Children sat with signs reading, Yemeni Americans are withDonald Trump.
On a large screen, they watched the Republican nominees rally in Pennsylvania.
Theyre coming out of Yemen.
Hamtramck, Michigan Mayor Amer Ghalib introduces former President Donald Trump, as Trump visits a campaign office on Oct. 18, 2024.Win McNamee/Getty Images
A lot of people are coming out of Yemen, he said.
Well stop it immediately…
Were going to deport these people.
Were going to get them out of our country, or we wont have a country.
He reiterated that Trump was the right candidate for their community, someone who aligned with their values.
And most importantly, hed listened to them.
The decision to ban the Pride flag from city property was not the end of the backlash.
Then, in a sudden gesture, they tear it down.
Despite growing concerns, some in the community dismiss the vandalism as harmless childs play even meaningless.
But the footage tells a different story.
These were not random acts of play; they were deliberate acts encouraged by adults.
This sense of cultural threat has not been isolated to Hamtramck.
This gathering brought together muslim community leaders, local activists, and conservative voices from across the country.
The eventaimed to build bridges between Republican leaders and Muslim community members, emphasizing shared values.
As attendees sat shoulder-to-shoulder, Flynn took the podium and recalled his first impression of Ghalib.
I saw something in this young man, Flynn told the crowd.
He is a leader.
We need to focus on what unites us.
We dont want to see our children mutilated.
Some groups have adopted a more nuanced approach in recent years.
These are realities within our communities, Yafa insists.
But for each statement of defiance, the silence from the Biden administration grows more pronounced.
This silence, though, is calculated.
Since 9/11 and well into the Obama era, any expression of support for Palestinian rights became political quicksand.
For them, the stakes are higher than one crisis abroad; the stakes are the presidency itself.
For many Americans, the conflict in the Middle East may feel distant.
Countless Michigan residents have lost friends, family members, properties, and childhood homes in the Middle East.
Places of worship have turned into spaces of condolence, hosting endless lines of mourners.
But now, in 2024, the hope that led them to the polls has soured.
Campaigns like the Uncommitted Movement and Abandon Harris are gaining momentum.
Then camethe administrations statementfollowing Israels assassination of Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollahs leader, in Lebanon.
Boulos labeled it a misrepresentation by anti-Trump media.
To him, Trumps brutal honesty was almost a relief, however uncomfortable.
Id rather deal with the wolf than the fox, Salha says, his words heavy with irony.
Democrats keep offering us access, trying to rebuild bridges they burned long ago.
When pressed on Trumps praise of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Salha shrugs.
The worst is already happening, he said, Harris wont change her approach.
At least with Trump, he might offer something different.
We have nothing left to lose.
Harris is the only one of the two who supports a ceasefire, Al-Zayat said ina recent interview.
If Trump wins, he believes they will be fighting to defend their communities both domestically and overseas.
In September 2024, Hamtramck made the news again.
In return, Trump did what he does best: He created the illusion of intimacy.
He praised Ghalib asgreatest mayor in the whole worldand shared the mayors posts on his Truth Social platform.
I bet everyone in Hamtramck is saying, Bro, we will be rolling with Trump.
weve got an in, joked Salha.
And I cant blame them.
Trump has a way of making people feel theyre in his inner circle, even if they arent.
His outreach cultivated an aura of accessibility he seemed to understand the forgotten segments of the population.
By the time I arrived days later, his popularity was palpable.
And their excitement wasnt misplaced.
Trump delivered on his promise,visiting Hamtramck.
Outside the venue, he went live on Facebook, with a police car visible behind him.
I was escorted out without any explanation.
I was threatened with detention if I didnt leave immediately.
Now, we are being kicked out of Kamalas rallies because we are Muslims.
The video was later shared by Mayor Ghalib, with nothing in the caption but a few exclamation marks.
They told me this ad would be everywhere, he said.
But I told them, no, I cant do that.
Days later,Trump invited Muslim leaders to his stage in Michigan, calling them great people.
Wed be remembered as the ones who shifted the tide.
