Amer Ghalib made a lot of national news as the leader of a small Midwestern city.
His election as mayor of Hamtramck, Michigan in 2021 made headlines in itself. Gharib, a native of Yemen, became the first Arab-American and first Muslim to rule the city. And he was working with what appears to be the country’s first all-Muslim city council.
Two years later, Ghalib and other socially conservative Muslims caused new controversy when they banned the LGBTQ Pride flag from publicly owned flagpoles, calling the measure discriminatory and undermining the city’s welcoming reputation. This alarmed liberals, who feared it would damage the government.
Their concerns were further heightened after Ghalib endorsed Donald Trump last month. As president, Mr. Trump ushered in a so-called Muslim ban that blocked immigration from seven Muslim-majority countries, including Mr. Ghalib’s home country. Trump’s visit further heightened tensions in the battleground state of Michigan, where the mayor’s support was expected to displace a significant number of Muslim voters.
Ghalib explained his support, pointing to his distaste for liberal social views, his anger at President Biden’s support for Israel, and his belief that Trump would end the conflict in the Middle East.
In Hamtramck (pronounced “hamtramck”), many longtime liberal residents, including members of the LGBTQ community, say they are disappointed.
