A recent survey has revealed that only about one-third of Muslim Americans identify as Democrats. This survey, conducted by JL Partners with the Muslim American Leadership Alliance last month, indicates that 34% of Muslim respondents are Democrats, while another 34% consider themselves independent and 33% identify as Republicans.
When it comes to President Trump’s proposal to transform the Gaza Strip into a “Middle Eastern Riviera,” a significant 49% of respondents expressed disapproval. In contrast, 26% offered support for the idea, while 16% remained undecided.
On February 4, Trump suggested that the U.S. might take control of the Gaza Strip, planning to relocate around 2 million Palestinians and develop the coastal area into a luxury destination. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu showed support for the concept, although it faced criticism from Arab nations.
While many Muslims opposed Trump’s plans, opinions were divided. His administration has, however, seen some support for other policies among Muslim Americans. For instance, 43% backed efforts to deport illegal immigrants, with 33% against it. Support was also noted for increased oil exploration (44% in favor) and removing taxes on tip income (62% supportive).
Interestingly, a margin of 52% believe Trump is more likely to facilitate Middle East peace compared to his predecessor, Joe Biden. This comes amidst Kamala Harris’s struggles during the 2024 campaign, with her handling of the Israeli-Hamas war causing rifts among liberal and progressive factions.
Harris faced a notable decline in Muslim voter support, capturing only 20.3% compared to Biden’s 69% in 2020. Trump managed to gain 21.4% of Muslim support, while Green Party candidate Jill Stein received a remarkable 53%, according to the data from CAIR.
Furthermore, about 11% of those surveyed indicated regret over their vote, although 72% were still satisfied with their choices. The survey also highlighted that 29% of respondents expressed support for Hamas in the current conflict, compared to 14% for Israel, while 44% held no allegiance to either side.
Democrats are hopeful that Trump’s strong backing of Israel might help them regain traction with Muslim voters. However, polling suggests that the party’s standing with this demographic remains lower than five years ago, with only 52% viewing Democrats favorably, while 36% held negative views.
On the electoral front, 45% of respondents plan to support Democrats, compared to 38% who lean toward Republicans in a typical election. The JL Partners survey was conducted from April 10-18, sampling 503 Muslim Americans with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.4 percentage points, including 278 men and 225 women.
