In Dearborn, Michigan, Yemeni-American activist Samraa Luqman expressed no regrets about voting for President Donald Trump in the 2024 election, despite his pro-war and anti-immigration policies. Luqman emphasized that the community found it untenable to support Democrats as the conflict in Gaza escalated, describing it as "a pill we were willing to swallow in order to hold the Democratic Party accountable."

An analysis by Al Jazeera of election results in heavily Arab precincts in east Dearborn revealed that approximately 45% of votes went to Trump, 29% to Green Party candidate Jill Stein, and only 16% to Democratic nominee Kamala Harris. This shift reflects a significant decline in Democratic popularity among Arab Americans, attributed to President Joe Biden's refusal to push for a ceasefire in Gaza and continued military aid to Israel amid the killing of tens of thousands in Palestine and Lebanon.

Amer Zahr, a comedian and Dearborn Board of Education trustee, remarked, "We were his first victims in 2017," referring to Trump’s policies.

Looking ahead to the upcoming Democratic primary and general elections, Luqman stated she will support Michigan’s Abdul El-Sayed and Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, both outspoken critics of Israel. US Arabs are rallying behind El-Sayed despite opposition and significant spending against him by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).

Arab Americans in Michigan who withheld support for Kamala Harris in 2024 have made clear they will not back pro-Israel candidates going forward.

Sources