Michigan
Why many Arab voters in Michigan are flocking to Trump ahead of US election
Dearborn, Michigan – Samraa Luqman wants Arab Americans to be blamed if Democratic candidate Kamala Harris loses to her Republican rival Donald Trump in the United States election.
For too long, Democrats have taken the Arab vote for granted, and it is time for them to pay the price for the United States-backed Israeli war on Gaza and Lebanon, Luqman said.
“I will show up the next day if Harris loses, I will say: It’s because of this community, it is because of Gaza and because of the genocide, that you lost,” Luqman told Al Jazeera in her office in the Detroit suburb of Dearborn.
“Take the credit for your power. I’m all for it.”
The Yemeni American activist is part of a growing electoral bloc that would have been unthinkable a few years ago: Arab Americans for Trump.
President Joe Biden’s unconditional support for Israel amid the horrific atrocities in Gaza and Lebanon has left many community advocates like Luqman so distraught that they are forging an alliance with Trump in the hope of change – any change.
Despite his history of anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant rhetoric, Trump has extended an arm to such disaffected voters – an outreach campaign that culminated in a visit to Dearborn, where he met with dozens of Arab Americans on Friday.
With a pendant depicting the map of historic Palestine and the Dome of the Rock and a Palestinian flag dangling from her necklace, Luqman argued that voting for Trump is a gamble but supporting Harris is a guaranteed loss when it comes to Israel-Palestine.
“Even if he will continue this genocide at a 99 percent chance, I’m going to take that 1 percent chance that he’s going to stop it, as opposed to the 100 percent chance that it’s going to continue under Harris,” she told Al Jazeera.
Trump in turn has promised “peace” in the Middle East with few details on how he would achieve it and even fewer details on whether he would alter the staunchly pro-Israel approach he pursued in his first term.
But for Luqman, supporting Trump is not entirely about the former president, but about holding the current vice president accountable for the Biden-Harris administration’s unprecedented military support for Israel.
“I do not believe that a genocide can ever go unpunished. And for me, it should never, ever be rewarded with a second term,” she said.
“My message to Washington, to Democrats and Republicans, after this election is that if you do what Biden has done, you will not be rewarded.”
While some Harris supporters insist that she will not be a continuation of Biden, she has done little to distance herself from his pro-Israel policies and has promised to keep the flow of American weapons to Israel uninterrupted.
Trump in Dearborn
That chasm between Arab Americans and the Democratic Party has created a space for Trump to exploit.
In a close race, the tens of thousands of Arab voters can be decisive in Michigan, one of a handful of swing states that will decide who the next president is.
Trump made a brief campaign stop in Dearborn, an Arab-majority city that has come to symbolise the Arab and Muslim American experience, on Friday.
For years, Trump’s far-right allies demonised Dearborn with false accounts about the city adopting Islamic law and no-go zones that are inaccessible to the authorities.
And so, the warm welcome he received from voters, businesspersons and activists was as much a shift by him as it was by them.
Albert Abbas, a business owner, read out a statement with Trump standing next to him decrying the “betrayal of those in power”.
While Trump has released a letter promising to “stop the suffering and destruction in Lebanon”, Abbas also demanded action on Gaza.
“I can’t stand in silence when Palestine is being erased,” Abbas said. “Please help us stop the bloodshed. No amount of money or power should be prioritised over human life.”
Dozens of Trump supporters and detractors gathered outside the event.
Holding a Trump flag featuring an expletive about not caring about what others think, Dearborn resident Hassan Hussein Abdullah said “Everybody was happy” when Trump was president.
“If he said he’s going to stop the war, he’s going to stop the war,” Abdullah said. “I believe that Trump is a good man. I believe he’s going to stop the war.”
Protesters with Palestinian flags showed up at the impromptu gathering. Fawzi Mohamad, an Egyptian American dressed in a white thobe, chanted “free Palestine” as Trump’s convoy drove by.
Mohamad expressed bewilderment at the community’s embrace of Trump, quoting his anti-Palestinian policies and rhetoric, including using “Palestinian” as a slur.
“Anyone who votes for Trump or Kamala Harris is ignoring the blood of our children who are being killed in Gaza and Lebanon,” he told Al Jazeera.
At the local Harris campaign office – blocks away from the Trump event – Sami Khaldi, head of the Dearborn Democratic Club, said Republicans have not cared about Arab American issues in previous elections, but Trump is focusing on the community because he is “desperate” for votes.
“He’s the one who moved the US embassy to Jerusalem. He’s the one [who] gave Golan Heights to be part of Israel. At the same time, more illegal settlements were founded when he was president,” Khaldi told Al Jazeera.
“He has been tested, and we know what he stands for.”
Hedging in Hamtramck
Before visiting Dearborn, Trump made a campaign stop last month in Hamtramck, the country’s first Muslim-majority city.
