Staff Reports
A group of Arab American supporters and political advocates are gathering for a closed-door dinner in Michigan to meet with Richard Grenell, who served as Donald Trump’s Ambassador to Germany. Although Grenell is not officially part of Trump’s campaign, the former president highly respects him and might consider him for a top national security role if he wins the election. This comes at a time when Muslim and Arab Americans are feeling unsettled with President Joe Biden’s approach to the Israel-Gaza conflict, according to sources.
Former Trump official setting up Michigan meeting to recruit Arab voters abandoning Biden https://t.co/BdyB6pBsWZ
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) May 21, 2024
Recent polling data from The New York Times and Siena College shows a significant shift in support among Arab and Muslim voters. In battleground states, Trump is leading Biden 57% to 25%, a stark contrast to four years ago when Biden secured 56% of this group’s votes. Additionally, during Michigan’s Democratic primary, 94% of Muslim voters chose to vote “uncommitted” in protest against Biden, indicating their dissatisfaction with the President’s actions.
Yahya Basha, a Syrian American physician who has worked with the past three administrations, has helped organize this meeting. While Basha has not made a firm decision on his vote, he is interested in learning about the potential changes Trump could bring compared to Biden’s policies. Basha criticized Biden for his failure to impose sanctions on Syrian President Bashar Assad and expressed disappointment in the administration’s overall approach to the region.
Another voter, Haytham Albizem, who initially supported Biden, has shifted his allegiance to Trump for the upcoming election. Arab leaders are particularly critical of Biden’s lack of engagement with their community during the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Despite some Arab Americans’ previous concerns about Trump’s support for Israel, they are drawn to his strong stance on dealing with Iran. This meeting in Michigan is just the beginning, with more gatherings planned in swing states as part of Trump’s outreach to Arab community leaders.
