Former President Donald J. Trump is attempting to capitalize on President Biden’s declining support among Arab and Muslim Americans due to his backing of Israel in the Gaza conflict. This strategy was evident when Richard Grenell, a former high-ranking official in the Trump administration, met with Arab and Muslim American leaders alongside Michael Boulos, Trump’s son-in-law. Many Arab and Muslim American voters are outraged over Biden’s Israel policy and are considering sitting out the next election, despite having supported him in 2020. Grenell suggested that supporting Trump instead could give this group significant political power.
During the meeting, Grenell emphasized that Arab and Muslim Americans could wield substantial influence by supporting Trump in key battleground states like Michigan. However, attendees found the meeting to be lacking in policy details and were hesitant to commit their support without further information. Despite some attendees being Trump supporters, others had voted for Biden in the previous election. While Grenell attempted to have Trump address the group by phone, the former president only called back after the meeting had concluded.
Despite these efforts, it is unlikely that Trump will garner a majority of Arab and Muslim American votes, given his past policies on issues such as a travel ban on Muslim-majority countries. Politicians and community leaders have critiqued Trump’s outreach efforts as opportunistic and insincere, with some stating that he aims to exploit the current pain felt by Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim American communities. However, even a small shift in support towards Trump could still have significant implications in a close election.
President Biden is facing backlash from Arab and Muslim Americans for his handling of the Gaza conflict, leading to strained communications with the community. This group has been pressuring Biden to take a stronger stance against the war in Gaza and support a cease-fire agreement. The Trump campaign’s outreach efforts are still in the early stages, and while not officially sanctioned by the campaign, they represent an attempt to engage with disaffected Democrat voting blocs.
Attendees at the meeting with Grenell stated that Trump would not immediately call for a permanent cease-fire in Gaza and did not commit to a two-state solution while Hamas remains in power. However, he emphasized that Trump would work towards peace in the region. Attendees expect additional meetings to be set up, with a focus on swing states and discussions about issues like the civil war in Syria. Despite differing opinions on Trump’s policies, many attendees noted the significance of having individuals closely linked to Trump reaching out to the community, signaling further engagement in the future.
