Staff ReportsIn a surprising twist of events just a week after Donald Trump emerged victorious in key Arab-majority cities, he’s appointed a veritable squad of staunch Israel advocates to his administration – including an ambassador to Israel who has audibly dismissed the very existence of Palestinians. This has certainly sent shockwaves through the Arab American and Muslim communities in places like Michigan, where Trump earned their support alongside six other battleground states. It seems that not everyone got the memo that a vote against Kamala Harris doesn’t necessarily equate to a ringing endorsement of Trump.
Many citizens are voicing their feelings of discontent, noting that while Trump has a robust history of standing by Israel, their votes were much more complicated than a carte blanche approval of his policies. Hopes are still alive that Trump will play a pivotal role in fostering peace in the Middle East, although details on how he plans to do so remain as nebulous as a politician’s promise right before election day. The fact that Trump’s advisers who spearheaded outreach to Arab Americans haven’t yet landed any coveted positions is raising eyebrows. It appears the “promise” of outreach may be a one-way street.
Some Arab Americans who voted for Trump are concerned about his picks for key positions https://t.co/KMephcUWik
— National Newswatch (@natnewswatch) November 18, 2024
Take Albert Abbas, a Lebanese American leader who shared the stage with Trump during a late-campaign visit to his brother’s restaurant. Abbas advocates for patience and advises that it may be “too early” to judge Trump. He sure knows how to highlight the bright side, suggesting that one should consider the “alternative” – which, judging by the current administration’s management of international relations, isn’t exactly a glowing review. But surely, the “whatever it takes” mentality doesn’t mean embracing an administration known for its spectacular failures.
While Trump’s proclamations of peace are attractive, the actual pathways to that peace remain murky at best. His transition team, which appears to be somewhat quieter than a mouse at a cat convention, hasn’t taken the bait to comment on any foreign policy specifics. Instead, during the campaign, Trump’s allies spent more time sharpening their verbal daggers aimed at Kamala Harris than laying out a clear agenda. With images depicting the horrors of conflict filling the media, one can understand why many in the Arab community feel less than enthused about Harris and her boss’s cozy relationship with Israel.
Most eyebrows were raised when it came to former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, hailed as Trump’s ambassador to Israel, whose consistent rejection of a Palestinian state has not gone unnoticed. His stance resembles an Olympic gymnast executing a perfect dismount, though it’s hardly a comforting routine for those concerned about regional realities. Other picks, such as Senator Marco Rubio, who favors robust military action, and Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, known for her strong stance against anti-Semitism, reinforce the perception that Trump’s administration is building an unwavering fortress of support for Israel. The Republican Jewish Coalition is practically throwing a confetti parade over the Cabinet choices, deeming it a “pro-Israel dream team.”
For some Arab Americans, supporting Trump came with a hope that meaningful representatives would be integrated into the administration. But thus far, the leading figures in outreach efforts, such as Lebanese businessman Massad Boulos, remain sidelined. That leaves many curious about whether Trump’s promised changes will materialize or if they will find themselves still facing off against an administration seemingly better aligned with Israeli interests than their well-being. All things considered, there’s no doubt that the intrigue surrounding Trump’s foreign policy ventures is just beginning, and only time will tell if this new lineup can deliver the peace many are yearning for.