Many supporters have credited Hamtramck’s Yemeni American Mayor Amer Ghalib with opening the channel between Trump and the Arab community.
While the war in Gaza and Lebanon appears to be dominating the political choices of the community in the election, Ghalib had been forging ties with Republicans before the conflict broke out.
The mayor pursued a conservative approach that brought him closer to Republicans amid debates over LGBTQ-themed books in school libraries.
Under his leadership, the city also passed last year a flag neutrality resolution that effectively banned flying the LGBTQ pride flag on city property.
The move caused a backlash from many Democrats and put Ghalib in the same camp as socially conservative Republicans.
It all coincided with the largely socially conservative Arab community across the state raising concerns about the introduction of gender identity topics in public schools and accessibility to books that some deemed as sexually explicit.
Ghalib acknowledged that these issues were a “catalyst” for his shift to the Republican Party, slamming what he called the “aggressive behaviour by the radical left wing” in response to the flag resolution.
“It wasn’t an instant decision that we took in one day,” Ghalib said of his endorsement of Trump during a town hall with Al Jazeera Arabic earlier this week.
“It was a combination of disappointment at the current administration for the past four years [and] since the war started on Gaza.”
Critics of Ghalib, however, have stressed that the president has no say over what goes on at school libraries or municipal decisions.
Layla Elabed, a leader of the Uncommitted Movement that aimed to pressure Biden and Harris to end their unconditional support for Israel, said the controversies about LGBTQ-themed books were instigated by far-right activists.
“I am concerned about the things that my children are learning, but it happens at the very community level,” she said at the town hall.
Ghalib’s endorsement of Trump appears to have rippled through the Yemeni community.
The facade of Sheeba, a Yemeni restaurant in Dearborn, has been covered with Trump signs, including ones that say in Arabic: “For peace, vote Trump.”
Ali Aljahmi, a member of the family that owns the restaurant, said the two main issues driving his support for Trump are the violence in the Middle East and the economy.
There is a strong perception by Trump’s supporters that the economy was far better under the former president partly because of low inflation, although the current unemployment rate is also low at 4.1 percent.
“We believe that Donald Trump is the only one that can bring the peace that we are striving for,” Aljahmi said.
‘Trump wants peace’
In neighbouring Dearborn Heights, Mayor Bill Bazzi – who was born in south Lebanon – has also endorsed Trump.
Bazzi took the stage alongside the Republican candidate at a rally in the Detroit suburb of Novi earlier this month, where an imam from Hamtramck also spoke.
The Dearborn Heights mayor told Al Jazeera that he decided to go “full force” with his backing of Trump after Harris campaigned with Liz Cheney – the daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, one of the architects of the so-called “war on terror” – in Michigan.
“Trump wants peace. He doesn’t want wars,” Bazzi, a Marine veteran, told Al Jazeera.
“And I believe his message is correct because when he was president, there were no new wars, and he was trying to withdraw our troops from both Iraq and Afghanistan.”
But Abdullah Hammoud, the mayor of the city with the largest Arab American community in the state, Dearborn, has refused to back the former president.
“The architect of the Muslim Ban is making a campaign stop in Dearborn,” Hammoud wrote in a social media post on Friday.
“People in this community know what Trump stands for – we suffered through it for years. I’ve refused a sit down with him although the requests keep pouring in.”
Still, the Dearborn mayor faulted the Democrats’ support for Israeli atrocities for creating “the space for Trump to infiltrate our communities”.
Trump’s record
While many Trump supporters told Al Jazeera that the Trump presidency was a peace era, the facts do not entirely back that assertion.
Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from the Iran nuclear deal and ordered the assassination of top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, bringing the two countries to the verge of an all-out conflict.
Iran responded to the killing of Soleimani with a rocket attack against bases hosting US troops in Iraq – a historically rare direct assault by a foreign nation against the American military.
Israel also killed more than 220 Palestinians who peacefully protested near the Gaza fence in 2018 and 2019.
Under Trump, the war in Yemen – described by the United Nations as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis at that time – also intensified.
When it comes to Palestine, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu often called Trump the best friend Israel has ever had in the White House.
Trump moved the US embassy to Jerusalem, declaring the holy city as Israel’s undivided capital.
He cut funding to the UN agency for the Palestinian refugees, recognised Israel’s claimed sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights and closed down the Palestinian diplomatic mission in Washington, DC.
Biden did not reverse any of these policies, except for temporarily resuming funding for the UNRWA before cutting it during the ongoing war on Gaza.
Moreover, Trump pushed to forge relationships between Arab states and Israel without resolving the Palestinian issue – an approach that was also pursued by Biden, albeit unsuccessfully.
And while Trump often slams the Cheneys as warmongers, over the years, he surrounded himself by neoconservative hawks, including his former National Security Advisor John Bolton and close ally Senator Lindsey Graham.
