restaurant.
Trump Wins Michigan’s Largest Arab-American City: Quick Looks
- Election Outcome: Trump won Dearborn, Michigan, a city with a significant Arab American population, marking a GOP win there for the first time since 2000.
- Community Sentiment: Many Arab Americans expressed dissatisfaction with Harris’s stance on the Gaza conflict.
- Trump’s Outreach: Trump’s final-week visit to Dearborn included meeting with residents at a Lebanese-owned restaurant, contrasting with Harris’s absence from the area.
- Influential Endorsements: Local figures and imams endorsed Trump, contributing to his appeal in Arab American communities.
- Future Expectations: Arab American voters hope Trump will fulfill his promises on Middle East policy, including ending ongoing conflicts.
Arab American Voters in Michigan Help Propel Trump to Victory in Dearborn
Deep Look
In a shift not seen in decades, Donald Trump won Michigan’s Dearborn, a city with one of the largest Arab American populations in the U.S., marking a notable win for the GOP. Trump’s victory in Dearborn, where nearly half of the 110,000 residents are of Arab descent, represents a remarkable change from recent election cycles, when Democratic candidates typically dominated. Trump’s engagement with the community, particularly during the final days of his campaign, resonated with Arab American voters concerned about U.S. policy on Gaza and Israel.
Dissatisfaction with Democratic Policy on Gaza Conflict
For months, members of Dearborn’s Arab American community voiced frustrations over the Biden-Harris administration’s handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict, which has led to thousands of Palestinian deaths. Kamala Harris, despite attempts to soften her rhetoric, continued to uphold the administration’s support for Israel, ultimately failing to offer new policies that might resonate with Arab American voters. Dearborn City Council member Mustapha Hammoud noted the frustration, saying that if the U.S. had worked to “stop the war in Lebanon and Gaza,” it could have garnered Harris much more support in the region.
Polling from AP VoteCast reflected this sentiment, showing that Arab American voters in Michigan felt Trump was more equipped to handle Middle Eastern policy. About half of voters nationwide saw Trump as the stronger candidate for Middle Eastern affairs, and a significant portion of Harris voters indicated doubts about her approach to the conflict.
Trump’s Outreach and Arab American Support
Throughout the election season, Arab American leaders from Michigan engaged with Trump’s campaign, seeing it as an opportunity to voice their concerns and to push for changes in U.S. foreign policy. This engagement culminated in Trump’s endorsement from Amer Ghalib, the Muslim mayor of Hamtramck, Michigan, and other prominent Arab American figures. Trump’s personal visit to Dearborn in the campaign’s final week was a strategic move, during which he interacted with residents and local business owners at a Lebanese restaurant. His outreach left an impression on voters who felt ignored by the Harris campaign.
Local leaders like Massad Boulos, who was instrumental in Trump’s outreach to Arab American voters, observed that Trump’s visit to Dearborn left the community feeling respected and acknowledged. “That was the first big achievement,” said Boulos, noting the positive impact on voter sentiment.
Shift in Voter Sentiment in Final Campaign Days
While many Arab American voters in Dearborn had been reconsidering their support for the Democratic ticket, Trump’s appeal grew substantially during the campaign’s last week. Former President Bill Clinton’s comments during an October 30 Michigan rally, in which he accused Hamas of using civilians as shields, were controversial among Arab American voters, some of whom interpreted the remarks as dismissive of Palestinian suffering.
The Harris campaign initially considered having Clinton visit Dearborn in the campaign’s final days but ultimately scrapped the plan after backlash over his remarks. “That comment was the talk of the town,” said Amin Hashmi, a Detroit-area resident, who found it difficult to back Harris after the statements. Hashmi, a longtime Democrat, ultimately chose Trump, describing his vote as “a seismic move.”
In a final bid for local support, Trump stopped by The Great Commoner, a Lebanese-owned restaurant in Dearborn, just days before the election. Harris, by contrast, met with Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud but did not make a public appearance in the city. Trump’s direct engagement with the community was seen by many as a sign of respect and effort to address their concerns. “Whether some people say it wasn’t genuine, he still made the effort,” Dearborn resident Samia Hamid said.
Trump’s Promises and Arab American Expectations
Arab American voters in Dearborn, many of whom experienced Trump’s 2017 travel ban targeting Muslim-majority countries, expressed cautious optimism about his promises to end the war in Gaza. While his record on immigration and foreign policy left some residents wary, voters like Osama Siblani, publisher of Arab American News, remain hopeful yet vigilant. “We survived the first four years,” Siblani said, noting that the community is prepared to hold Trump accountable if he does not deliver on his commitments.
While some residents, like Amen, a longtime Democrat, opted for third-party candidates out of dissatisfaction with both options, the overall sentiment in Dearborn reflects a shift in the Arab American community’s political alignment. Trump’s outreach and responsiveness to their concerns around the Gaza conflict left a mark, allowing him to make historic gains in the state’s largest Arab American stronghold.
As Trump prepares for his second term, his administration will face scrutiny from Dearborn’s Arab American community, who expect him to act on his pledges. They hope to see policies that address Middle Eastern stability and a more balanced U.S. foreign policy, as Trump assured them during his campaign.
