Donald Trump’s victory in Dearborn, Michigan, a traditionally Democratic stronghold with a sizable Arab American community, has been met with mixed emotions and growing regret. His surprising win in a region with a history of support for Democratic candidates can be largely attributed to widespread frustration with the Biden administration, particularly Vice President Kamala Harris, over their stance on Israel and the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict. But as Trump's rhetoric continues to unfold, many are beginning to reconsider their support.
The tipping point came when Trump proposed a drastic plan to “take over” Gaza, an idea that included relocating nearly two million Palestinians to neighboring countries. This announcement, made in front of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stunned the world and left Dearborn residents reeling. A community that had rallied behind Trump just months ago, in hopes of peace in the Middle East, now finds itself grappling with his controversial and, some say, reckless statements.
Osama Siblani, the editor of Arab American News in Dearborn, voiced the sentiments of many within the community: anger, disappointment, and betrayal. “People are reacting with extreme anger and disappointment with this president who lied to this community to steal some of their votes,” Siblani remarked. He, like many others, has been left shocked by Trump’s apparent disregard for the gravity of the situation. The proposed relocation of Palestinians is seen by some as a veiled endorsement of ethnic cleansing, which, combined with his general rhetoric, has been described as a disgraceful overstep. "Trump is acting like a leader of a gangster group and not the most powerful nation in the world,” Siblani stated, condemning the rhetoric as both dangerous and morally indefensible.
The situation has caused deep introspection within the Arab American community in Dearborn. Some individuals who previously supported Trump now find themselves regretting their decision but are reluctant to admit their mistakes. One anonymous local leader summed it up: "We screwed up, but we're not going to admit it." There is an air of unease and confusion, especially as the political landscape in Dearborn becomes more fractured, reflecting the division caused by the ongoing conflict, which has claimed the lives of over 46,000 Palestinians and devastated Gaza.
Only a short while ago, Arab Americans in Dearborn celebrated a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, a deal Trump was credited with helping broker before leaving office. However, his recent remarks about Gaza being turned into a “Riviera of the Middle East” sent shockwaves through the community. The phrase, which many saw as a callous disregard for the suffering of Palestinians, prompted a swift rebranding of Arab Americans for Trump. The group, which had supported Trump during his campaign, quickly renamed itself “Arab Americans for Peace” in response to the new, more aggressive stance on Gaza.
Sam Baydoun, a Democratic Wayne County commissioner, voiced the collective sentiment in the community, firmly stating, "Gaza will always be part of a future Palestinian state, not a casino resort." Baydoun’s statement encapsulates the anger felt by many Arab Americans who feel their heritage and their humanity are being ignored in Trump’s vision of the future.
This shift in sentiment is not unique to Dearborn but extends to other areas of Wayne County as well, particularly in cities like Hamtramck and Dearborn Heights. Historically, Arab Americans in these areas voted in bloc for the Democratic Party, but the political tides have changed in recent years. The anger directed at the Biden administration for its unwavering support of Israel, combined with Harris’ refusal to support an arms embargo, drove many Arab Americans to question their allegiance. Some either abstained from voting in the last election or cast their ballots for third-party candidates like Jill Stein. Others, disillusioned by the Democrats’ approach, turned to Trump in hopes of a new direction, only to find themselves disillusioned once more.
Dearborn Heights Mayor Bill Bazzi and Hamtramck Mayor Amer Ghalib, who had actively campaigned for Trump, have since gone silent in response to the backlash over his Gaza plan. Meanwhile, Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud, who had remained neutral in the election, has publicly criticized Trump’s proposal, calling it “yet another chapter in the ongoing genocide.” Hammoud's condemnation reflects the growing dissatisfaction within the community and the realization that the promises made by Trump may have been too good to be true.
In a bizarre twist, Trump's remarks—although criticized by many—have been reframed by some of his own officials as part of a broader strategy to bring about peace. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt tried to clarify that Trump has not committed to sending troops to Gaza and that the U.S. would not pay for rebuilding efforts. Instead, she framed the plan as a temporary measure that would see Palestinians relocated as Gaza was rebuilt into a new, modern development. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during his first trip as a member of Trump’s Cabinet, called the plan “very generous,” suggesting it would offer Palestinians a new home while Gaza was reconstructed.
However, Trump himself was quick to double down, further stirring controversy. “The Gaza Strip would be turned over to the United States by Israel,” he stated on Truth Social. “The U.S., working with great development teams from all over the world, would slowly and carefully begin the construction of what would become one of the greatest and most spectacular developments of its kind on Earth.” The boldness of this statement has left many, especially Arab Americans, bewildered and outraged. To them, Trump's plan is not only unfeasible but dangerous.
Despite the widespread criticism of Trump’s plan, not all Arab Americans feel that Harris and the Democrats would have done better. Amer Zahr, a progressive activist in Dearborn, explained that for many voters, the choice was not between Trump and Harris, but between the lesser of two evils. “For those of us who voted against the Democratic Party, in whatever form that was … we understood that we would get this guy, and we understood that we would have to deal with this kind of stuff,” Zahr said. He pointed out that the Democrats had the opportunity to address the concerns of the Arab American community but chose not to. All they had asked for was a simple acknowledgment of the need for an arms embargo against Israel, something Harris was unwilling to commit to.
In the end, the political landscape in Dearborn reflects a community caught in a whirlwind of disillusionment, anger, and regret. The Arab American community, once hopeful for change, now finds itself struggling to come to terms with the reality of the choices they made. With Trump’s incendiary remarks about Gaza and his handling of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, many in Dearborn are questioning not just their political allegiance, but the broader direction of American foreign policy. Only time will tell how this chapter unfolds, but for now, Dearborn’s Arab Americans are left reeling from the political whiplash, trying to make sense of the uncharted waters ahead.
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