Stop Blaming Muslim Americans for the 2024 Election Results

With a fascist in the White House, we need to stand united against racism and disinformation, not enable it

Since my article detailing Donald Trump’s “Muslim Ban 2.0” (and hundreds of other fascist Executive Orders) I have received an onslaught of painful messages claiming “American Muslims are getting what we deserved.” The claim goes that because American Muslims were critical of Biden and Harris for arming Netanyahu, even as he committed war crimes and genocide, they are why Harris lost. Therefore, American Muslims are allegedly to blame for Trump’s election, and deserve the cruelty Trump is meting out. The facts and receipts demonstrate that this conclusion is not only racist and cruel, it is flat out false. If we have any hope of stopping Trump’s fascism, it is critical we work together, not fight one another. Let’s Address This.

Pictured: Ishraq Ali [Photo Credit: GETTY]

I break this short article into three parts:

1. A snapshot of the cruel, racist, and propagandized comments I’ve received in response to my article about Trump’s Muslim ban 2.0.

2. A clearly laid out factual rebuttal to the disinformation dividing us right now.

3. A call for unity against hate and disinformation

1. A Snapshot of the Racism and Propaganda

People had opinions in response to my article on Trump’s Muslim Ban version 2.0. Some were just calloused, concluding they don’t care and now Muslims will “find out” the consequences of their actions.

Other responses were much more sinister, making a mockery of the suffering of millions, and further laughing at the idea of American Muslims being “dragged off to one of Trump’s gulags.” And for good measure, added the same “FAFO” comment.

And yet others delved into the most bizarre disinformation imaginable. While Michigan actually has about 241,000 total American Muslims, somehow that number is now 3.7 million(!) (which would be about 40% of Michigan’s total population) who voted for Trump. That would assume that some Muslims also voted for Harris, thus putting the actual number of Muslims in Michigan as easily more than half the state’s population.

The irony of the above person blaming me for “not doing research,” is not lost on me. And it is not just me receiving such hate—I’ve spoken to dozens of my fellow American Muslims who are on the receiving end of similar backlash. So, while I could share more such grotesque comments and emails, suffice it to say, this disinformation and hate solves nothing. It does accomplish one thing, however—it advances the Trump agenda of fear, disunity, and distrust among American citizens. The more divided we are, the stronger he is. That is why we must rely on facts, truth, and compassion to stand united against hate.

So to set the record straight, what are the facts about American Muslims and the 2024 election?

2. The Facts About American Muslims in the 2024 Election

Fact: American Muslims overwhelmingly voted Democrat

Let’s start with how American Muslims voted overall and nationwide. According to an exit poll survey of more than 100,000 voters, run in a joint project by the AP and Fox, American Muslims overwhelmingly voted for the Democratic ticket both in 2020 and in 2024. In fact, they voted for Harris by a larger margin (+30%)than they voted for Biden (+29%).

•2020: 64% Biden, 35% Trump

•2024: 62% Harris, 32% Trump

Moreover, the Harris/Walz ticket didn’t just lose Michigan—they sadly lost all seven swing states needed to win the election, including states with an infinitesimal population of American Muslims, and also lost the popular vote. I state this not to pour salt on a wound, but to reiterate that to lay this blame at the feet of an already marginalized and tiny community is simply unfair and illogical. But moreover, we all saw this coming.

Fact: Polling Told Us This Could Happen - The Democratic Party Didn’t Listen

As I wrote in my post election analysis documenting what went wrong in the Democratic Party:

American Muslims comprise of roughly 1% of the United States population. The vote some American Muslims withheld due to Biden’s policy on Israel did not impact the election results. But the Biden administration’s refusal to listen to 77% of Democrats, 63% of moderates, and 61% of all Americans [who wanted Biden to stop arming Netanyahu], absolutely did.

Yes, months and months before the election, polling confirmed that the Democratic Party would dramatically increase its likelihood of winning in November if it broke from Netanyahu and stopped arming him to commit war crimes and genocide. And, conversely, increase its likelihood of losing if it did not divest from arming Netanyahu.

To reshare what I detailed in Summer 2024, a YouGov/IMEU Policy Project poll among Democrats and Independents in the swing states of Arizona, Georgia, and Pennsylvania, found that the Harris/Walz path to victory included announcing a cessation of arms to Netanyahu (as our Leahy Laws required).

