Pro-Trump Arab American group changing name after Gaza remarks

A pro-President Trump Arab American organization, which performed voter outreach on his behalf to the Arab American communities during his 2024 White House run, has changed its name after the commander in chief's remarks about taking over Gaza.

The group’s name was changed from “Arab Americans for Trump” to “Arab Americans for Peace” on Tuesday, according to Bishara Bahbah, the group’s chair.

Bahbah told The Hill in a phone interview on Wednesday that the group has thought of changing its name for some time.

“He won, so we needed movement on the momentum on what we have done, and we finally decided to change the name to Arab Americans for Peace,” Bahbah said. “Some in the press tried to tie what the president has said to our changing the name. In fact, it is connected and it's not.”

Bahbah credited Trump for being “able to enforce” the Gaza ceasefire reached last month between the Palestinian militant group Hamas and Israel.

“Peace continues to be the primary motive, and as such, led us to changing the name,” Bahnah said.

The chair said the group values the support of Trump and its relationship with him, but “we categorically reject the whole notion of displacing or removing or transferring the Palestinians in Gaza. There is no place for Palestinians to go.”

During a Tuesday press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump suggested that Palestinians in the enclave could be relocated and proposed an “economic development.”

“I think you’ll make that into an international, unbelievable place. … I don’t want to be cute, I don’t want to be a wise guy, but the Riviera of the Middle East. … This could be so magnificent,” Trump said, adding that U.S. troops could be used to secure Gaza “if it’s necessary.”

The White House defended the president’s remarks Wednesday. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a press briefing that Trump has “not committed to putting boots on the ground in Gaza. He has also said the United States is not going to pay for the rebuilding of Gaza.”

“The president has made it clear they need to be temporarily relocated out of Gaza for the rebuilding of this effort,” she said Wednesday. “Again, it’s a demolition site right now. It’s not a livable place for any human being.”

Bahbah’s organization mobilized voters in battleground states, such as Michigan, which Trump ended up winning. The president also won Dearborn, Mich., the largest majority Arab American city in the country.

“We appreciate the president’s offer to clean and rebuild Gaza. However, the purpose should be to make Gaza habitable for Palestinians and no one else,” Arab Americans for Peace said in a Wednesday press release.

“We strongly believe that the only lasting solution to the Israel-Palestine and the Israel-Arab conflict is a two-state solution — Israel and Palestine — living side by side in peace,” the group added.

Bahbah said he hoped the president would meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

Abbas said the party won’t allow Palestinian rights “to be infringed upon” and characterized Trump’s calls as “a serious violation of international law.”

American allies have also reaffirmed their commitment to a two-state solution, with Saudi Arabia stating it won’t work on diplomatic relations with Israel unless there’s a path for Palestinians to have an independent nation.

“The kingdom of Saudi Arabia also stresses what it had previously announced regarding its absolute rejection of infringement on the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, whether through Israeli settlement policies, annexation of Palestinian lands or efforts to displace the Palestinian people from their land,” Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry wrote Wednesday.

Topics

Palestinians and Arab states reject Trump's Gaza takeover proposal

The Palestinian president, Hamas and neighbouring countries condemn the idea of resettling Gazans abroad.
BBC News - 7h
Trump faces international backlash over Gaza remarks

The White House is facing growing backlash after President Trump’s stunning proposal to take over and “own” Gaza. NBC News’ Gabe Gutierrez and Yasmin Vossoughian report on how Trump’s proposed ...
NBC News - 11h
Arab Nations Reject Trump’s Suggestion to Displace Palestinians From Gaza

President Trump has suggested that Gazans should be evacuated from the devastated enclave and taken in by Jordan and Egypt.
The New York Times - 4d
Former American Airlines captain 'disgusted' by Trump crash remarks

A retired American Airlines flight captain said he is "disgusted" by President Trump's recent criticism of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) hiring practices in the wake of the deadly collision ...
The Hill - 4d
Mexico to question Google over Gulf name change after Trump order

Claudia Sheinbaum says US government does not have right to change name of Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America. Mexico will send a letter to Google to question its decision to change the name of the ...
The Guardian - Jan. 29
Arab American voters helped Trump win Michigan. What will his presidency bring?

President Trump came to the city of Dearborn looking for votes. He won the city and took Michigan in a startling reversal for Democrats.
CBS News - Jan. 22
Why many Arab American voters in Michigan shifted to Trump

More than half of residents in Dearborn, Michigan, are Arab American, a group that has historically supported Democrats. However, November's election saw Dearborn voters shift toward President ...
CBS News - Jan. 22
Florida hotel discriminated against Arab American group, DOJ says

The Florida hotel canceled a summit held by the Arab America Foundation almost a month after the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
CBS News - Jan. 17
Here's what Trump said on Jan. 6 pardons, Gulf of Mexico name change and Israeli hostages in Gaza

President-elect Donald Trump held a press conference a day after the 2024 election results were certified by Congress. Trump announced a deal with Dubai developer DAMAC Properties to build data ...
CBS News - Jan. 7

More from The Hill

Senate Democrats vow rare overnight session to protest Trump’s 'most dangerous nominee'

Senate Democrats are bracing to stay in the chamber overnight to make the case against the nomination of Russell Vought to serve as the White House’s next budget chief, who is expected to be ...
The Hill - 1h
A dozen West Point cadet clubs ordered to disband, all others paused

The U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., has ordered a dozen cadet extracurricular and social clubs to immediately and permanently "cease all activities," with all affected groups centered on ...
The Hill - 1h
GOP support for Musk influence with Trump falls dramatically: Poll

The share of Republicans who say they want tech billionaire Elon Musk to have significant influence in the Trump administration has fallen substantially in the months since President Trump was ...
The Hill - 1h
5 takeaways as Trump’s Gaza Strip proposal reverberates

Aftershocks reverberated Wednesday from President Trump’s declaration the previous day that the United States should take “long-term ownership” of Gaza and that the Palestinians who live there ...
The Hill - 2h
Kinzinger says Democrats ‘suprised and flat footed’ after Musk actions on federal government

Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) said Democrats have appeared “surprised and flat footed” after actions taken by tech billionaire Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) on ...
The Hill - 2h