In a surprising political development, Amer Ghalib, the Democratic mayor of Hamtramck, Michigan, the only city in the United States governed predominantly by Muslims, has publicly endorsed former President Donald Trump for the 2024 presidential race.
Despite their differences on key political issues, Ghalib praised Trump as a "man of principles" and "the right choice for this critical time."
As reported by Newsweek, Ghalib's endorsement of Trump, a Republican, is a significant political shift. The mayor stated on his Facebook page, "Though it's looking good, he may or may not win the election and be the 47th president of the United States. I'll not regret my decision no matter what the outcome would be, and I'm ready to face the consequences. For this, and for many other reasons, I announce my support and endorsement for the former, and hopefully, the next president of the United States, Donald Trump."
Hamtramck, located near Detroit, is renowned for its Muslim leadership and population, with over 40% of its residents practicing the Muslim faith. Ghalib's endorsement came after a private meeting with Trump, where they discussed various issues, including those affecting Arab and Yemeni Americans. Despite Trump's controversial policies on immigration and sanctuary cities, Ghalib believes that the former president offers a practical approach to the country's key challenges.
According to Arab News, Hamtramck's population is more than 60 percent Muslim, with immigrants from Yemen and Bangladesh forming the largest demographic groups. Trump, in an interview with Breitbart News, expressed his excitement about Ghalib's endorsement. "I was very impressed with him, and he was a very big fan of the Trump administration because he saw no wars outside of defeating ISIS, but I inherited that but there were no wars," Trump said.
Trump went on to say, "There was no October 7. There was no Russian attack on Ukraine. He sees that, and he told me he saw a world that was at peace. Now, we have a world that's going to end up in World War III, and I can stop that. I'm the only one that's going to stop that."
During the last presidential election, the majority of Muslims across the nation, about 86 percent, supported Joe Biden, with only 6 percent backing Trump. However, recent reports suggest that Muslim voters have expressed "doubts" over supporting Vice President Kamala Harris, particularly due to outrage from the Muslim community over the war in Gaza.
Trump's administration faced criticism from Democrats and human rights groups for policies perceived as anti-Muslim. One such policy was Executive Order 13769, signed in January 2017, officially titled "Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States." This policy, often referred to as the "Muslim ban," restricted entry into the U.S. for citizens from seven predominantly Muslim countries: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. The policy sparked protests and legal battles due to its perceived discriminatory and unconstitutional nature. However, in 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a version of the ban, with supporters arguing it was necessary for national security.
Despite these controversies, Ghalib's endorsement of Trump signifies a potential shift in political alliances, reflecting the dynamic and complex nature of American politics. It remains to be seen how this endorsement will impact the 2024 presidential race and the political landscape of Hamtramck, a city known for its unique demographic composition and leadership.
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