On the domestic front, Trump imposed a travel ban on visitors from several Muslim-majority countries. He also has a history of anti-Muslim statements, including saying that the Quran, Islam’s holy book, teaches a “very negative vibe” and proclaiming that “Islam hates us”.
When confronted with Trump’s record, his Arab American supporters’ response varies.
Some point out that Biden has had a similar approach to the Middle East. Others dismiss Trump’s comments as mere words.
Some have pointed out that hate crimes against Arabs and Muslims have risen over the past year, with a six-year-old Palestinian child fatally stabbed in the Chicago area and three students wearing keffiyehs shot in Vermont.
Bazzi, the Dearborn Heights mayor, played down Trump’s previous statements about Muslims, saying that the former president “has no filter”, but he is trying to build a coalition that includes the community.
“He says things, but I can tell you that he wants to bring this country back together,” Bazzi told Al Jazeera.
Walid Fidama, a lifelong Yemeni American Democrat now backing Trump, said that the former president’s rhetoric has shifted on Arab and Muslim communities, and that’s a welcome development.
At the rally in Novi, Trump described Arab and Muslim Americans as “great people”.
“Bringing Arab leaders and imams to the stage to speak is a hugely positive step that will change how we are viewed as a community,” Fidama told Al Jazeera.
Some activists like Luqman, however, do not try to sugarcoat Trump’s record. Instead, they view their plan to vote for him as a calculated political decision.
She argued that as a term-limited president, Trump is more likely to break the norms in Washington, including unconditional support for Israel.
And even if Trump does not put pressure on Israel to end the war, Luqman said, he is more likely to face opposition in Washington.
She noted that while Republicans have been staunchly pro-Israel, Democrats have failed to pressure Biden – a president from their own party – to change course in his backing of the war.
And there is the long-term game – breaking away from the Democratic Party to prove that the community could be a swing vote in future elections, Luqman said.
“If we exert our political muscle, and we show that we have an impact that will cause reverberations in the elections, it will show that we have the strength and the voter bloc to make a change, and that – in and of itself – is going to have both parties trying to appease us,” Luqman told Al Jazeera.
Michigan
WATCH: Everything Michigan State’s Jonathan Smith Said After Spartans’ Victory Over Purdue
EAST LANSING, Mich. — Michigan State finally picked up a win, its first one since Week 8 when it defeated Iowa at home.
While it may seem like the Spartans’ season has been on a decline, even with this win, Michigan State is still just a win away from earning a trip to a bowl game.
Michigan State coach Jonathan Smith discussed Friday’s win when he addressed the media after the game.
You can watch below:
Below is a transcript from Smith’s opening statement:
Smith: “OK, well, obviously pleased to find a way to win a game. Kind of a tale of two halves; all of you that watched it offensively, defensively, first half, really pleased. I think we had four possessions in the first half. Had points on all four of them. Ended the ended the half with some points; we were feeling good there, but then it totally flipped in the second half. Credit to Purdue, whether it’s adjustments, things like that, but those guys battled for four quarters. And credit some to our defense, too. Early second half, we had gave up a couple of scores there but found a way [in the] fourth quarter to tighten things down, and to give up 17 points and have two turnovers defensively, that’s a solid effort. Offensively, again we got to play for four quarters. And we want to do that better. But found a way to win a game, got another open game with a lot to play for next week.”
Don’t forget to follow the official Spartan Nation Page on Facebook Spartan Nation WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE, and be a part of our vibrant community group Go Green Go White as well WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE.
Michigan
Top Michigan in-state recruits of all time and how their careers went
The Michigan Wolverines locked up the highest recruit in Michigan football history on Thursday evening with the commitment of five-star quarterback Bryce Underwood. He carries a ton of accolades to Ann Arbor, including the highest rated recruit in the state of Michigan’s football history on 247Sports.
From Benny Friedman, to Anthony Carter, to Brandon Graham and Aidan Hutchinson, there is a long list of Michigan football legends that came from the state of Michigan. As Underwood gets settled into Ann Arbor in the near future, we take a look at some of the top Michigan in-state recruits of all time and how their careers went.
1. Charles Rogers – WR – Class of 2000
Before Underwood, the top-rated high school player to come out of the state of Michigan was wide receiver Charles Rogers. Rogers went to Saginaw High School and had a 0.9988 rating.
Rogers went to Michigan State and cemented himself as one of the best college wide receivers of all time. From 2000-02, Rogers broke the school record for most touchdowns in a career with 27, breaking the record held by former Spartans wide receiver and baseball legend Kirk Gibson, as well as the school record for most receiving yards in a single game with 270. He also broke Randy Moss’ NCAA record of 13 consecutive games with a touchdown catch
During Rogers’ junior season, he put up 1,351 yards and 13 touchdowns, winning the Biletnikoff Award and Paul Warfield Trophy as the season’s outstanding college football receiver. He was a unanimous All-American.
