Amer Ghalib, the mayor of Hamtramck, a city in Michigan with a majority Muslim population, has publicly endorsed Donald Trump for the 2024 presidential election. Ghalib made this announcement in a passionate Facebook post, shortly after meeting with Trump in Flint, Michigan.
In his post, Ghalib referred to Trump as “the right choice for this critical time,” acknowledging that while they don’t agree on everything, he sees Trump as a “man of principles.”
The meeting between Ghalib and Trump lasted about 20 minutes and covered various topics, including political debates, voting statistics in Michigan, and concerns specific to Arab Americans, particularly Yemeni Americans. Ghalib mentioned that Trump seemed well-informed about him before their meeting.
Following the endorsement, Trump expressed his admiration for Ghalib in a phone call, noting that Ghalib appreciated the lack of wars during Trump’s previous presidency, except for defeating ISIS. Trump claimed that the world was at peace during his administration, contrasting it with current global tensions.
Ghalib shared that Trump asked him to endorse him and to encourage others to vote for him, highlighting the importance of Michigan’s electoral votes, which are seen as competitive for both parties. Ghalib noted that Hamtramck used to be a stronghold for Democrats but is changing politically.
Ghalib, who was elected mayor of Hamtramck in 2021, is the first non-Polish person to hold the position in a century, in a city where over 40% of the population is foreign-born. His endorsement could be significant, as it comes at a time when many Arab voters in Michigan are undecided, potentially impacting the election results.
