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Donald Trump and Mayor Amer Ghalib
In 2021, Democrat Amer Ghalib, a native of Yemen, was elected mayor in the once Polish enclave of Hamtramck that is now Muslim majority. Since then, he's found himself in the middle of some controversies.
In 2023, he backed a controversial resolution that banned the display of Gay Pride flags on city property. As a result, he faced a backlash from progressives including Democratic Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. At the same time, he was embraced by conservatives like Republican Michael Flynn, who worked in the Obama and Trump administrations.
Then last year, during the presidential campaign, he took it to a new level, endorsing Donald Trump, the same guy who backed a Muslim travel ban in his first term. Then in support of Palestinians in Gaza, the city renamed Holbrook Avenue, Palestine Avenue.
Now, with President Trump talking about a plan to remove all Gazans and develop the strip under American rule, the mayor's endorsement is being questioned.
Still, he's not backing away from Trump, as Steve Neavling of Metro Times reports.
"I made it clear from day one, that President Trump and I have some differences and we do not agree on everything," Ghalib posted on Facebook on Friday. "This was the first sentence of my endorsement and he posted it on his truth social page."
"Yes, I disagree with the president on the idea of evacuating the indigenous people of Gaza from their homeland, but this idea was on the table during the 15 months war, now it’s still there but minus the war, which Biden failed to stop, but President Trump did stop and delivered his promise of ceasefire."
The mayor concluded:
"Therefore, I disagree with the president on this one, but I still support him for many other reasons, and I don’t regret supporting him in the election."
As of Tuesday morning, his posting had 224 comments, some in English and others in Arabic.
Some agreed with him. Others did not.
Khalil Othman wrote:
"You made the best decision. In just 3 weeks.... The war stopped! The woke ideology is fading!
Corruption is being exposed! Law and Order is back! Family is back! Religion is back! America is back! And many more...."
Ahmed Alhalmy wrote:
"Well said doctor. Thank you for everything you have done."
Nasr Khalid wrote:
"Agree with you all the way but one thing it’s not evacuating Palestinians it is relocating instead of being on their own land Zionist wants them to be become refugees and other country such as Egypt and Jordan at least Trump is not hiding behind walls he speak it as it is none of what he said is going to be accomplished sooner or later."
Ammar Haidrh wrote:
"Beautiful and true talk."
Others disagreed.
Maamar Fadil wrote:
"The truth, Doctor, is that he doesn't deserve your support nor the support of any of us... For me, I regret my vote that I voted for him the first time and I feel guilty for voting for him."
Ali Almurtadha wrote:
"This is beyond embarrassing. You were conned and you can’t be honest enough to admit it to your constituents. I hope you get voted out of office."
Ezzat Bakkar Zizou responded:
"Doctor, you are a role model in my race, but you differ with his face, your view of his character Trump is simply a dictatorial character, not the savior or the faithful, he is a pervert, and he hates everything that is not white and blond hair, he uses all cunning methods to reach his goals, and he does not matter what the opposite is, and there is no hope in any file, unfortunately."
