Trump promises 'peace' in letter to Lebanese-Americans

Former US president and current Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has promised "peace" in a letter addressed to the Lebanese-American community in the United States just six days before the US presidential vote.

Trump pledged to bring "peace" to the Middle East, with a particular focus on Lebanon, and put the blame for the ongoing wars in the region on his Democratic opponents, who have held the White House since 2020.

The Republican candidate reached out to the community, including hundreds of thousands of Lebanese and other Arab American voters, many in swing states like Michigan.

The votes are especially crucial as many Arab Americans had voiced discontent with the current Democratic administration's handling of Israel's wars on Lebanon and Gaza.

"During my Administration, we had peace in the Middle East, and we will have peace again very soon! I will fix the problems caused by Kamala Harris and Joe Biden and stop the suffering and destruction in Lebanon," he said in his letter.

"I want to see the Middle East return to real peace, a lasting peace, and we will get it done properly so it doesn't repeat itself every 5 or 10 years!" he added.

He said he was looking forward to working with the Lebanese community living in the United States to "ensure the safety and security of the great people of Lebanon".

"You have my word. I will preserve the equal partnership among all Lebanese communities. Your friends and family in Lebanon deserve to live in peace, prosperity, and harmony with their neighbors, and that can only happen with peace and stability in the Middle East," he added.

#Trump sending #Lebanon 🇱🇧 and the region a ray of hope. pic.twitter.com/HNYyFwE5Za

— ziad elkhalil 🇱🇧 (@ZiadElkhalil) October 30, 2024

Trump avoided mentioning Israel, which has been bombing Lebanon more widely and intensely since 23 September and had been engaged in cross-border attacks with Hezbollah since October 2023.

"Vote Trump for peace," the letter concluded.

In the 2020 election, which Trump lost, Arab Americans largely did not favour him, viewing him as overly pro-Israel.

He presided over what was described as the most pro-Israeli administration in US history between 2017 and 2021, moving the US embassy to Jerusalem, recognising the occupied Golan Heights as part of Israel, and cutting off aid to the UN's agency for Palestinian refugees UNRWA.