Mayor says Trump apologized over Yemen ‘terrorist’ comment

Donald J. Trump

By Charles Sercombe
A remark by presidential hopeful Donald Trump could have been a deal breaker with some supporters here in town.
A number of Yemeni community members, including Mayor Amer Ghalib and City Councilmember Khalil Refai, were taken aback when former president Trump called people emigrating from Yemen “terrorists.”
Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, made that comment at a campaign rally over a week ago in Pennsylvania. Prior to that rally, Ghalib and others in the Yemeni Muslim community had endorsed Trump.
Refai, a Trump supporter, said on Facebook that the comment was “deeply troubling,” adding:
“Many members of the Yemeni American community were hurt and disappointed by the former president’s remarks. They now question the trust we placed in the Republican Party, feeling betrayed after we assured them that the party shares our conservative values.
“His words have made some of them reconsider their support, feeling as though they’ve been stabbed in the back by someone we believed could unite us. …
“I can’t help but feel confused and disheartened by what happened. He could have focused on fighting terrorism without targeting or generalizing an entire group of people. This moment was supposed to be a step forward for our community, and now it feels like we’ve been set back.”
Ghalib had met with Trump a few times prior to when Trump made that comment, and had shared private meetings with him. Ghalib came away a Trump supporter, and has since persuaded a number of others in the Yemeni community here to switch from voting Democratic to Republican.
When asked about his reaction to Trump’s “terrorist” comment, Ghalib, who emigrated from Yemen, responded:
“I said in my endorsement that ‘we do not agree on everything.’ This is part of the disagreement between us.”
Last week, Ghalib met with Trump in Detroit, where Trump spoke to the Detroit Economic Club.
In a recording, posted by Ghalib on his Facebook page, Trump said:
“Mayor Ghalib, it was great to be with you. I look forward to seeing you again soon.
“We’re going to get things straightened out. This world is going to be in a better place. … I just want to thank you for all of your support. You’ve been fantastic.
“We’re going to get this world straightened out. We have no choice, we have to get it. The people of Yemen and all the people that we’re talking about, we’re going to get the world solved and all the problems solved.
“And I think everybody is going to be happy in the end. It’s a shame that everybody has to go through what they’re going through. Thank you and good luck. Thank you for everything.”
After that comment was recorded, Ghalib posted this comment on Facebook:
“Away from the camera, President Trump apologized for the loophole that took place at the Pennsylvania Festival, said he didn’t mean what some people were promoting, and that he feels guilty for still holding his tongue, and that he respects Yemeni Americans and will work to solve their problems here and in Yemen.

“We couldn’t force him to mention it all in the video, but
there will be steps coming expressing how thankful and appreciative he is for the Yemeni American community, you’ll hear about it later.”

On Ghalib’s Facebook page, his supporters said they are still backing Trump.
Others, not surprisingly, were critical of, or confused by, Trump’s response.
On Facebook, Amar AL-Zindani said:
“If this is his clarification then I do not know what clarification is. This just sounds to me that he wants our support & votes because in Pennsylvania he labeled us (Yemenis) a bad image and called us crazy.
“Although, I do feel like he is a better candidate than Harris but that doesn’t mean he can step all over us and call us all types of names. WE HAVE PRIDE!! & all we need is to be treated equally like any other race here in America.”
Ghalib also noted that, at a recent campaign rally in California, Trump this time disparaged illegal immigrants coming from Venezuela and the Congo, but did not include Yemen.
Ghalib was pleased by this omission, saying on his Facebook page:
“Thank you Mr. President for your respect and consideration for the preservation of the Yemeni-American community who stands strongly with you in this election.”

Ghalib also provided further insight into why he is supporting Trump instead of Vice President Kamala Harris. Ghalib had said that he supports Trump because he is a person of “principle.” Ghalib has not explained what he means by “principle.”

But it appears to have to do with LGBTQ issues – a subject that Ghalib has been no stranger in getting caught up in controversy.

He said on Facebook:
“During the speech, he also mentioned that he will end the war in Ukraine and the chaos in the Middle East, defend the rights of all religions and races, preserve family values, ban transgenderism in schools, separate men and women in sports and other issues that concern our society.”

Ghalib and the all-male Muslim city council drew a firestorm of protest a couple of years ago when they banned the display of pride flags on public property, in the guise of remaining “neutral” in the issue.
That stance was criticized by state Attorney General Dana Nessel, who is openly gay.

She said the ban was a “national embarrassment.”
Posted Oct. 18, 2024