Hamtramck Mayor Amer Ghalib Backs Trump in 2024 Election

Dissatisfaction with policies, especially on Gaza, fuels a shift among Arab-American voters.

In a move that has shaken Michigan’s Arab-American community, Amer Ghalib, the Democratic mayor of Hamtramck, has thrown his support behind Donald Trump for the 2024 presidential election. This unexpected endorsement highlights growing frustration with the current administration’s handling of both domestic and foreign issues, especially in light of the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Ghalib’s decision to back Trump is surprising given his longstanding ties to the Democratic Party, with a photo of him and President Biden still proudly displayed in his office. But his support has clearly shifted. When asked why, Ghalib pointed to disappointment with the Biden-Harris administration: “Disappointment and hope. Disappointment that the current administration and how they are handling things locally or internationally, and hope that the new administration, led by Trump, will do something different.”

His sentiment mirrors the disillusionment felt by many Arab Americans in Hamtramck and neighboring Dearborn, areas that were once Democratic strongholds. The Biden administration’s unwavering support for Israel during its military actions in Gaza has caused many in the community to question their traditional political affiliations. In Hamtramck, where 40% of residents are of Middle Eastern or North African descent, frustration is widespread. Voters feel that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, along with other unaddressed concerns affecting Arab and Muslim communities, has been ignored by the Democratic leadership.

Samraa Luqman, a well-known environmental activist from Dearborn, shares this view. She voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016 and wrote in Bernie Sanders in 2020, but this year she is siding with Trump. “Policy-wise, I don’t like any of the Republican policies, to be frank, at all… I will still vote for him because one thing I hate more than all those other policies is genocide. And that’s the sentiment of an entire community,” she said, pointing to the overwhelming sense of urgency around the conflict in Gaza.

This drift toward Trump, however, isn’t necessarily an endorsement of his entire agenda. For many, it’s driven by desperation and the belief that the Democrats have failed to address critical issues—especially in the Middle East. “Trump is a wild card,” Luqman admitted, adding, “Will he do exactly what Kamala does or worse or better? But I know for sure what the Democrats are doing, and they’re intending to continue it.”

The erosion of Arab-American support for Democrats has only intensified with Israel’s ongoing actions in Gaza. Ghalib encapsulated this frustration, saying, “I don’t think there’s anything worse than what’s happening now,” a view shared by many who believe Trump might adopt a different strategy in the region. Some local Republican figures, like Barry Altman, a Michigan House candidate, have seized on this dissatisfaction. Altman opened a Trump campaign office in Hamtramck, stating, “Peace in the Middle East will not happen under a Harris administration—she’s too weak. Trump is the only hope for peace.”

The shift in political allegiances among Arab Americans is not just confined to Hamtramck. In Macomb and Oakland counties—home to sizable Arab-American populations—there are signs that Trump could gain ground in 2024. While Biden narrowly won Oakland County in 2020, the discontent within the Arab and Muslim communities could change the outcome this time around. Macomb County, where Trump secured 53% of the vote in 2020, could also see an increase in support from its Iraqi Chaldean residents.

Vice President Kamala Harris’s presence at the top of the ticket has not alleviated concerns. Many Arab-American leaders have criticized her stance on foreign policy, especially regarding her commitment to continue military funding for Israel. Hassan Abdel Salam, who leads the “Abandon Harris” campaign and has recently endorsed Green Party candidate Jill Stein, explained, “Harris made it very clear that she wanted to continue funding the state of Israel.” A recent poll by the Arab American Institute reveals that Harris’s support among Arab Americans is 18 points lower than Biden’s 2020 numbers, indicating a significant loss of trust.

With Michigan playing a pivotal role in the 2024 election, the shifting attitudes of its Arab-American voters could have major implications. Abdel Salam, for one, believes that Arab-American voters have the potential to alter the course of the election. “We know that we have 40,000 voters just in Dearborn. They are highly persuadable to our cause," he said.