Former President Donald Trump’s recent remarks advocating to clean out Gaza and displace Palestinians have drawn global condemnation, yet segments of the Arab American community continue to defend their support for his administration. Bishara Bahbah, chairman of Arab Americans for Peace, emphasized to ABC News:
We don’t regret supporting Trump. His ceasefire halted the war, saving countless Palestinian lives.The contentious ceasefire-hostage agreement between Israel and Hamas, finalized days before Trump’s 2025 inauguration, remains a central flashpoint in debates over U.S. Middle East policy.
Arab American advocacy groups cite frustration with the Biden-Harris administration’s unconditional military aid to Israel during the Gaza conflict, which has left over 48,000 Palestinians dead since October 2023. Bahbah noted, Biden ignored our pleas to stop funding Israel’s genocide. We mobilized to punish him at the polls. This disillusionment drove many to support Trump or third-party candidates despite concerns about his rhetoric.
Key factors influencing voter decisions include:
- Trump’s public ceasefire demands weeks before the 2024 election
- Perceived inaction from Biden on curbing Palestinian casualties
- Strategic protest voting to pressure Democratic policy shifts
While groups like Abandon Harris criticized both Trump’s grotesque displacement threats and Biden’s policies, some argue rhetoric carries less weight than tangible outcomes. Hudhayfah Ahmad of Abandon Harris stated,
Trump’s comments are horrific, but Biden’s actions enabled destruction. We prioritized ending bloodshed.
Critics warn Trump’s proposals could legitimize Israeli expansion into the West Bank. Arab Americans for Peace recently rebranded from Arab Americans for Trump but maintains conditional support, stressing their priority is lasting Middle East peace. As Biden and Trump both claim credit for the fragile ceasefire, community leaders remain divided on whether transactional politics can achieve lasting stability.