Trump allies face skepticism as they try appealing to disaffected Arab Americans in Michigan
LANSING, Mich. (AP) Facing a room of Arab American activists from across the country angry at President Joe Bidens response to the Israel-Hamas war, a well-known adviser to Donald Trump was asked this week what the former president would have done differently had he been in office.
Richard Grenell, Trumps former ambassador to Germany, repeatedly pointed to Trumps governing record and said that other countries fear of him decreased global conflict. But two people in the room said Grenell didnt provide the specific policy changes they were hoping to hear, which left at least one leader dissatisfied and unswayed.
The nearly two-hour meeting marked the beginning of increased outreach by Trump allies in swing state Michigan, where key parts of Bidens coalition are angry with him over Israels offensive following Hamas Oct. 7 attack. But any apparent political opportunity for Trump may be limited by criticism from many Arab Americans about the former presidents ban on immigration from several majority Muslim countries and remarks they felt were insulting.
We appreciate the outreach, said Khaled Saffuri, an Arab American political activist who was in attendance Tuesday night. But it wont be easy to convince the community to switch from Biden to Trump, because even though we are angry with Biden, many still have a bad taste in their mouth from the four years of Trump.
https://www.mlive.com/news/2024/05/trump-allies-face-skepticism-as-they-try-appealing-to-disaffected-arab-americans-in-michigan.html