Arab American voters shift to Trump in Michigan, citing peace promises and opposition to Middle East conflicts

The Trump campaign, as well as that of Vice President Kamala Harris, spent considerable time in the swing state of Michigan, home of the largest Arab Muslim community in the U.S.

In Dearborn, Michigan, 55% of residents are of Arab descent, coming from Palestine, Syria, Yemen, Iraq and Lebanon, the largest population. Trump won 42.48% of the vote in Dearborn,  compared to Vice President Kamala Harris, who won 36.26%, according to the Detroit Free Press.

From the beginning, the Trump campaign is said to have spent considerable resources hiring third-party contractors to help the campaign get out the vote in Arab American communities in the state, including Dearborn, Dearborn Heights and Hamtramck.

Wasel Yousef, who volunteered with the Trump campaign, described setting up meetings with religious leaders, community leaders, and even a mayor or two for the Trump campaign.

According to Yousef, Arab Americans recognized the importance of participating in politics and found a response from the Republican Party.

Yousef said that the “Trump campaign at least tried to listen to us,” while he said the Harris campaign ignored the community.

Imam Belal Alzuhairi, who appeared at a Trump rally on Oct. 26, told France 24 that Arab Americans in Michigan requested five demands from Trump related to stopping the war in the Middle East, especially in Gaza, fighting Islamophobia, hiring more Muslims in his administration, and ​​protecting children’s identity in schools.

“We are supporting Donald because he promised us that he will stop the war in the Middle East and Ukraine,”  he said to the crowd of Trump supporters.

Laila Alhusini, a journalist and founder of US Arab Radio, which focuses on Arab American issues across the U.S., agreed that Trump won Arab votes by appealing to Arab Americans’ desires for peace and promising economic relief. Alhunsini also said, “At least he tried to listen to the Arab community.”

Abdul Hafiz Sharaf, a Michigander who also collaborated with Trump’s campaign, said that Arab American voters in Michigan did not vote for Trump because they wanted him but instead because “they didn’t want to vote for Kamala and the Democrats.”

Of the Arab Americans interviewed, all pointed to ending the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine. Trump has promised to do that for the Arab American community, already war-weary from decades of US and US-supported conflict in their homeland.

The Arab American community, particularly in Michigan, had, until Tuesday, voted exclusively Democrat since the early ‘90s. Mohammed Haj Ali, an Arab American who is a federal employee, said 60% of Arab Americans in Michigan switched to Republicans because of the wars in Gaza and Lebanon.

According to Haj Alli, foreign policies from the Obama and Biden administrations have devastated the Syrian community.

War is an effective tool for sowing discontent, said Tamara Miller, another Michigander who has been working with Palestine Solidarity Grand Rapids. She voted for Jill Stein. “I am in no way, shape, or form going to support a genocide,” Miller said.

Miller, who started participating in activities supporting the Palestinians shortly after the Israeli bombardment of Gaza began following the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, said the Democrats are the ones who changed.

“They’re not representing us anymore,” Miller said. “I want to leave the Democratic party.”

Miller is not alone in feeling this way. About half of younger adults say they wish there were more parties to choose from, according to a Pew Research published in early August.