Mayor of only Muslim-majority city in US endorses Donald Trump for President

As the 2024 US presidential election approaches, endorsements for both Democratic candidate Kamala Harris and Republican Donald Trump are intensifying. In the latest development, the only US city with a Muslim-majority city council and population, Hamtramck in Michigan, has seen its mayor endorse Republican Trump for the upcoming November 5 election.
Michigan, a key swing state, is expected to play a decisive role in the election. Recent polls show a close race between Trump and Harris, with The New York Times reporting a slight lead for Harris at 50% to Trump’s 47%.
Amer Ghalib, Hamtramck’s mayor, took to Facebook to announce his endorsement of Trump, calling him a “man of principles”.

“Let me be clear, so our expectations are realistic. President Trump and I may not agree on everything, but I know he is a man of principles. Though it’s 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,” Ghalib wrote.
“I’ll not regret my decision no matter what the outcome would be, and I’m ready to face the consequences. For this, and for many other reasons, I announce my support and endorsement for the former, and hopefully, the next President of the United States, Donald Trump. Now, let the Caravan begin its journey. This is just the starting point,” he added.
Shortly after, Trump reposted Ghalib’s endorsement on his Truth Social account.
Trump told Breitbart News that he was “very impressed” with Ghalib’s move.
“He was a big fan of the Trump administration because he saw no wars — outside of defeating ISIS, which I inherited. There were no wars. There was no October 7. There was no Russian attack on Ukraine. He told me he saw a world at peace. Now, we have a world heading toward World War 3, and I can stop that. I’m the only one who can stop that,” Donald Trump told Breitbart News.
Hamtramck, a city of around 28,000 residents, gained national attention in 2021 when it became the first US city to elect a Muslim-majority city council and a Muslim mayor. Ghalib, who emigrated from Yemen at the age of 17, recently met Trump at a town hall in Flint, Michigan, where they discussed issues affecting Arab and Muslim Americans.
Ghalib said Trump requested his endorsement during their conversation, according to The Detroit News.
Ghalib’s endorsement also reflects dissatisfaction with the Democratic Party among some Arab and Muslim Americans.
A year into Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza, Ghalib and his community have criticised the Biden administration’s air strikes on Yemen, citing frustration over US foreign policy.
Earlier this year, Ghalib turned down the Conference of US Mayors, protesting US military actions in the Middle East, which he believes have alienated many Arab and Muslim voters, according to the Middle East Eye.