Amer Ghalib, the mayor of Hamtramck, Michigan—the first U.S. city to have an all-Muslim city council—has endorsed former President Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election.
Ghalib announced in a Facebook post on Sunday, just days after meeting with the Republican candidate in person.
“I believe he is the right choice for this critical time,” Ghalib wrote, describing Trump as “a man of principles.” He added, “I’ll not regret my decision no matter the outcome, and I’m ready to face the consequences.” Trump later reposted Ghalib’s endorsement on Truth Social.
The 45-year-old mayor met Trump on Tuesday for a 20-minute meeting in Flint, Michigan, where Trump personally asked Ghalib for his endorsement, according to an interview with the Detroit News. “[Trump] knew much about me before the meeting,” Ghalib said. “We talked about various topics including the debates, the polls updates, the statistics of votes in Michigan and Wayne County, the Arab American concerns, and the Yemeni Americans in particular,” he continued.
Ghalib, an immigrant from Yemen, was elected Hamtramck’s first Muslim mayor in 2021. Alongside other Muslim city council candidates, Hamtramck became the first U.S. city with a Muslim-majority city council in 2015. When Ghalib took office, the city’s voters had elected an all-Muslim city council, representing the city’s diverse population of roughly 28,000 residents. U.S. Census data shows that more than 40% of Hamtramck’s population is foreign-born, including many from Yemen.
Ghalib’s endorsement of Trump drew mixed reactions on social media, with some users expressing disappointment and others commending the decision as “bold and courageous.” The endorsement sparked intense debate, with some calling it unexpected given Hamtramck’s largely immigrant and diverse demographic.
“Thank you all for your support, with all due respect to those who disagree with me,” Ghalib wrote in response to his post’s mixed comments. As Ghalib’s endorsement makes waves, it highlights the complexities of political alliances in one of America’s most diverse cities.
