LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Just a week after winning a majority of the vote in several of the nation’s largest Arab-majority cities, President-elect Donald Trump has filled top administration posts with staunch Israel supporters, including an ambassador to Israel who has claimed “there is no such thing as Palestinians.”
Meanwhile, the two Trump advisers who led his outreach to Arab Americans have not secured positions in the administration yet.
The selections have prompted mixed reactions among Arab Americans and Muslims in Michigan, which went for Trump along with all six other battleground states. Some noted Trump’s longstanding support for Israel and said their vote against Vice President Kamala Harris was not necessarily an endorsement of him. Others who openly supported him say he will be the final decisionmaker on policy and hope he will keep his promise of achieving an end to the conflicts in the Middle East.
Albert Abbas, a Lebanese American leader whose brother owns the Dearborn, Michigan, restaurant Trump visited in the campaign's final days, stood beside the former president during that visit and spoke in support of him.
Now, Abbas says it’s “too early” to judge Trump and that “we all need to take a deep breath, take a step back and let him do the work that he needs to do to to achieve this peace.”
“I just want you to think about what the alternative was,” said Abbas, referring to the current administration’s handling of Israel's war in Gaza and its invasion of Lebanon. He added, “What did you expect from myself or many members of the community to do?”
Beyond promising peace in the Middle East, Trump has offered few concrete details on how he plans to achieve it. His transition team did not respond to a request for comment.
Throughout the campaign, his surrogates often focused more on criticizing Harris than outlining his agenda. And visuals of the conflict — with tens of thousands of deaths collectively in Gaza and Lebanon — stirred anger among many in Arab and Muslim communities about President Joe Biden and Harris' backing of Israel.
Amin Hashmi, a Pakistani American in Michigan who voted for Trump, urged him to stay true to his campaign commitments to bring peace.
“I am disappointed but not surprised," said Hashmi, who urged Trump to “keep the promise you made to the people of Arab descent in Michigan.”
Those in the community with concerns have specifically pointed to former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, nominated as Trump’s ambassador to Israel. Huckabee has consistently rejected the idea of a Palestinian state in territories seized by Israel, strongly supported Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposed a two-state solution, claiming “there really isn’t such a thing” as Palestinians in referring to the descendants of people who lived in Palestine before the establishment of Israel.
While Huckabee has sparked the most concern among community members, other Trump Cabinet picks have strongly spoken in Israel's favor as it targets Hamas following the militant group's Oct. 7, 2023, attack in which it killed 1,200 Israelis and took hundreds more as hostage.
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, nominated for secretary of state, has opposed a ceasefire in the war, stating that he wants Israel to “destroy every element of Hamas they can get their hands on.”
Trump's pick to be his ambassador to the United Nations, New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, led the questioning of university presidents over antisemitism on campuses. She has also opposed funding for the U.N. Relief and Works Agency, which oversees aid to Gaza.
The Republican Jewish Coalition, which organized for Trump in Michigan, has been outspoken in its support for many of Trump’s Cabinet picks. Sam Markstein, the group’s political director, described the proposed lineup as a “pro-Israel dream team,” adding that “folks are giddy about the picks.” He praised Trump’s pro-Israel record as “second to nobody.”
“The days of this mealymouthed, trying to have support in both camps of this issue are over," Markstein said. "The way to secure the region is peace through strength, and that means no daylight between Israel and the United States.”
Among the reasons some Arab American voters supported Trump was that they believed his prominent supporters would be key in the next administration.
Massad Boulos, a Lebanese businessman and father-in-law of Trump’s daughter Tiffany, led efforts to engage the Arab American community, organizing dozens of meetings across Michigan and other areas with large Arab populations. Some sessions also featured Richard Grenell, former acting director of national intelligence, who was well-regarded by those who met with him.
Neither Boulos nor Grenell has been tapped yet for the coming administration, though Grenell was once considered a potential secretary of state before Rubio was selected. Boulos declined to comment and Grenell did not respond to a request for comment.
“Some people expected Trump to be different and thought Massad would play a significant role,” said Osama Siblani, publisher of the Dearborn-based Arab American News, which declined to endorse a candidate in the presidential race.
Siblani himself turned down a suggested meeting with Trump after the non-endorsement announcement.
“But now people are coming to us and saying, ‘Look what you’ve done,’” Siblani said. “We had a choice between someone actively shooting and killing you and someone threatening to do so. We had to punish the person who was shooting and killing us at the time.”
Associated Press writers Mike Householder in Detroit and Meg Kinnard in Columbia, South Carolina, contributed to this report.
FILE - Osama Siblani, publisher of the Arab American News, is photographed in his office, April 10, 2024, in Dearborn, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)
FILE - Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump, center, stands alongside local Muslim leaders during a campaign rally, Oct. 26, 2024, in Novi, Mich. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
FILE - Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump, center, listens to Albert Abbas, owner of The Great Commoner, left, as Massad Boulos looks on during a visit to the cafe, Nov. 1, 2024, in Dearborn, Mich. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, File)
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Backup quarterback Nick Arbuckle led the Toronto Argonauts to their record-extending 19th Grey Cup title, throwing two second-half touchdown passes in a 41-24 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Sunday night at B.C. Place.
