Trump’s Pro-Israel Cabinet Choices Leave Muslim Supporters Feeling Betrayed

[Social Media]

 

Muslim Americans who supported Donald Trump in protest against the Biden administration’s policies on the Israel-Gaza conflict have expressed deep disappointment in his pro-Israel cabinet selections. Trump’s decisions to nominate key officials known for their staunch support of Israel have left many feeling betrayed, especially given the promises of peace and stability that had drawn their votes.  

 

“We are very disappointed,” said Rexhinaldo Nazarko, executive director of the American Muslim Engagement and Empowerment Network (AMEEN). “It seems like this administration has been packed entirely with neoconservatives and extremely pro-Israel, pro-war people, which is a failure on the side of President Trump, to the pro-peace and anti-war movement.”  

 

Key appointments include Senator Marco Rubio, who was chosen as Secretary of State. Rubio, a vocal supporter of Israel, recently rejected calls for a ceasefire in Gaza, asserting that Israel should destroy “every element” of Hamas. Trump also selected former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee as Ambassador to Israel. Huckabee, a conservative who has consistently backed Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, has dismissed the viability of a two-state solution, calling it “unworkable.”  

 

Another controversial pick is Representative Elise Stefanik, nominated as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Stefanik has criticized the UN as a “cesspool of antisemitism” for its condemnation of civilian deaths in Gaza. These appointments signal a clear alignment with pro-Israel policies, a stark contrast to the expectations of many Muslim voters who supported Trump in hopes of achieving peace in the Middle East.  

 

Rabiul Chowdhury, a Philadelphia investor and co-founder of Muslims for Trump, said the Muslim vote had been pivotal in Trump’s victories in swing states like Michigan. “Trump won because of us, and we’re not happy with his secretary of state pick and others,” Chowdhury said.  

 

Others feel even more disillusioned. Hassan Abdel Salam, co-founder of the Abandon Harris campaign, described Trump’s staffing as more extreme than anticipated. “It’s like he’s going on Zionist overdrive,” he said. “We were always extremely skeptical...but it does look like our community has been played.”  

 

Many Trump allies who initially engaged with Muslim and Arab American communities, such as Richard Grenell and Massad Boulos, had promised that Trump would be a president committed to peace. Grenell, a former acting director of national intelligence, was even touted as a possible Secretary of State during campaign outreach efforts. However, his absence from a key role in the administration has only deepened skepticism.  

 

Despite the cabinet appointments, some Trump supporters remain hopeful. Bill Bazzi, mayor of Dearborn Heights, Michigan, who endorsed Trump, stated, “I still believe he will work to end the war, despite the cabinet appointments.” Rola Makki, vice chair for outreach of the Michigan Republican Party, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the ultimate outcome of Trump’s policies would matter most. “What people need to realize is that there are 50,000 dead Palestinians and 3,000 dead Lebanese, and that’s happened during the current administration,” she said.  

 

While Trump’s campaign did not respond to requests for comment, the discontent among his Muslim supporters underscores the growing tensions between promises made during his campaign and the reality of his policy choices. Many in the Muslim and Arab American communities feel the need to continue advocating for peace while grappling with the sense of betrayal. As Nazarko pointed out, “At least we’re on the map.”

 

Based on a report by Reuters 2024-11-19