‘Deadline Detroit’ podcast focuses on mayor’s Senate hearing

Mayor Amer

By Charles Sercombe
Veteran Detroit journalists, and others, have weighed in on Mayor Amer Ghalib and his chances of being confirmed by the U.S. Senate for a job as ambassador to Kuwait.
In a discussion on Deadline Detroit’s podcast, the consensus is: Ghalib’s chances are slim to none.
Ghalib faced critical questioning over his past social media comments and “likes” that were viewed as antisemitic by both Democrats and Republicans in the Senate Foreign Relations Commission during his recent confirmation hearing.
Ghalib attracted the attention and support of President Trump when Ghalib influenced a number of fellow Arabs and Muslims in Hamtramck and the Detroit area to switch political parties and endorse Trump.
He was credited with helping Trump win Michigan in the presidential election.
It has been assumed that Trump repaid Ghalib the favor by nominating him to be ambassador.
Saeed Khan, who is a professor at Wayne State University, noted that Ghalib’s confirmation chances are in “jeopardy by members of his own political party,” and that he was “bleeding support.
Allan Lengel, who has worked with the Detroit News and other publications, said that, since Ghalib switched to siding with President Trump in the 2024 presidential election, “he was comforted by the Republican Party – he got swept up on it.”
But, judging by the sharp questioning from Republicans who have “kissed the ring of Trump,” attorney Bill Seikaly said, makes it “clear, to me, they got approval to do that from Trump … because they cannot ever come out against Trump.”
Seikaly continued: “Trump doesn’t support non-white nominees in the same way that he supports his white nominees.”
Lengel said that if Ghalib is not confirmed, Trump can still say, “Look, I did what I could, but you’re not going to make it.”
As for Ghalib’s performance under intense questioning, journalist Nancy Derringer said Ghalib “is amazingly unsophisticated, and really underprepared for this.”
Lengel, who worked for the Washington Post, agreed, saying “when you go to Washington (D.C) it’s a whole other level.”
Derringer replied: “It’s many levels above.”
Khan said it came down to Ghalib having too much “baggage.”
He said Dearborn Heights’ former mayor, Bill Bazzi, who also is Muslim and also endorsed Trump for president, survived his confirmation hearing to be ambassador to Tunisia without a hint of controversy over past remarks and social media posts — in contrast to Ghalib’s hearing.
Bazzi’s nomination, Khan said, “pretty much slipped through.”
Posted Nov. 14, 2025