President Donald Trump’s nominee for U.S. ambassador to Kuwait is facing an uphill battle in the Senate, as several Republican lawmakers plan to oppose Amer Ghalib over comments they describe as antisemitic.
Ghalib, who currently serves as the mayor of the Arab-majority city of Hamtramck, Michigan, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that he has no intention of withdrawing his nomination unless Trump personally requests it — something the former president has not done so far.
Republican Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Dave McCormick of Pennsylvania have both publicly stated they will vote against Ghalib, while several other GOP lawmakers have privately indicated similar intentions, according to a congressional aide who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss internal deliberations. With Democrats expected to unanimously oppose the nomination, the Republican dissent could be enough to block Ghalib’s confirmation.
If defeated, it would mark yet another Trump administration nominee to falter before the Senate.
For Ghalib, the backlash represents a striking turnaround in his political trajectory. Less than a year ago, Trump praised him onstage at a Michigan rally, calling him “one of the greatest men in your state.” The former president credited Ghalib with helping deliver an unexpected surge in Arab American support in the key swing state.
“He’s a great man,” Trump said at the time. “If we win this state you’re going to be very responsible.”
Bishara Bahbah, founder of Arab Americans for Trump and a key figure in the campaign’s outreach, told AP on Wednesday that failing to confirm Ghalib would send a “very negative message” to the Arab American community.
“As it is, many in the community feel that they have not been properly paid attention to after the elections. And so this would, this would compound the situation,” Bahbah said.
During a recent Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, both Republicans and Democrats questioned Ghalib over past comments and social media activity described as antisemitic. The most contentious remarks centered on Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack on Israel and former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, whom Ghalib allegedly referred to as a martyr.
Ghalib did not deny making many of the statements but said they were taken out of context or mistranslated from Arabic. When pressed about his having “liked” a Facebook comment comparing Jewish people to monkeys, Ghalib admitted to a “bad habit” of acknowledging nearly every comment on his posts but insisted he disagreed with the statement.
“Your long standing views are directly contrary to the views and positions of President Trump and to the position of the United States,” Cruz said. “I for one, I’m not going to be able to support your confirmation.”
Jake Murphy, spokesperson for McCormick, confirmed to AP that the senator intends to vote against Ghalib’s nomination. Utah Sen. John Curtis is also “deeply concerned” about the nomination, according to a statement from his spokesperson, Adam Cloch.
Underscoring Ghalib’s dwindling chances, GOP Sen. Rand Paul told The Associated Press he believed the nomination had already been withdrawn. However, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair James Risch told the outlet that, as of Tuesday evening, a vote was still scheduled.
Following the heated Oct. 23 hearing, Ghalib wrote on Facebook that Trump had called to express his support. The White House has not responded to requests for comment.
Ghalib later told AP via text that Trump had asked him to provide additional materials requested by the committee before making any decision, adding that the president “has not asked me to withdraw.”
Born in Yemen, Ghalib gained national attention in September 2024 when, while serving as a Democratic mayor, he endorsed Trump’s presidential campaign. His decision reflected a growing number of Arab Americans who, frustrated with Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris and the Biden administration’s handling of the Gaza war, turned toward Trump.
In Michigan — home to the nation’s largest Arab American population — Trump made major inroads in cities like Hamtramck and Dearborn, visiting both just days before the election. He ultimately became the first Republican presidential candidate since George W. Bush in 2000 to win Dearborn, where nearly half of its 110,000 residents are of Arab descent.
Since then, several Republicans have taken aim at Dearborn, accusing the city — often referred to as the “Arab capital” of the U.S. — of failing to assimilate.
“Muslims have been fighting to wipe out Christians and Jews for centuries. But now the problem isn’t just confined to the far-away Middle East. It’s happening right here in our backyard,” Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville said during a Senate floor speech Tuesday.
“We’re already seeing cities in Michigan, Minnesota being taken over by Sharia Law,” Tuberville added, specifically calling out Dearborn.
Bahbah denounced those statements, calling them “not acceptable” and stressing the community’s political importance.
“Islamophobia is totally unacceptable. The president does not participate in this point of view,” Bahbah said. “And it is sad that these senators come out and and try to slight a very important and growing Muslim American community in the United States.”
