The mayor of the first U.S. city with an all-Muslim city council has endorsed former President Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election.
Hamtramck, Michigan Mayor Amer Ghalib said: He voiced his support in a Facebook post on Sunday.This comes just days after he met in person with the Republican candidate.
“I believe he is the right choice at this critical time,” Ghalib said of Trump, calling him a “man of principle.”
“Whatever the outcome, I do not regret my decision and am ready to face the consequences,” Ghalib wrote.
Trump later reposted Ghalib's comments on Truth Social.
The 45-year-old mayor met with Trump for 20 minutes on Tuesday in Flint, Michigan, and the former president asked for the mayor's support, Ghalib said. Detroit News.
“[Trump] “You knew me well before you met me,” he said.
“We spoke about a variety of topics, including debates, poll updates, voting statistics for Michigan and Wayne County, and concerns of Arab Americans, particularly Yemeni Americans,” Gharib continued.
Ghalib, an immigrant from Yemen, was elected in 2021 as Hamtramck's first Muslim mayor.
Along with other Muslim city council candidates, Hamtramck became the first city in the nation to have a majority-Muslim city council in 2015.
When Ghalib took office, voters elected an all-Muslim city council for the roughly two-square-mile city of 28,000 residents. According to the Detroit Free Press.
More than 40 percent of Hamtramck's population is now foreign-born, including people from Yemen, according to U.S. Census data.
The mayor of Hamtramck's Facebook post in support of the plan drew mixed reactions, with some users calling it “very disappointing” and others calling the move a “bold and courageous decision.”
“I appreciate your support and respect even to those who disagree with me,” Ghalib later replied to the flurry of comments.
