Trump’s failed bid to elevate an Arab American ally shows cracks in his political coalition
February 1, 2026
Donald Trump credits the mayor of a small Detroit suburb with helping him win over Michigan’s Arab American community during the 2024 presidential campaign. And once in office, Trump nominated Amer Ghalib to be his ambassador to Kuwait. But that nomination has stalled due to Republican opposition. Ghalib says he’s no longer interested in the diplomatic post and is frustrated by the experience. The situation has strained relations between Republicans and Arab Americans, who backed Trump and were unhappy with Democrat Joe Biden’s handling of the war in Gaza. Critics accuse the Trump administration of sidelining Arab American voices and there’s widespread disappointment in that community.