Muslim supporters of Trump who voted for him in the election have expressed disappointment with his appointments in the government.

Politicians and experts believe that Muslim voters in Michigan may have played a role in Trump’s victory, and could have influenced the outcome of other states with uncertain results. Hassan Abdel Salam, a former university professor, said that although Trump’s cabinet appointments were not a surprise, they were more radical than expected.

Trump’s personnel decisions do not favor Muslims

American Muslim leaders, who actively supported Donald Trump in his opposition to the Biden administration’s policies regarding Israel and the Gaza conflict, are disappointed by recent personnel decisions made by the Trump administration.

Rabiul Chowdhury, a Philadelphia-based investor who led the Abandon Harris campaign in Pennsylvania and was one of the founders of Muslims for Trump, said, “We believe that Trump won because of us, and we are disappointed with his choice for Secretary of state and other candidates.” Experts believe that Muslim support was one of the key factors in Trump’s victory in Michigan and may have contributed to his success in other key states. However, despite this support, experts point out that Trump’s choice for some key positions in the administration may cause some controversy and concern among this group of the population.

Trump nominated Marco Rubio, a senator from the Republican Party, for the post of Secretary of State. Rubio, a Republican and staunch supporter of Israel, spoke out against the cease-fire in Gaza earlier this year and argued that Israel should destroy “every member” of Hamas. He also added “these people are cruel animals.” In addition, Trump appointed Mike Huckabee, the former governor of Arkansas and a staunch pro-Israel conservative, as the next ambassador to Israel. Huckabee supports Israel’s occupation of the West Bank of the Jordan River and considers the two-state solution in Palestine “impossible.”

Trump also appointed Eliza Stefanik, a representative of the Republican Party, as the US ambassador to the United Nations. Stefanik previously called the UN a “hotbed of anti-Semitism” for its just condemnation of the huge Palestinian casualties at the hands of Israelis in Gaza. Although the staff of the administration has not yet been completed and may change, its pro-Israeli orientation is already visible.

The disappointment of Muslim voters

Recshinaldo Nazarco, executive director of the American Muslim Engagement and Empowerment Network (AMEEN), said Muslim voters had hoped that Trump would choose cabinet members who would work for peace, but that did not happen. “We are very disappointed,” he said. “It seems that this administration is made up entirely of neo-conservatives and extremely pro-Israel people who advocate war, which is a failure on the part of President Trump in relation to the peace movement and the anti-war movement.” Nevertheless, Nazarco assured that the community will continue to fight for their voice to be heard. After they helped Trump win the election, “at least we are in favor.”

Hassan Abdel Salam, who is also the co-founder of the Abandon Harris campaign, which supported Green Party candidate Jill Stein, said that Trump’s plans for personnel appointments do not take into account the interests of Muslims. He was unpleasantly surprised by the dramatic change in the president’s views. “He seems to be really passionate about the ideas of Zionism,” he said. “We have always been extremely skeptical… Of course, we’re still waiting to see what course the administration will take, but it looks like our community has been dealt a serious blow.”

Representatives of the Trump campaign headquarters did not immediately respond to emails from Muslims requesting comment on the situation. Some of Donald Trump’s Muslim and Arab supporters expressed hope that Richard Grenell, the former acting director of National Intelligence in the Trump administration, would be able to play an important role. For several months, he actively communicated with the Muslim and Arab communities in America and was even presented at events as a potential candidate for the post of director of national Intelligence.

Another key Trump ally, Massad Boulos, the Lebanese father-in-law of his daughter Tiffany, has repeatedly met with Arab American and Muslim leaders. Both of them promised American Arabs and Muslims that Trump is a candidate for peace who will act quickly to end wars in the Middle East and beyond. However, none of them could confirm that Trump’s foreign policy would be aimed at supporting Muslims.

Trump’s empty promises

President Trump visited several cities with a significant number of Arab and Muslim residents. Among them were Dearborn, where a majority of residents are Arab, and Pittsburgh, where he praised the Muslims who supported him as “a wonderful movement that wants peace and stability”.

Rola McKee, an American of Lebanese descent and vice chairman of the Republican Party of Michigan for public relations, does not pay attention to criticism of herself and Trump. In an effort to defend the future president, she said: “I don’t think everyone will be happy with every decision Trump makes, but the results are important. I know Trump is committed to peace, and people should realize that 50,000 Palestinians and 3,000 Lebanese died during the Biden administration.”

Now, the President-elect of the United States will need to prove his commitment to the people and countries of the Middle East not through words, but through actions. This is particularly important given that many have become victims of Israeli actions. However, due to the powerful Jewish community in the US, Trump may encounter difficulties in implementing his policies.

The new President will need to solve many challenges, including how to apply necessary pressure on Israel. This is only one of many issues he will face. Trump’s policies towards the Middle East and other parts of the world are just beginning to take shape. The world will soon see which path he and his administration choose: one that is provocative and unconcerned, or one that is optimistic and respectful.

Viktor Mikhin, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences, expert on the countries of the Arab world. Courtesy

https://journal-neo.su/2025/01/03/the-middle-east-new-directions-in-trumps-policy/