• In Arizona, 35% of voters said they would be more likely to vote for the Harris if she vowed to stop weapons to Israel. Only 5% said they are less likely to vote for that policy—a 7:1 ratio of voter support in a state Biden won by only 11,000 votes.

• In Georgia, 39% of voters said they are more likely to vote for Harris if she vowed to stop weapons to Israel. Only 5% said they are less likely to vote for that policy—an 8:1 ratio of voter support in a state that Biden won by 12,000 votes.

• In Pennsylvania, 34% of voters in Pennsylvania said they are more likely to vote for Harris if she vowed to stop weapons to Israel. Only 7% said they would be less likely to vote for that policy—a 5:1 ratio of voter support in a state Biden won by only 82,000 votes.

Instead, as well documented, despite Biden’s own State Department repeatedly confirming that Netanyahu committed war crimes, Biden continued to arm him. Why is anyone surprised this upset tens of millions of voters (not just American Muslims)? Unsurprisingly, post election polling further affirms that of those who chose not to vote for Harris, the top reason that motivated them to stay home was the Biden administration’s decision to continue to fund Netanyahu despite his documented war crimes and genocide, and Harris not distancing herself from him on the issue:

A [January] poll released by IMEU Policy Project and conducted by YouGov found what few in the Democratic Party have been willing to admit: Vice President Harris lost votes because of the Biden administration’s support for Israel’s genocide of Palestinians in Gaza. [Overall], 29% of voters nationally who voted for Biden in 2020 and cast a ballot for someone besides Kamala Harris in 2024 say “ending Israel’s violence in Gaza” was the top issue affecting their vote choice, with the economy a close second at 24%.

None of this is to argue that Trump will be “better” for Palestinians. He will be a fascist. Likewise, none of this is to play “Monday morning quarterback.” It is to establish that the polling repeatedly predicted this loss is what would happen. It is not a surprise. Human rights advocates like myself and many others warned well in advance that this was the risk the Democratic Party ran in continuing to bend the knee to Netanyahu. I, for one, cannot understand why Biden looked at these facts and decided to risk American democracy at the doorstep of Netanyahu’s war crimes. Indeed, when our elected officials support grotesque policies—everyone loses.

Fact: This Anti-Muslim Demonization is Grounded in Racism and Disinformation

American Muslims have just as much right to petition our government for a redress of grievances as does anyone else—as our Constitution guarantees. For the American Muslim community, and indeed for tens of millions more Americans, the genocide in Gaza was a major issue. It is their Constitutional right to express their outrage. Yet, despite the Democratic Party not listening to the plea of American Muslims, the American Muslim community overwhelmingly voted Blue, outdone only by the Jewish community and by those who ascribe to no faith. This shows that despite the outrage and injustice, American Muslims did realize that Trump is not our savior by any stretch, and were nuanced enough to vote accordingly for Harris.

Meanwhile, American Christians (who still represent the majority of Americans) overwhelmingly voted for Trump three elections in a row. The majority of white Americans (who still represent the majority of Americans) overwhelmingly voted for Trump three elections in a row. To instead direct outrage at an already marginalized community that still overwhelmingly voted for Democrats—despite a genocide impacting their lives and families—is the height of absurdity and absolutely grounded in racism and otherizing of American Muslims. This is not a path for unity, but a path to further enabling Trump. We must demand and do better.

3. A Concluding Call For Unity Against Hate

If you were previously misinformed about the role American Muslims played in the 2024 election, I hope this article helped you rectify your understanding. And I thank you for taking the time to read and understand.

The bottom line is this. We face an existential threat to our Republic in the White House. A man who is clear about his intentions to become a dictator, and is already acting upon that intention. We do not have the time to engage in such demonization—particularly as it is built on disinformation and propaganda. My ask of all my fellow Americans is to recognize that we only survive this administration if we stand united on the principles of justice, while leading with compassion, and holding fast to truth.

That is my commitment to you, and that is why I am grateful for your trust and support. We cannot waste time demonizing one another when the end goal we have is the same—form a more perfect Union built on economic, social, and climate justice, human rights, compassion, separation of religion and state, and with elected officials who believe in democracy, not dictatorship. If that describes you, then I am glad you are here. Thank you for being here.

Let us stand firmly together to make that vision a reality.