Muslim and Arab voters refuse to take the blame for Democrats' 2024 US election defeat

Just days after the results of the US elections, which saw Donald Trump return to the White House, Arab and Muslim communities across the US found themselves caught between frustration and hope for change.

More concerning, however, was the blame directed at these communities, particularly by Democrats, who accused them of contributing to the election defeat. On X (formerly Twitter), many Democrats posted statements accusing pro-Palestinian voters of not supporting Kamala Harris, suggesting they were the main reason for the election outcome.

The truth, however, is that Arab and Muslim communities are not to blame. The Democratic Party's loss is a result of their campaign overlooking key issues — from domestic rights to foreign policy in the Middle East — and failing to address the concerns of these communities.

As has been reported many times, the Biden administration’s support for Israel, combined with Vice President Kamala Harris’s failure to address these issues, led many people to either vote for a third party or not vote at all.

'The Democrats are paying for what they did'

According to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) exit poll for the elections, Green Party candidate Dr. Jill Stein received 53% of the Muslim vote, followed by President-elect Donald Trump with 21%, and Vice President Kamala Harris with 20%. In Michigan, the results were even more pronounced, with Stein at 59%, Trump at 22%, and Harris at 14%, based on a poll of 502 registered Muslim voters.

Weighing in on the backlash faced, Attorney Abed Hammoud, founder of the Arab American Political Action Committee, a Michigan resident, and long-time Democrat, told The New Arab: “I mean, the community was very much angry at Harris and Biden.”

“The Democrats are paying for what they did. They didn’t listen to the community,” he added.

Abed's view is shared by many in the community who feel the Democrats have failed to uphold their promises of diversity and inclusion.

Yet, as such accusations have been voiced from within the Democratic Party, blaming Arab and Muslim communities for the electoral loss, a new question arises: will this moment push these communities to take a new political approach, or deepen the divide with a party many once viewed as an ally?

Abed believes that the coming years will provide clearer answers and trusts that these elections have shown that no party can take his community for granted.

Trump’s return

Amid the backlash, The New Arab spoke to members of the US Arab and Muslim community to better understand their response to Donald Trump returning as the 47th US President.

Near the White House, The New Arab met a Sudanese resident with a green card and his little daughter. He told The New Arab that, if he had the chance, he would vote for Trump because he believes that Trump is honest in promising to end the wars in the Middle East, especially in Sudan.

He added that Trump would fight for the interests of the United States, not for the interests of other parties.

This opinion is not unique, with many others sharing a similar view of Trump. For example, Amer Ghalib, the mayor of Hamtramck, publicly endorsed Trump after a positive meeting with him. He also pointed out that the Democratic Party has made no effort to engage with the community, which many see as a humiliating disregard by the Harris campaign.

On the other hand, Trump’s policies, like the travel ban on Muslim-majority countries, remain a source of significant concern for many members of the Arab and Muslim communities, particularly regarding domestic rights and foreign policy.

“Some people are saying that Trump will not be better for Arabs and Muslims at all, even in domestic law,” says Abed, acknowledging the community’s fears. Abed adds, “He may not be, but you know what? We’re talking about domestic policy versus killing our people.”

Simply put, the community is in a difficult situation, with many feeling scared of Trump's record on Muslim immigration and civil rights and fearing his return to office might bring a return to policies that restrict freedoms and fuel hostility.

As Hammoud puts it, “Pick between somebody who may bother me domestically or somebody who kills me. Guess what I picked?” For him and others, foreign policy threats carry a weight that overshadows concerns about domestic issues, underscoring the complex calculations the community faces.

Beyond his controversial travel ban, there is concern about Trump’s strong support for Israel. In the past, he moved the US embassy to Jerusalem, shut down the US consulate that handled Palestinian affairs in the city, and introduced the 'Deal of the Century' alongside normalisation agreements with four Arab nations. 

Either way, the Arab and Muslim communities acknowledge that Trump is, well, Trump — an unpredictable leader. While he has celebrated his close ties with Israel, he has also sharply criticised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on several occasions and expressed opposition to Israeli military actions.

Looking to the future

Post-election, CAIR released a statement on November 6th, calling on the Democratic Party to learn lessons from Vice President Harris’s loss of support among Muslims and other voters opposed to the Gaza genocide. They also urged President-elect Trump to prioritise fulfilling his campaign pledge to pursue peace abroad, including an end to Israel’s war on Gaza.

Whether lessons will be learned or not, the reality is that looking to the future, it’s difficult to predict what will happen next during Trump’s presidency, given his inconsistent positions. However, one thing is certain: Kamala Harris would not have been a better alternative, especially since she has indicated her intent to continue Joe Biden's approach, which some argue has contributed to a gradual decline in her popularity.

Samah Wattad is an investigative journalist and a Master's student in Communication at George Washington University, specialising in political communications. With over nine years of experience, her work focuses on politics, disinformation, and media influence