Amer Ghalib, first Muslim mayor of Yemeni origin, supports Donald Trump

Amer Ghalib, the first Muslim mayor of Yemeni origin in the United States elected in June 2023, supported Donald Trump’s candidacy for the 2024 presidential election. Mayor Hamtramck, a city in the suburbs of Detroit, in the Michigan, is at the center of this political announcement which provoked various reactions.

Former President Trump, who said he was honored by this support, made a brief visit to Hamtramck on Friday, October 18, where he was warmly welcomed by Mayor Amer Ghalib. The latter described the visit as“historical” and expressed his admiration for Trump, whom he describes as a “man of principles” And “the right choice in this critical period“. Despite disagreements on certain political issues, the mayor made it clear that he did not regret his decision, saying on Facebook: “I will not regret my decision, whatever the outcome, and I am ready to take responsibility for it. consequences “.

Ghalib’s support for Trump, a former president who implemented anti-immigration policies, surprised some observers, particularly because of the multicultural nature of Hamtramck, where more than 40% of the population is Muslim, mainly from countries like Yemen and Bangladesh.

The rally follows a private meeting between Ghalib and Trump, during which they discussed issues important to the Arab-American and Yemeni community. Although Trump has taken hardline stances on issues such as immigration, Ghalib believes the former president offers a pragmatic approach to the country’s current challenges.

However, this support was not unanimous among Muslim voters. Some, interviewed by Newsweek, also expressed “doubts” about candidate Kamala Harris, the current vice-president, particularly in the context of the massacres in Gaza which have provoked strong indignation within the Muslim community. This difference of opinion reflects the political tensions that persist, both within the Muslim community and across the American electoral landscape.