By Bill S. Mikhail
President Trump thanked his ‘Muslim friends’ in Michigan at a Ramadan iftar/dinner in the White House on Thursday night, March 27, 2025. He sent a message to Muslims that,
“You have somebody in the White House that loves you.” In particular, he offered his thanks to Muslims in the State of Michigan for voting for him.
Trump told of his positive encounters with Muslims in Michigan last year when was campaigning against Kamala Harris. He praised members of the Islamic faith saying, it was “a very inspirational period of time for me.” He promised them to work together with them for their own betterment. This was a vast change from what he said in his first Presidential bid in 2016 when he once said: “I think Islam hates us.”
Two Arab Americans who held office in Michigan namely Hamtramck Mayor Amer Ghalib and Dearborn Heights Mayor Bill Bazzi, were rewarded for their support of Trump in his second Presidential bid. As a result they were designated by him as ambassadors to both Kuwait and Tunisia respectively.
The event was attended by many Arab and Muslim leaders. Among the attendees were the evangelical preacher and Trump faith adviser Paula White, and the Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. The Iftar/dinner was broadcast from White House livestream on Facebook and X.
Included in what the President said was the statement “I’m going to be there for you. And I think you know that, and our two great mayors (Ghalib and Bazzi) understand that.”
President Trump added, “Let me begin by saying to our Muslim friends, of which I have many tonight, and I think we have many all over the world based on the results in Michigan, other places.” President Trump continued saying “I just want to say hello to all of the people that supported us so strongly.”
Trump explained that his views on transgender topics echoed the views of the members of the Muslim community. Here is what President Trump stipulated verbatim, “We’re stopping schools from indoctrinating children with transgender ideology, something which people of this room are not happy about. I know that for a fact, and it’s a shame what’s happened, but we’re turning it around at levels that nobody can even believe. I signed an order — and I think very importantly, also in particular for people in this room — we’re keeping men out of women’s sports.”
While Dearborn and Hamtramck voted for Biden in 2020, they switched for Trump in 2024 with big percentages. In this regard, the President outlined the following, “I also want to extend a very special thanks to the hundreds of thousands of Muslim Americans who supported us in record numbers in the 2024 presidential election. It was incredible. We started a little slow with you, but we came along, and by the time that the election was finished … we went up like a rocket ship.”
President Trump then projected his thoughts on the several conversations he had with imams and many Muslim leaders. He said that he learned that Muslims strive for peace and cherish life, not death. This what he told his White House audience, “When I was in Michigan, I met with so many leaders of faith, and I said, ‘What about your attitude here?’ … They said, ‘Sir, all we want is peace.’ Right, remember Mr. Mayor (addressing Ghalib)? I said, ‘but I understand you don’t mind death.’ They said, ‘No, sir, we want to live. We want to live and we want to be happy. We want to love everybody.’ … It was a very inspirational period of time for me, and I want to thank you also for introducing me to so many of your friends. It was absolutely incredible.”
In conclusion, Muslim-Americans must read and listen to what President Trump said on March 27, 2025. Most of them and the majority of Arab-Americans do not know of that iftar/dinner ceremony. They better educate themselves about it. More knowledge about Islamic history by American officials is still needed. The warring conditions in Gaza, Yemen, Syria, and Lebanon where fighting is taking place must be resolved before they become too dangerous to settle. In addition, some acquiescence with the cultural characteristics of Muslims and Arabs in general, and specifically those of them living in America must be acquired. Studies assessing the influence of Arabs and Muslims in America must be conducted. These factors will be the sources of an intelligent, non-discriminatory, just and sympathetic judgment on Muslims in the United States.
President Trump outlined his plan to collaborate with Muslims. He addressed them saying, “To our Muslim friends, I look forward to working with each of you to achieve a brighter and more hopeful future, and I think together, we’re going to do great. You’re going to make strides like you’ve never made. You have somebody in the White House that loves you.” Kindly, the President hailed the tradition of Ramadan iftar dinners highlighting how it “exemplifies the beautiful spirit of all three Abrahamic faiths, and the spirit that inspires us to seek happiness and prosperity at home and peace for the entire world. We’re all looking for peace for the entire world.”
