In the final weeks of the 2024 United States presidential race, former President Donald Trump reached out to Arab American and Muslim voters who were upset by the country’s support for Israel’s conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon. Trump visited Dearborn, Michigan, known as the “capital” of Arab America, and addressed Lebanese Americans worried about their families abroad. He took to social media to promise a return to peace in the Middle East, blaming Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden for the current situation. Despite this rhetoric, Trump’s choice of key administration and cabinet members suggests a continued alliance with Israel and its expansionist policies. The ongoing conflict in Gaza, which has resulted in thousands of civilian casualties, has been condemned as potentially genocidal by a United Nations committee. Trump’s nominees for top positions, such as Marco Rubio for secretary of state, have consistently supported Israel and advocated for aggressive military action against groups like Hamas. Pete Hegseth, the nominee for secretary of defense, has expressed extreme views on Israel, including endorsing the demolition of the Al-Aqsa Mosque to make way for a “Third Temple”. Mike Huckabee, nominated for US ambassador to Israel, has denied the existence of a Palestinian identity and has been a vocal proponent of Israel’s territorial expansion. These nominees, if confirmed, are likely to continue the US’s unwavering support for Israel and its actions in the region.
