DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) 鈥� Residents of the community in the U.S. had plenty to say during the 2024 presidential campaign about the roiling politics in the Middle East. But after President Donald Trump鈥檚 stunning announcement on Tuesday that he wanted to remove Palestinians from Gaza and impose a U.S. takeover in the region, some leaders in were treading far more cautiously.
鈥淧eople are taking a deep breath. It鈥檚 too early to render a judgment. But definitely the past two or three weeks feel unbelievable," said Imad Hamad, executive director of the Dearborn-based American Human Rights Council.
鈥淢any people expressed that concern, that maybe it was a mistake to vote for President Trump," Hamad added. 鈥淎nd now this is an eye-opener to take into consideration to the 2026 elections.鈥�
So far, at least, no one has retreated from the of Democrats that some say cost Vice President Kamala Harris the crucial state of Michigan in November. But many are struggling to come to terms with the audacious plan Trump announced Tuesday to turn Gaza into what he described as the 鈥淩iviera of the Middle East," possibly using U.S. troops.
Trump鈥檚 top diplomat and his main spokesperson on Wednesday the idea that he wants the permanent relocation of Palestinians from Gaza, after American allies and even Republican lawmakers rebuffed his suggestion that the U.S. take 鈥渙wnership鈥� of the territory.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said he only sought to move roughly 1.8 million Gazans temporarily to allow for reconstruction. Even that proposal has drawn widespread criticism in the Arab world.
While no mass protests were planned in the Detroit area as of yet following Trump鈥檚 remarks, community leaders 鈥� many of whom refrained from endorsing Harris鈥� bid but also did not back Trump 鈥� were more forceful in their response.
U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, who represents Dearborn and is the only Palestinian American serving in Congress, called Trump's comments 鈥渇anatical bullsh鈥斺�� and said 鈥淧alestinians aren鈥檛 going anywhere.鈥� Dearborn's Mayor Abdullah Hammoud said Trump's comments were 鈥測et another chapter in the ongoing genocide.鈥�
Trump became the first Republican presidential candidate in over two decades to win Dearborn, where Arab Americans make up close to half of the city's 110,000 residents. His success came after he became the only major presidential the Detroit suburb on Nov. 1, and vowed at a local restaurant to bring 鈥減eace in the Middle East.鈥�
Faye Nemer, founder of the Dearborn-based MENA (Middle Eastern North African) American Chamber of Commerce, was among those in the community that welcomed Trump to The Great Commoner on Nov. 1. Nemer said Wednesday that some of Trump's comments relating to the Middle East have 鈥渂een extremely, extremely concerning to the community.鈥�
鈥淗e鈥檚 been in office for two weeks, and in those two weeks, he鈥檚 made some very extreme remarks,鈥� she said.
Nemer added that she believes Trump's comments may be a 鈥渘egotiating tactic鈥� and urged the president to continue working toward a two-state solution.
鈥淗e was very vocal that if that鈥檚 what the Palestinians want, that he would be in favor and supportive of those efforts. So, now we were just asking President Trump and his administration to remain committed to those ideals,鈥� Nemer said.
Some have begun to distance themselves from Trump after his joint press conference Tuesday at the White House with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. During the event, Trump proposed that the U.S. take 鈥渙wnership鈥� in redeveloping the area into 鈥渢he Riviera of the Middle East.鈥�
Lebanese American Rola Makki, the Muslim vice chair for outreach of the Michigan Republican Party, said in a statement sent to The Associated Press that although she supported Trump in the last election, 鈥淚 don't agree with his recent stance on Gaza.鈥�
鈥淚 believe the U.S. should take a more hands-off approach to the Middle East, focusing on diplomacy and avoiding further entanglement,鈥� Makki said. 鈥淭his was the approach President Trump took during his last presidency, and I think it was more effective.鈥�
A group formerly known as Arab Americans for Trump, which played a key role in Trump鈥檚 voter outreach to the Arab American community 鈥� much of it in Dearborn 鈥� as Arab Americans for Peace following Trump鈥檚 comments Tuesday. In a statement, the group said it takes 鈥渋ssue with the president鈥檚 suggestion of taking over Gaza鈥� and criticized Trump for not meeting with 鈥渒ey Arab leaders, including the Palestinian president, to hear their views.鈥�
Yet, some of Trump鈥檚 most vocal Arab American supporters on the campaign trail remained silent Wednesday.
Hamtramck Mayor Amer Ghalib and Dearborn Heights Mayor Bill Bazzi 鈥� both Democratic mayors of Michigan cities with large Arab and Muslim populations who endorsed Trump and appeared on stage with him 鈥� did not respond to calls or text messages seeking comment.
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Joey Cappelletti And Mike Householder, The Associated Press
