In a notable shift among Arab and Muslim American voters; a demographic that leaned towards Biden in the 2020 elections, Republican candidate Donald Trump is now ahead of Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in terms of support received in various polls among Arab voters. Trump garnered 45% support from Arab voters, while Harris received 43% according to the “Arab News–YouGov” poll conducted from September 26 to October 1. In another poll by the “Arab Institute,” conducted in October, Trump had 42% support while Harris received 41%.
Former President and current Republican candidate Donald Trump is placing significant emphasis on attracting diverse voter groups, including those of Muslim and Arab descent. He understands the necessity of winning over voters in swing states that could sway the results of the upcoming presidential elections, much like Michigan, which has hundreds of thousands of Arab voters among an electorate of up to 6 million. Trump won Michigan against Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton in 2016 by a margin of 10,000 votes, but lost it by 100,000 votes in the 2020 election to President Joe Biden.
Trump’s Moves
Trump’s campaign has adopted a series of measures aimed at appealing to American voters of Arab and Muslim descent. Here are the key steps:
Exploiting the Israeli War in Gaza: Trump leverages the U.S. foreign policy files regarding the Middle East, especially concerning the Israeli war on Gaza and the Biden administration’s failure to resolve it. He discusses the failures of the Biden-Harris administration while asserting his ability to end this war as soon as he assumes the presidency. He stated that the Israeli military should “end the situation quickly” in Gaza, a sentiment that resonates with voters of Arab and Muslim backgrounds concerned about the Gaza conflict.
Promoting His Commitment to Conservative Family Values: Voters of Arab and Muslim descent are interested in family cohesion and reject ideas surrounding homosexuality and gender transitions. This aligns with Trump’s own stance, as he openly opposes ideas of homosexuality and gender identity changes that are permitted for teenagers in the United States. He reflects the belief that adolescence is a time when individuals’ thoughts and orientations can change frequently, making it inappropriate to allow teenagers to undergo medical and surgical procedures during this period.
Talking About His Arab-Descended Grandchild: Despite previous rhetoric from Trump showcasing clear bias against Arabs and Muslims over the years, along with executive actions signed in 2017 to bar citizens from certain Muslim and Arab countries from entering the U.S. for three months, Trump has recently employed a softer tone towards Arabs and Muslims. He praised them as “smart and kind” and expressed joy that his soon-to-be-born grandchild, from daughter Tiffany Trump, will have Arab roots.
Inviting Muslim and Arab Leaders to Campaign Events: During campaign events in Michigan, Trump invited several notable Muslim and Arab figures in the state, including Imam Bilal Zuhairy, who joined him on stage and referred to Trump as the “candidate of peace.” Trump indicated that voters of Arab descent in Dearborn, Michigan, have the power to “turn the election one way or another,” describing the leaders with him on stage as “prominent figures of the Muslim community.”
Linking Harris’s Republican Supporters to American Wars in the Middle East: The former president expressed discontent with certain Republican figures who joined Harris’s campaign, notably former Republican Representative Liz Cheney from Wyoming. Trump highlighted her family background, noting her father, Dick Cheney, who also supported Harris, played a significant role in involving Washington in prolonged wars in the Middle East, such as Iraq and Afghanistan, costing the U.S. financially and in lives. This serves as a clear signal to Arab voters that those close to Harris are “war hawks,” implying her policies may further sustain conflicts within Gaza or extend to other regional nations. He posted on his “Truth Social” platform, stating, “If Kamala gets another four years, the Middle East will be ablaze for the next four decades.”
Counter Moves
Despite Trump’s efforts to attract Muslim and Arab voters, these moves encounter counteractions from Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, which can be summarized as follows:
Harris’s Efforts to Undermine Trump’s Accusations: On the other hand, Democrats are attempting various strategies to appeal to voters of Arab and Muslim backgrounds. Harris has expressed her desire to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people and supports implementing a “two-state solution,” showcasing the economic, health, and climate support provided to all Americans, including Arab and Muslim Americans, while promoting her defense of abortion rights.
However, this discourse, particularly regarding ending the war in Gaza, is deemed ineffective by voters, especially since the Biden administration continues to send arms shipments to Israel and has repeatedly proclaimed Israel’s “right to defend itself” without applying sufficient pressure on Tel Aviv to end the conflict, as noted by several Arab and Muslim leaders during their meeting with Harris in Flint, Michigan, earlier in October.
Utilizing Popular Democratic Figures: Democrats are leveraging the popularity of Democratic figures like former President Barack Obama, who has Muslim ancestry, to address Arab and Muslim American voters, conveying that they should not trust someone like former President Trump, who previously imposed travel bans on them. His rhetoric seems to create a divide between American citizens of Arab and Muslim descent and the rest of the American population, underlining that all are ultimately American citizens with no distinction among them.
Trying to Attract Hesitant Republicans and Trump Detractors: Democrats are using well-known Republican figures who oppose Trump to sway Republican voters who dislike him or are undecided. For this reason, Harris’s campaign reached out to former Representative Liz Cheney, who appeared with Harris in three swing states, asserting that Harris values the U.S. Constitution and law, and could be a role model for American children. She warned voters about the potential ramifications if Trump wins again, emphasizing that his presence in the White House would bolster “American isolationism from the rest of the world.” While this move aims at engaging voters broadly, it serves as a reminder to Arab and Muslim voters that aligning with Trump might undermine American democracy.
A Clear Position
In conclusion, the success of Trump in attracting votes from American Muslims or voters of Arab descent will ultimately be assessed after the U.S. presidential election concludes, reviewing the final voting rates for each candidate. However, overall comments from Arab and Muslim American voters in opinion pieces and polls indicate that they do not believe Harris’s administration will significantly differ from President Biden’s administration, especially regarding foreign policy issues. Thus, the inclination may lean more towards Trump, who appears more decisive in his statements about ending ongoing wars compared to Harris, who does not take a clear stance on the matter, despite Trump also supporting Israel and believing in its right to “self-defense.”
