Trump Gives Arab-Americans The Middle Finger

Buyers-Remorse Already Sets In

It’s been only a week since the most contentious, critical, consequential election in American history. And already President-elect Donald Trump is throwing key cohorts under the proverbial bus.

He’s starting with Arab-Americans who, angered by the Biden Administration’s support for Israel and its impact on Gaza, punished Kamala Harris for it and helped Trump win.

In Dearborn, MI, for example, which has one of the largest concentrations of Arab-American populations in the country (roughly half the city’s population), Harris received less than half of the voters Biden got in 2020. Trump won 43-36. Third-party candidate Jill Stein took 18% which, for all intents and purposes, is the equivalent of voting for Trump.

The warnings signs for Democrats were quite clear and first arose back in February when 100,000 “uncommitted” votes (13%) were cast in the Michigan primary. As the war in Israel and Gaza waged on, the anger in the Arab-American community heightened. And on November 5th, they vented in a big, impactful way.

Further demonstrating this disappointment and anger with the administration’s support for Israel, Michigan Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, herself a Palestinian-American, announced in the days leading up to the election that she would not be endorsing Harris. Symbolically, it was the 15th round final punch on Harris.

So how is Trump paying back Arab-Americans? On Tuesday he named former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee U.S. Ambassador to Israel. Same Huckabee who’s on record saying that there was “no such thing as a Palestinian.” Same Huckabee who supports Israel annexing the West Bank.

Trump is also expected to name Florida Sen. Marco Rubio as Secretary of State. Rubio is a staunch supporter of Israel and the war in Gaza.

That’s what payback looks like when you’re loyal to Donald Trump. The loyalty only runs one way.

Not surprisingly, buyers-remorse is already starting to set in.

"They didn't vote for Trump because they believe Trump is the best candidate," Osama Siblani, publisher of The Arab American News, told Politico. "No, they voted for Trump because they want to punish the Democrats and Harris."

"It's clear as day that he's playing us," Alawieh added of Trump. "I think he's going to target us. That's what he's going to do. He's going to target our families, and it's going to hurt. So, I think we're about to find out."

The expression, ‘careful what you wish for’ comes to mind. And it’s further evidence that ‘protest votes’ can be very, very dangerous. Sadly, many suspect it’s likely going to get much worse before it gets better…if it gets better.