Forced into action after starter Chad Kelly broke his ankle in Toronto's East championship victory over Montreal, Arbuckle completed 26 of 37 passes for 252 yards in Toronto's second Grey Cup victory over Winnipeg in three seasons.
“You couldn’t script this,” said Arbuckle, selected the outstanding player of the game. “If everybody was to know everything, all the things we overcame as a family, from my whole life and football career to be here, it’s God’s work.
“I’ve been so fortunate to have the support and belief in me from my wife and everybody to just keep chasing it and persevering. Look at it now.”
Toronto has won its last eight appearances in the Grey Cup dating to 1991 and is 8-0 against Winnipeg, also beating the Blue Bombers in 1937, 1938, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1950 and 2022.
“Nick did that, he won us a dang championship, what else is there to say,” said Toronto running back Ka’Deem Carey, who ran for 79 yards and a TD on 15 carries. “I know everybody in this locker room knew who Nick was and knew what he was going to do.”
Winnipeg was appearing in its fifth straight Grey Cup. It won consecutive titles in 2019 and 2021, with the 2000 season canceled.
“It’s still pretty raw,” Blue Bombers coach Mike O’Shea said. “Anytime you don’t win your last game, there’s a tendency to view it as failure and I don’t know about (that). It was a hell of a ride this year, quite a different season. We just didn’t play our best football at the end. ”
Arbuckle threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Dejon Brissett to give Toronto a 24-16 lead with 7:31 left. On the first play after the kickoff, DaShaun Amos intercepted Zach Collaros' pass and returned it to the Winnipeg 16 to set up Brian Hajrullahu's 14-yard field goal with 5:11 remaining.
Robert Priester iced it with 3:12 left with a 61-yard interception return for a touchdown. Wynton McManis then returned another interception 58 yards to the 4, with Carey scoring on the next play to make it 41-16.
Collaros, the only player to make five straight Grey Cup starts, was 15 of 30 for 202 yards and four interceptions. Brady Oliveira, the league’s outstanding player and top Canadian this year, ran for 84 yards and a TD, scoring on a 1-yard run and adding a 2-point conversion in the final minute.
Toronto — which beat Winnipeg in both regular-season meetings — took a 17-10 lead with 6:13 left in the third quarter on Arbuckle's 17-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Mital — a play after Fraser Sopik recovered Lucky Whitehead's fumble on a punt return.
Winnipeg cut it to 17-13 on Sergio Castillo's 40-yard field goal with 2:13 left in the third. The Blue Bombers' Michael Ayers then blocked John Haggerty's punt, but Toronto ended up with a first down because Kyrie Wilson interfered with an Argonauts player while the ball was loose.
The Blue Bombers got the ball back two plays later when Willie Jefferson intercepted Arbuckle's pass and returned it 4 yards to the Toronto 30, setting up Castillo's 23-yard field goal.
Prince Harry made a pregame appearance. The Duke of Sussex is promoting the Invictus Games that will be held in the area in February.
AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports
Toronto Argonauts' Robert Priester (19) scores a touchdown after an interception against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers with Benjie Franklin (23) during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Argonauts head coach Ryan Dinwiddie, center right, celebrates with teammate Ka'Deem Carey (25) during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Bailey Feltmate (36) and teammate Brady Oliveira (20) sit on the bench after losing the 111th Grey Cup to the Toronto Argonauts, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Argonauts' Daniel Adeboboye (21) lifts the Grey Cup after defeating the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Argonauts quarterback Nick Arbuckle (4) lifts the Grey Cup after defeating the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Argonauts' Kevin Mital (10) scores a touchdown against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Keric Wheatfall (88) can't make the catch as Toronto Argonauts' Mark Milton (27) defends during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Keric Wheatfall (88) can't make the catch as Toronto Argonauts' Mark Milton (27) defends during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Argonauts' Dejon Brissett (18) scores a touchdown as Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Nick Taylor (12) looks on during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)
Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Willie Jefferson (5) strips the ball from Toronto Argonauts quarterback Nick Arbuckle (4) during the the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Argonauts' Peter Nicastro (52) recovers a fumble against the Toronto Argonauts during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Argonauts' Deonta McMahon (24) runs against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Argonauts' Benjie Franklin (23) can't make an interception on a pass intended for Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Kenny Lawler (89) during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Argonauts' DaShaun Amos (8) runs back an interception against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Argonauts' DaShaun Amos (8) makes an interception against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Argonauts' Dejon Brissett (18) celebrates his interception against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Argonauts' Kevin Mital (10) leaps to evade a hit from Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Terrell Bonds (24) and scores a touchdown during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Argonauts' Dejon Brissett (18) celebrates his touchdown against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers with teammates during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
Toronto Argonauts quarterback Nick Arbuckle (4) passes against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers during the second half of a CFL football game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
