Nihad Awad, the national executive director of CAIR, stated in a statement on Wednesday that the Muslim vote is not owned by any party or politician.
“We anticipate that all political politicians will honestly address the pressing issues facing Muslim voters in the future. President-Elect Trump is among them,” Awad stated, adding that Trump promised to put an end to the violence in Gaza and denounced the policies of previous US President George W. Bush and his vice president, Dick Cheney, that caused chaos in the Muslim world.
Awad stated, “It is critical that President-Elect Trump now acknowledges that the majority of Americans, including American Muslims who backed him, do not want to see more war abroad or more bigotry here at home.”
“The president-elect needs to carry out his campaign promise to work for international peace, which includes putting an end to the conflict in Gaza. But there has to be a true peace founded on freedom, justice, and a Palestinian state.
Additionally, the American Muslim organization urged Democratic politicians to take note of Vice President Harris’ decline in support of the massacre in Gaza among Muslims and other voters.
In the upcoming months and years, the group also “committed to work with partners and allies to once again oppose the pursuit of any unjust or harmful domestic or foreign policies by the new administration.”
Despite their small number, Arab and Muslim Americans are very influential in the election, particularly in swing states.
On January 20, 2025, Trump will be sworn in for a second term as president. As vice president, Harris will preside over the Capitol swearing-in event.
In the meantime, Lateefah Simon’s election to represent California’s 12th District has resulted in the 119th Congress having four Muslim members.
André Carson, a Democrat from Indiana’s 7th District; Rashida Tlaib, a Democrat from Michigan’s 13th District; Ilhan Omar, a Democrat from Minnesota’s 5th District; and Lateefah Simon, a recently elected Democrat from California’s 12th District, are the current Muslim members of the US House of Representatives.
