Detroit-Area Muslim Mayor Endorses Trump, Wants Gaza Cease-Fire

HAMTRAMCK, MI — Hamtramck Mayor Amer Ghalib, who is Muslim and a Yemeni immigrant, endorsed former President Donald Trump Sunday evening, just days after he met Trump at a campaign event in Flint last week.

"President Trump and I may not agree on everything, but I know he is a man of principles," Ghalib said in the endorsement post. "Though it is looking good, he may or may not win the election and be the 47th president of the United States, but I believe he is the right choice for this critical time."

In a social media video, Ghalib said he discussed many things with Trump at the Flint town hall, including a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas War in Gaza.

"He assured that his goal is to end the chaos in the Middle East and elsewhere. He doesn't want wars," Ghalib said in the video.

The endorsement was quickly touted by the Trump campaign, as it could have significant implications on the race in Michigan.

Some in Michigan's large Arab-American and Muslim communities, including the Uncommitted National Movement, have criticized President Joe Biden's administration for its response to Israel's counteroffensive in the war in Gaza after the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks.

Leaders of the Uncommitted National Movement led more than 100,000 people to vote "uncommitted" in Michigan's Democratic presidential primary in February in protest of the fighting.

The group has not endorsed Trump, but they also refuse to support Vice President Kamala Harris, arguing that she has not done enough to stop U.S. weapons from reaching Israel in its war against Hamas in Gaza.

Ghalib was elected mayor in 2021 when he ousted longtime incumbent mayor Karen Majewski. More than 40 percent of Hamtramck's population now is foreign-born, including many of those with Yemeni descent, including to data from the U.S. Census data.

Many national polls show Harris with a slight lead over Trump in Michigan. In 2020, President Joe Biden defeated Trump in Michigan by roughly 154,000 votes. In 2016, Trump defeated Hillary Clinton by less than 16,000 votes.