The Detroit Lions drafted Rogers No. 2 overall in the 2003 NFL Draft. While his NFL career was known by many as an extreme let-down, Rogers will forever be remembered as an all-time great Spartan.
2. Dante Moore – QB – Class of 2023
Dante Moore is still waiting for his career to blossom. Moore attended Martin Luther King High School in Detroit, where he earned a 0.9980 rating as the No. 4 player in the 2023 class. He went to UCLA, but had a rough first season with 1,610 passing yards, 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
Moore entered the transfer portal and is now with the Oregon Ducks, sitting behind Dillon Gabriel this season. He is expected to take the reins next year for Dan Lanning’s offense. Moore’s career is still young, but he was another example of the growing pains that come with starting a true freshman quarterback.
3. LaMarr Woodley – LB – Class of 2003
LaMarr Woodley was the highest in-state recruit to commit to Michigan before Underwood, earning a 0.9972 rating out of Saginaw High School in 2003. Woodley was named a captain in 2006 and he broke out for the Wolverines. Woodley collected 12 sacks as a senior and won the Lombardi Award as the best lineman, offensive or defensive, in the country. His 12 sacks led the Big Ten and was eighth in the nation. After his senior season, Woodley was a first-team All-Big Ten selection and a unanimous All-American.
After his Michigan career, the Pittsburgh Steelers selected Woodley with the No. 46 overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft. Woodley played in 110 NFL games, making 58 sacks, 229 solo tackles and nine forced fumbles. WooHeley played for the Steelers from 2007-2013, the Oakland Raiders in 2014, and finished his career with the Arizona Cardinals in 2015.
4. Kelly Baraka – RB – Class of 2001
There were many success stories on this list, but running back Kelly Baraka was the one outlier. Baraka was a consensus five-star from Portage Northern High School. With a 0.9940 rating, he was supposed to be the next great running back to play at Michigan…but that never happened.
The former high school All-American was arrested twice for marijuana possession before his freshman year and was suspended for the season by then-head coach Lloyd Carr. Still, he was set to return for the 2002 season and bring a style of speed Michigan hadn’t seen in the backfield since Tyrone Wheatley. That never happened, though, and Carr eventually kicked him off the team because of his off-field issues.
5. Brandon Graham – ILB – Class of 2006
Brandon Graham had all the accolades in the world coming into his freshman year at Michigan. At Crockett Vocation Tech in Detroit, Graham was named to the USA Today All-America first team, and was the Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year. He had a 0.9930 rating as a five-star. Graham became the first player from the state of Michigan to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.
Graham had a dominant career at Michigan. Graham became the first defensive player in school history to be voted Bo Schembechler Most Valuable Player twice (2008, 2009), he shared the 2009 Chicago Tribune Silver Football as the Big Ten’s MVP, and he was named to the 2008 All-Big Ten second team and 2009 All-Big Ten first team.
In four seasons in Ann Arbor, Graham posted 138 tackles, 56 tackles for loss, 29.5 sacks, three fumble recoveries and three pass breakups. His 56 TFLs and 29.5 sacks rank second in Michigan history, and he is tied for second at Michigan in career forced fumbles.
After an outstanding career with the Wolverines, the Philadelphia Eagles drafted Graham 13th overall in the 2010 draft. Graham is still playing at a high level for the Eagles 14 years later, and he has 2.5 sacks in 2024 at 36 years old.
Michigan
LOOK: Valiant, Bryce Underwood launch merchandise shop for Michigan Football fans
Michigan landed the biggest fish of them all on Thursday night when Bryce Underwood stunned the world when he announced he was flipping his commitment from LSU to the Wolverines. It sent shockwaves around the country and Michigan is trending for several key recruits who might come into the fold with Underwood staying home.
But for those pessimistic fans — or rival fans clinging to hope he doesn’t come to Michigan — it appears the deal is as good as done. Valiant and Underwood revealed a new ‘Bryce Underwood Shop’ where fans will be able to preorder Underwood merchandise as soon as he signs his Letter of Intent on December 4.
There are currently four options to choose from. You will be able to order a signed trading card, or a choice of two different T-shirts.
At the bottom, Underwood has a message to Michigan fans:
Hey, I’m Bryce Underwood, a quarterback from Michigan, and I’m so pumped to take the next step in my football journey at the University of Michigan! During my high school career, I was lucky enough to lead my team to multiple state championships, and I’m proud of the records we set along the way. Football has always been my passion, and I’m grateful for the recognition and opportunities it’s brought me. Now, I can’t wait to represent the Maize and Blue and give everything I’ve got for this amazing program and its fans!
This will be one hot shop when it opens on December 4.
– Enjoy more Michigan Wolverines coverage on Michigan Wolverines On SI –
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