As President Joe Biden unequivocally expressed his support for Israel following the Hamas terror attack, tensions rose among Muslim and Arab American communities in Michigan. Ahmad Ramadan, a former Biden adviser and current leader of the coalition efforts for the Michigan Democratic Party, raised concerns about the discontent and frustration spreading among his constituents.
With one of the largest Muslim and Arab American populations in the country, Michigan played a significant role in securing Biden’s victory in the critical swing state. However, Ramadan and other Democratic leaders in the state were now hearing expressions of disappointment and threats of withholding support for Biden in future elections.
Through a series of roundtable discussions with Muslim community leaders in the two weeks since the attack, Ramadan discovered that the main takeaway was one of deep disappointment. People felt betrayed by President Biden’s actions and accused him of lying to them. Ramadan shared, “President Biden won with historic numbers in 2020. And I was proud to represent that, but the last two weeks have really shifted things. I’ve also been getting calls from people saying, ‘I have blood on my hands because I got people out to support him during that campaign.'”
Muslim Americans constitute a small minority of the U.S. population, but their numbers are rapidly growing, making them a key demographic for both political parties. Historically, Democrats have been successful in garnering their support, especially as policies implemented by former President Donald Trump, like the travel ban impacting predominantly Muslim countries, alienated Muslim communities. However, Muslim leaders now caution that Democrats risk losing their support if they do not take stronger steps to combat Islamophobia and address the pain resulting from the conflict in Gaza.
According to State Rep. Alabas Farhat, a Democrat representing Dearborn, home to one of the largest Muslim and Arab American communities in the country, “Joe Biden has single-handedly alienated almost every Arab-American and Muslim American voter in Michigan.” Farhat highlights the concerns of his constituents who have family members trapped in Gaza and feel abandoned by the U.S. government’s lack of action to help them and pressure Israel for a cease-fire. “The Biden administration and Democrats as a whole are going to have to do a lot of work to rebuild some level of trust with my community,” Farhat asserts.
In an effort to mobilize their constituents for the upcoming election, discussions among Muslim elected officials, activists, and community leaders have centered around encouraging their community members to vote but leave the presidential section blank as a form of protest. “That’s the plan right now,” says Farhat. “I think there’s going to be a lot of people that remember when you won Michigan years ago by a razor-thin margin, when you won Georgia with a razor-thin margin, when you won Arizona by a razor-thin margin – do not be surprised if there are consequences for your actions.”
Moreover, some constituents are considering voting Republican due to feelings of being duped and used by Democrats, while appreciating the Republicans’ unwavering support for Israel. “President Biden, not all of America is with you on this one and you need to wake up and understand that,” expressed Michigan Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib during a cease-fire rally.
The White House and Biden’s campaign acknowledge the concerns voiced by Muslim leaders and assure that they are working to address them. Biden’s Oval Office address included calls for aid to Palestinian civilians, urging Israel to exercise restraint, and reassuring Muslim Americans that they are seen and valued. “The President and this administration have been unequivocal: there is no place for Islamophobia, xenophobia, or any of the vile racism we have seen in recent weeks,” stated Ammar Moussa, a spokesperson for the Biden campaign. The administration has also taken steps to combat Islamophobia, such as reinstating the White House’s Eid celebration and coordinating federal efforts in this regard.
However, some Muslim American leaders believe that Biden’s comments in the address were insufficient. Dr. Mahmoud Hadidi, Chairman of the Michigan Muslim Community Council, expressed his disappointment, stating, “There’s a lot more that President Biden, who had a lot of support from the community here, could have said or done to show concern for the civilians trapped in this unfortunate situation in Gaza.”
Muslims make up 1.3% of the U.S. population, a smaller demographic compared to the Jewish population. However, their votes have the potential to sway election outcomes, particularly in battleground states like Michigan, Minnesota, Georgia, and Arizona. Michigan, with an estimated 240,000 Muslims, was won by Biden in 2020 by a 150,000-vote margin. In 2016, Trump won the state by a little over 10,700 votes.
Nada Al-Hanooti, Executive Director of Emgage Michigan, emphasizes the critical nature of the Muslim vote for Biden and advises, “The president cannot win without the Muslim vote, point blank.” However, she reveals that many individuals have expressed their intentions to either refrain from voting in the 2024 election or vote for a third-party candidate as a result of feeling betrayed.
The competition for votes in states like Michigan, with narrow margins in recent elections, prompts various groups to assert their influence and push for their concerns to be prioritized by the White House. While some demands from Muslim Americans may be nonstarters for Biden, it is crucial for him to secure every vote possible in states like Michigan.
The repercussions of Biden’s response to the Hamas attack have been palpable, particularly in Dearborn, where the city’s mayor has used social media to criticize him and other officials for being “silently complicit in some of the most horrific war crimes our eyes have witnessed, funded by our tax dollars.” With tensions running high, it is essential for Biden to reevaluate his approach and policies to regain the trust and confidence of Muslim American communities.
Amer Zahr, President of New Generation for Palestine, a network of primarily young Palestinian Americans based in Dearborn, underscores the prevailing sentiment among those feeling betrayed by Biden. He states, “People are feeling…
