### Arab Americans in Dearborn React to Trump's Victory Amid Discontent with Harris

When Fox News declared Pennsylvania for Donald Trump in the early hours of Wednesday, effectively confirming his path to the presidency, a small group of Arab activists still remained at a watch party in Dearborn, Michigan. The event space, adorned with Palestinian and Lebanese flags, was filled with mixed emotions ranging from indifference to a sense of vindication.

The discontent stemmed primarily from Democratic candidate Kamala Harris’s stance on the unconditional US support for Israel. Harris had frequently reiterated Israel's right to defend itself, which many in the Arab American community saw as a dismissal of the atrocities occurring in Gaza and Lebanon. Adam Abusalah, an attendee, suggested that Harris’s alignment with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu negatively impacted her support among Arab and Muslim Americans, as well as young progressives. “It's not our fault. They cannot vilify our community,” Abusalah stated, noting that the community had been cautioning Democrats for over a year about these issues.

In Dearborn, a city with a majority Arab population, Harris lost to Trump by more than 2,600 votes, marking a significant shift in voter sentiment. Hussein Dabajeh, a Lebanese American political consultant, highlighted that Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib outperformed Harris by over 9,600 votes in Dearborn, indicating a split from typical Democratic support.

Trump, known for his controversial statements, softened his tone towards Arab and Muslim communities during his campaign in Michigan, bringing local officials and imams to his rallies and listening to community demands firsthand. Ali Alfarjalla, an Iraqi American real estate agent, mentioned Trump’s willingness to engage directly with the community as a contrast to Harris’s approach. Harris had avoided visiting Dearborn, opting instead to meet with pre-selected Arab and Muslim leaders in Flint, Michigan.

Alfarjalla emphasized that the Arab American community's political engagement would not end with the election. Issues like ending the violence in Gaza and South Lebanon, and advocating for a Palestinian state, remain top priorities. The sense of betrayal felt by many Arab Americans was intensified by Harris’s campaign choices, such as rejecting a Palestinian speaker at the Democratic National Convention and embracing endorsements from neoconservative figures like Liz and Dick Cheney.

Despite the unfavorable outcome for Harris, Arab Americans in Dearborn remain resolute in pushing for their cause, regardless of the administration in power. “We have to work more to ensure our issues are heard,” Alfarjalla asserted, underscoring the community's ongoing commitment to advocacy.

As Arab American activists and voters reflect on the election, many note the survival and resilience that have characterized their experiences. Criticism from liberal social media is met with a dismissive smile; the community has endured and will continue to fight for change, motivated by the impact of US foreign policy on their ancestral homelands.