First Arab-American mayor to endorse Trump becomes White House adviser on Arab-American affairs

Summary

Amer Ghalib, former mayor of Hamtramck, Michigan, who was the first Arab and Muslim-American elected official to endorse Donald Trump for the presidency in 2024, has accepted a role as Trump's Envoy and Advisor for Arab American Affairs. He announced it on Facebook late on a Wednesday evening, local time, in Washington, DC. Ghalib said he would be a strong and dedicated voice for Arab American communities in the White House, and that he had made clear to Trump there must be a 'limit to hate speech' against Arab and Muslim Americans. He is currently senior advisor for strategic partnerships at AmeriCorps. He had been offered the US ambassadorship to Kuwait, but Republican senators made clear they would not support him for that role. His outspoken criticism of Israel and his social media comments as a private citizen became major obstacles to Senate confirmation, amplified by the Anti-Defamation League and some right-wing news outlets.

Timeline

1. Middle East Eye

   22 Oct 2026, 21:18 UTCSource ↗

   Middle East Eye reports that Amer Ghalib, the former Hamtramck mayor who became the first Arab and Muslim-American elected official to endorse Trump in 2024, has accepted a role as his adviser on Arab-American affairs, after Republican senators would not support him for the US ambassador to Kuwait role.

2. Middle East Eye

   23 Oct 2026, 05:25 UTCSource ↗

   Middle East Eye's live blog reports the same update: Ghalib announced on Facebook late Wednesday that Trump appointed him Envoy and Advisor for Arab American Affairs, and he is currently senior advisor for strategic partnerships at AmeriCorps.