In a surprising turn during the final stretch of the 2024 U.S. presidential campaign, Donald Trump managed to secure significant support from Muslim voters by promising to end the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. His appeal resonated especially in Dearborn, Michigan, home to the largest Arab-American community in the U.S., where preliminary results showed Trump narrowly leading, a sharp contrast to the decisive win Joe Biden had in 2020.
Trump’s campaign message of peace in the Middle East, particularly focusing on the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict, appeared to strike a chord with many voters in the Arab-American community, who have long been frustrated with the U.S. government’s unwavering support for Israel. “People got the message that Trump is trying to bring peace to the Middle East and to the whole world,” said Bill Bazzi, mayor of Dearborn Heights, Michigan, and a Lebanese-American. Bazzi, who campaigned for Trump, added that the president’s push for diplomacy would be a priority in his new term.
Trump’s message stood in stark contrast to that of Vice President Kamala Harris, whose alliance with former Republican lawmaker Liz Cheney alienated many in the Arab-American community, particularly due to her stance on the Iraq War and her support for Israel during the Gaza conflict. Trump’s campaign was also bolstered by connections to the Lebanese-American community, thanks to his son-in-law Michael Boulos, whose father, Massad Boulos, played a significant role in his outreach to Arab-American voters.
While Trump has positioned himself as a strong ally of Israel, he also made clear his commitment to ending the conflict, promising Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu that he would “finish the job” against Hamas in Gaza. However, his supporters argue that when pressed for clarification, Trump’s intention was to “stop the war” and seek diplomatic solutions.
As the election results continue to unfold, Trump’s appeal to Muslim voters appears to be a key factor in his campaign’s success in traditionally left-leaning communities like Dearborn, a shift that could have lasting implications for the future of American politics.
