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

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

The Arab American community's shift in support is a direct result of Trump's perceived broken promises and the GOP's perceived Islamophobic and racist attacks on El-Sayed. Albert Abbas, who presented a peace prize to Trump during his 2024 visit to Dearborn, Michigan, expressed his disappointment, stating, "Did he do that? Did he put American interests first? It's the complete opposite."

Michigan Republicans, who once hoped to build sustainable support among the state's Arab American population, now see community leaders shifting ranks. Hassan Nehme, who served as the Michigan Republican Party's vice chair during the 2024 cycle, said, "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."

Dearborn-based Imam Husham Al-Husainy, who backed Trump in 2024 and was slated to offer a benediction at the inauguration, now supports El-Sayed due to Trump's recantation on his promise for "no new wars." Amer Ghalib, a former Democratic mayor of Muslim-majority Hamtramck, echoed these sentiments, stating that Republicans "should be more concerned about losing the long-term trust of the Arab American community than about losing the gains they made in 2024."

Faye Nemer, who leads the Dearborn-based Middle Eastern and North African American Chamber of Commerce, predicts a "change in sentiment" in her community toward Republicans during 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," she said.

In the midst of this shift, Rogers has not shied away from branding his opponent as a Muslim extremist. He has criticized El-Sayed for campaigning with Hasan Piker, a prominent and 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.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee's first ad of the general election called the Democratic nominee by his full name, Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed. Trump himself weighed in, calling the country "seeing jihadists being elected all over the place" the week El-Sayed won the Democratic primary.

This shift in support among Michigan's Arab American community could have far-reaching consequences for the state's political future. As the midterm elections approach, the battle for Senate control in Michigan will be closely watched to see if this shift in sentiment translates into votes.