Democratic and Arab-American mayor of America's only Muslim-majority city in Michigan endorses Donald Trump

By lauraharris // 2024-09-25

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Amer Ghalib, the Democratic and Arab American mayor of Hamtramck, Michigan, has endorsed former President Donald Trump for reelection following a meeting with the Republican nominee on Tuesday, Sept. 17. Shortly before Trump held a town hall in Flint on the same day, the former president had a "productive meeting" with Ghalib, during which he asked for the mayor's endorsement for the upcoming election in November. Ghalib handed Trump an official letter outlining community concerns and extended an invitation for Trump to visit Hamtramck. The two politicians also discussed the shift away from Democratic support in Wayne County, the most populous county in Michigan, and indicated that Trump's opposition to more taxpayer funding for new wars has resonated with Hamtramck's Muslim-majority community.

"I talked to President Trump about, you know, some statistics here in Wayne County and how it used to be a stronghold for the Democrats, and we always used to vote Democrat," Ghalib said in an interview with Breitbart News on the day before he officially endorsed Trump. "This is not the case anymore here."

Several days after, Ghalib officially endorsed Trump in a Facebook post on Sunday, Sept. 22. "President Trump and I may not agree on everything, but I know he is a man of principles," he stated, claiming that Trump promised him that he would end the escalating wars in the Middle East if elected as president in November. "Though it's looking good, he may or may not win the election and be the 47th president of the United States, but I believe he is the right choice for this critical time. I'll not regret my decision no matter what the outcome would be, and I'm ready to face the consequences." (Related: If elected, Trump promises to end Russia-Ukraine war BEFORE taking office.) "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," concluded Ghalib.

Ghalib's endorsement of Trump breaks away the expectation in Michigan – a traditionally Democratic state

Trump celebrated this endorsement during an exclusive interview with Breitbart News on the same day Ghalib declared his support for the GOP. "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 during the hour-long phone interview. "There was no Oct. 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." Trump also mentioned his openness to holding a campaign event in Hamtramck, a suburb of Detroit and a small city known for its large Arab American and majority Muslim population, to connect with local leaders in and around the city who are dissatisfied with the administration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. "The answer is if the opportunity presents itself I would do that," Trump said when asked if he would hold a rally or a campaign stop in Hamtramck. "It can't remain the way it is now with the hatred that's going around." Meanwhile, Egbe Ogu, a contributor for the County Local News site, listed several reasons as to why the endorsement of Ghalib may be significant. "First and foremost, it challenges the notion that all Arab Americans are staunch Democrats," Ogu wrote. "Ghalib’s decision to support Trump showcases the diversity of opinions within the Arab American community and highlights the complexity of political affiliations." "Additionally, Ghalib’s endorsement could potentially sway other Democrats to reconsider their stance on Trump and open up conversations about bipartisanship and unity in a deeply divided political climate," continued Ogu. "His endorsement of Trump goes against the grain of his constituents and could have far-reaching implications for his political career. It takes courage to swim against the tide, especially in such a polarized environment, and Ghalib's willingness to do so speaks to his integrity and conviction." Head over to Trump.news for more stories about the former president ahead of the November 2024 presidential elections. Watch South Dakota Sen. John Thune remark that Americans are looking for a change from Biden's "crazy agenda." This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

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Ghalib's endorsement of Trump breaks away the expectation in Michigan – a traditionally Democratic state

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