Trump campaign courts Arab American and Muslim voters in Michigan
The Trump campaign has expressed interest in reaching out to Arab American and Muslim voters in Michigan, according to a Republican activist in Dearborn.
Before a Donald Trump rally Saturday night in Waterford Township, officials with his campaign met at a hotel in Oakland County near the rally site with various local Republicans, including three in the Arab American community, said Mike Hacham, of Dearborn, a Republican who supports Trump.
Michigan has the highest concentration of residents with Middle Eastern ancestry and their votes may be up for grabs amid frustration with President Joe Biden over his policies in Gaza. Some Arab Americans have launched an 'Abandon Biden' campaign and similar efforts calling upon voters to select "uncommitted" or vote for anyone besides Biden in Michigan's Feb. 27 presidential primary.
Hacham said after the general meeting Saturday with Trump campaign officials, he and a few others had a sidebar meeting with them. He said the officials mentioned there will be future discussions and an online meeting about "what can the Trump campaign do for Arab Americans and ... Muslim Americans."
During the rally, Rola Makki, of Dearborn, vice president of outreach for the Michigan GOP, was seen in the audience wearing a hijab, the Islamic headscarf, and a red pullover that read in white letters: "Arab Americans for Trump." Makki has previously criticized Democrats for supporting some LGBTQ books in Dearborn public schools that she and others said were too sexually explicit. Makki and Hacham have been active in the GOP in Michigan, saying the party has been reaching out to minority communities. Three of the vice chairs in the Michigan GOP are Muslim.
On Feb. 1, Hacham was one of the protesters demonstrating against Biden in Warren for his Gaza policies outside a UAW hall where Biden campaigned. Hacham had a megaphone with him as he and others spoke out against Biden. And Saturday night, Hacham was at the Trump rally. He said there were a number of Arab Americans, Chaldeans and Muslims who attended.
More: Biden officials visit Dearborn for intense meetings on Gaza with advocates, politicians
It's unclear how much of a factor the Arab American vote may be this year. There are now about 310,000 Michiganders with Middle Eastern ancestry, but it's a diverse group with varying views. Iraqi Americans are the largest group among Michigan's Middle Eastern population and a majority of them are Chaldeans, according to census data. Chaldeans, who are Iraqi Catholics, have leaned Republican in recent elections and have been spotted at Trump rallies over the years, though some were upset over deportations of Chaldeans when he was president. Trump mentioned the Chaldean community in 2020 when he held a rally in Warren. It doesn't appear Trump mentioned Arab Americans or Chaldeans at the Waterford rally Saturday night. In the fall of 2016, some Middle Eastern advocates in Michigan met with Trump during his campaign stop in Novi.
In November 2022, Republicans made some inroads in Dearborn precincts with sizable numbers of Arab American voters amid anger over the Democrats' liberal views on some social issues such as certain LGBTQ books in public schools. A Free Press analysis of precincts showed that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer had a 40-point drop in one precinct that's more than 90% Arab American Muslim. Even U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit, who is of Arab descent and represents Dearborn, had reduced support compared to previous House Democrats because she was seen as too liberal on social issues. But Whitmer, Tlaib and other Democrats such as Attorney General Dana Nessel did end up winning the city of Dearborn overall despite the backlash.
The Israel-Hamas war has further alienated Arab Americans in cities such as Dearborn and Hamtramck, where some elected officials such as Hamtramck Mayor Amer Ghalib are encouraging voters to choose "uncommitted" on Feb. 27. Ghalib had a town hall last year with Michael Flynn, Trump's former national security adviser, and said he refused to meet with Biden officials when they visited Dearborn recently.
Arab Americans and Muslims in Michigan have supported Republican candidates before. Several groups endorsed George W. Bush in 2000 after he came to Dearborn to meet with community leaders. Former U.S. Sen. Spencer Abraham, a Republican, was Arab American and garnered support in Dearborn.
Hacham was encouraged by the rally and meeting, saying he hopes to be "building that bridge between the two" groups. He said that people who once supported or voted for Biden have reached out to him.
"A lot of these people ... are saying that they regret helping Biden ... voting for Biden," he said.
At the same time, Hacham said some of them are not sure about Trump, though are interested in hearing what he may offer.
Contact Niraj Warikoo: nwarikoo@freepress.com or X @nwarikoo
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Trump campaign reaches out to Arab Americans in Michigan
