Michigan Arab Americans Shift Loyalties, Move Away from Trump and Rogers

Four years after Donald Trump's 2024 election victory in Michigan was bolstered by the Arab American community, there's a notable shift in sentiment. Many Detroit-area Arab Americans, who had swung heavily in favor of Trump due to the war in Gaza and cost-of-living concerns, are now expressing disillusionment with the ongoing conflict in Iran and the slow peace process in Gaza. This shift could have significant implications for the battle for Senate control, as former Michigan Rep. Mike Rogers seeks to maintain Trump's gains against Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, a Muslim whose parents are Egyptian immigrants.

The disillusionment stems from what many Arab Americans perceive as broken promises by Trump. Albert Abbas, who presented a peace prize to Trump during his 2024 visit to Dearborn, Michigan, expressed his disappointment. "Did he do that? Did he put American interests first? It's the complete opposite," Abbas said. Michigan Republicans, who had hoped to build sustainable support among the Arab American population, now find themselves struggling to maintain traction in the community.

Hassan Nehme, who served as the Michigan Republican Party's vice chair during the 2024 cycle, echoed these sentiments. "Once the administration got into the White House, everything we were told kind of flip-flopped. We lost all traction. Republicans are kind of dead in the water in the area right now," Nehme said.

The shift in support is also evident among community leaders. Imam Husham Al-Husainy, who backed Trump in 2024 and was scheduled to offer a benediction at the inauguration, now supports El-Sayed due to Trump's perceived reneging on his promise for "no new wars." Amer Ghalib, a former Democratic mayor of Muslim-majority Hamtramck, also backed Trump in 2024 but now emphasizes the importance of regaining the trust of the Arab American community over short-term gains.

Faye Nemer, who leads the Dearborn-based Middle Eastern and North African American Chamber of Commerce, predicts a significant change in sentiment toward Republicans in the midterms. "Many voters, including myself, are now asking whether the policy promises we received bear any resemblance to the reality that we're seeing on the ground," Nemer said.

Rogers has not shied away from branding El-Sayed as a Muslim extremist, attacking him for campaigning with Hasan Piker, a controversial left-wing influencer, and for his response to an attack on a Michigan synagogue earlier this year. El-Sayed has condemned antisemitism throughout his campaign and apologized for his remarks after the synagogue attack.

Meanwhile, conservative outlets have circulated reports linking El-Sayed's father-in-law to the Muslim Brotherhood, a move that Rogers and the National Republican Senatorial Committee have embraced. Trump himself weighed in, calling the election a sign of "jihadists being elected all over the place."

As the midterm elections approach, the battle for the hearts and minds of Michigan's Arab American community is heating up. The shift in support could have a significant impact on the Senate race and the broader political landscape in the state.