Trump
Donald Trump continued his campaign efforts in Michigan, appealing for votes in the Detroit suburb of Novi while taking aim at the city itself. Speaking to supporters on Saturday, Trump criticized Detroit, calling it an example of a “developing nation.”
He admitted that people often urge him to say the city is “great,” but he instead argued that it “needs help.” The event in Novi, following a Friday night rally in Traverse City, underscores Michigan’s critical role in the upcoming presidential election.
With over 1.4 million ballots already submitted—representing 20% of registered voters—the state is shaping up to be a major battleground.
Michigan has swung between political parties in recent elections. Trump won the state in 2016, but Joe Biden carried it in 2020. This year, with Vice President Kamala Harris running in place of Biden, Michigan’s significant Arab American and Muslim population has become a crucial demographic.
Many of these voters are dissatisfied with the Biden administration’s support for Israel, particularly its ongoing military campaign in Gaza.
During his rally, Trump spotlighted several local Muslim and Arab American leaders who joined him on stage, emphasizing the importance of their support. He noted that these voters “could turn the election one way or the other,” and expressed confidence in securing “overwhelming support” from Arab and Muslim communities in Michigan.
Among those who spoke in favor of Trump was Dearborn Heights Mayor Bill Bazzi, who praised Trump’s foreign policy record, saying, “When President Trump was president, it was peace. We didn’t have any issues. There were no wars.”
Trump’s outreach to Arab and Muslim Americans marks a stark shift from the community’s historical alignment with the Democratic Party. For years, Arab and Muslim Americans viewed the Democratic Party as their political home.
However, the Biden administration’s unwavering support for Israel’s military actions in Gaza has alienated many voters in this demographic.
Kamala Harris, who is now the Democratic presidential candidate, has faced backlash from Arab and Muslim communities after affirming that she would not change Biden’s pro-Israel policies.
The Israeli offensive on Gaza has resulted in the deaths of nearly 43,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has worsened, with widespread shortages of essential supplies such as food, water, medicine, and electricity.
Millions of residents have been displaced due to the ongoing conflict. In addition to the devastation in Gaza, Israel has killed over 2,600 people in Lebanon since October 2023 and escalated tensions further by launching strikes against Iran.
Trump’s supporters, including Republican Representative Darrell Issa of California—himself the grandson of Lebanese immigrants—argue that Trump’s Middle East policies would bring greater stability to the region.
Issa told reporters that Trump has built strong relationships with leaders in the Middle East, which, he believes, could help foster peace and security.
As Trump continues to campaign for votes in Michigan, his efforts to attract Arab and Muslim American voters may prove decisive in this tightly contested swing state. His criticism of Detroit and his appeal to disenchanted voters underscore his strategy to flip key communities in the race for the White House.
I am a dynamic professional, specializing in Peace and Conflict Studies, Conflict Management and Resolution, and International Relations. My expertise is particularly focused on South Asian Conflicts and the intricacies of the Indian Ocean and Asia Pacific Politics. With my skills as a Content Writer, I serve as a bridge between academia and the public, translating complex global issues into accessible narratives. My passion for fostering understanding and cooperation on the national and international stage drives me to make meaningful contributions to peace and global discourse.
