Trump Picks Up Endorsement From Democrat Mayor In Pivotal Swing State
President Donald Trump told Breitbart News that he is honored to be receiving an endorsement from Ameer Ghalib, the Democrat mayor of Hamtramck, Michigan. The endorsement could throw a wrench into the Harris Campaign’s ambitions of making inroads with Muslim voters in the must-win swing state, as thousands of Muslim voters have withheld their support for the Biden-Harris Administration due to the War in Gaza.
“I was very impressed with him and he was a very big fan of the Trump administration because he saw no wars — outside of defeating ISIS, but I inherited that — but there were no wars,” Trump told Breitbart News in an interview on Sunday.
“There was no October 7. There was no Russian attack on Ukraine. He sees that and he told me — he saw a world that was at peace. Now, we have a world that’s going to end up in World War 3 and I can stop that. I’m the only one that’s going to stop that.”
🚨Just in: Amer Ghalib who is the Mayor of Hamtramck Michigan which is the only majority-Muslim city in the U.S. has officially endorsed Donald Trump for President. pic.twitter.com/HbDnPMqOrr
— The Calvin Coolidge Project (@TheCalvinCooli1) September 22, 2024
In Michigan — which boasts a sizable Muslim American community — President Biden was faced with an “uncommitted” primary campaign due to his handling of the war in Gaza. In total, more than 10 percent of Michigan Democrats voted against Biden, far surpassing the target goal of 10,000 votes.
Harris has attempted to regain lost ground with Democrat voters who are critical of the administration’s handling of the War on Gaza, especially in Gaza. Harris has largely offered vague commentary on the War in Gaza, often referring to Israel as an ally while also calling for an end to arms shipments and a ceasefire.
While speaking with Breitbart News on Sunday, Trump suggested that he is very open to holding a campaign rally in Hamtramck down the stretch of the election cycle.
“The answer is if the opportunity presents itself I would do that,” Trump said when asked if he would hold a rally or a campaign stop in Hamtramck. “It can’t remain the way it is now with the hatred that’s going around.”
Ghalib represents one of the biggest Muslim communities in Wayne County, Michigan. Recent census figures have pinned the Muslim population north of 60 percent.
The Hamtramck mayor played a leading role in the uncommitted campaign against Biden earlier this year. Ghalib, the son of Yemeni immigrants, explained that the movement soon evolved to “abandon Biden” and now, “Abandon Harris.”
“I talked to President Trump about, you know, some statistics here in Wayne County and how it used to be a stronghold for the Democrats, and we always used to vote Democrat,” Ghalib said. “This is not the case anymore here.”
The mayor formally announced his endorsement in a Facebook post on Sunday after hinting at it in recent days. “President Trump and I may not agree on everything, but I know he is a man of principles,” he wrote.
“Though it’s looking good, he may or may not win the election and be the 47th president of the United States, but I believe he is the right choice for this critical time. I’ll not regret my decision no matter what the outcome would be, and I’m ready to face the consequences,” the post continued.
“For this, and for many other reasons, I announce my support and endorsement for the former, and hopefully, the next president of the United States, Donald Trump.”