President Donald Trump made history in the 2024 election by becoming the first Republican in over two decades to win Dearborn, Michigan—home to the largest Muslim population in the United States. However, as his stance on Gaza takes a drastic turn, some Muslim voters are now expressing regret over their decision to support him.
The key factor behind Trump’s success in Dearborn was the widespread anger within the Muslim community over the Biden administration’s unwavering support for Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. The conflict has claimed the lives of more than 50,000 Palestinians, fueling frustration that led many voters to reject Vice President Kamala Harris and, in some cases, actively support Trump.
But just weeks after his victory, Trump’s latest policy proposal on Gaza has sparked outrage. The president has suggested a plan that many critics say amounts to ethnic cleansing, involving the forced removal of Palestinians from Gaza and a potential U.S. takeover of the region. This has left some in the Muslim community questioning their decision to back him.
According to NPR, some Dearborn voters are now reconsidering the city’s support for Trump, especially given that Harris lost Michigan by a margin of just over 80,000 votes. “It’s like, what did you think? What did you think he was going to do?” said Sam Ali, a Dearborn-based business consultant who abstained from voting for either Trump or Harris.
“What did you think he was going to say? And now people have to live with the consequences of their decision to vote for him.” Abbas Alawieh, a Democratic strategist who spearheaded the “uncommitted” campaign to pressure Biden and Harris into halting arms sales to Israel, ultimately chose to vote for Harris. However, he acknowledged why Trump managed to gain support in Dearborn.
Alawieh told NPR that Trump succeeded because he personally visited Dearborn during the campaign and “lied to a whole bunch of folks, saying that he would be a pro-peace president.”
Now, as Trump’s administration pushes forward with controversial policies on Gaza, those who supported him in protest against Biden’s foreign policy are grappling with a sense of disillusionment. The political fallout from Dearborn’s swing to the GOP could have lasting implications as the U.S. grapples with its role in the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.