The Muslim Voter: US Presidential Election 2024 and Beyond

With the 2024 U.S. Presidential election nearing, a shift is emerging in what is commonly known as ‘The Muslim Vote’ – Muslim voting patterns, both in the United States of America and globally.

Once a loyal bloc for Democrats, many American Muslims are reconsidering their political allegiances. The growing disillusionment with the Democratic Party, exacerbated by concerns over home and foreign interference, cultural alienation, and policy failures, has led many to explore alternatives—ranging from Green Party candidates to, support for the former US President Donald J Trump.

This trend has also caught the attention of The Labour Party in Britain, known for its strong ties to the Democratic Party establishment. Labour, faces its own identity crisis with shifting ethnic votes, has long used its influence to support U.S. Democrats. But, American Muslims and other minority groups are increasingly uncomfortable with the traditional Left.

Labour’s Role in U.S. Election Interference

Recent reports have pointed out that key figures in the Labour Party are interferring in U.S. elections, primarily to support the Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris. A particular figure of note is Sofia Patel, a well-connected British political operative, who according to her own social media posts facilitated the transfer of over 100 Labour Party workers to assist U.S. Democrats in key swing states.

Adding to the above another example is the now British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, previously made inflammatory remarks about Donald Trump, describing him as a “Nazi,” is no stranger to controversy, before the post of Sofia Patel, David Lammy along with our Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with Donald Trump to smooth things over.

Now that Donald Trump is campaigning for a return to the White House, a renewed Trump presidency may carry consequences for foreign actors, who have meddled in U.S. elections.

I hope there won’t be diplomatic repercussions for the UK but after speaking with some people close to the Trump Vance 2024 Campaign there may be some sort of action against individual entities involved in the United Kingdom who sought to undermine the election process in the event of President Trump coming into power again.

The Muslim Vote Shift: From the Left to the Right

The 2020 election revealed discontent among Muslim voters toward the Democratic Party, from their failure to address the concerns of socially conservative Muslims as well as policies in the Middle East. Now the Democrats’ traditional hold on minority especially Muslim voters is unravelling.

Many Muslim voters like other minorities have conservative views on family, religious freedom, and education, they feel alienated by the Democrats’ focus on identity politics and social liberalism, particularly their promotion of extreme “woke” ideas like multiple genders.

Feeling that the Left’s policies undermine traditional values, many American Muslims are now seeing the Republican Party, especially in its populist forms under leaders like Donald Trump, as a more viable and aligned alternative.

The Rise of Third-Party Support

A growing number of Muslim Americans are also turning to third-party candidates like Jill Stein, the Green Party candidate, as a form of protest against both major political parties. The thing to remember is Muslim Americans like other Americans are supporting the Green Party as a way to punish Democrats for failing to fulfill their promises.

This shift is significant because it highlights a growing confidence among the Muslim voter who no longer feels bound to the “House Muslim” mentality often associated with Democratic politics in the United States or Labour politics in the United Kingdom.

In the past, Muslim voters traditionally supported the Democrats, and now increasingly accuse the Democrats of using them as political footballs without seriously addressing their concerns. Now American Muslims are asserting their independence and demanding policies that reflect their values.

Kamala Harris: Playing on Identity to Court Muslim Voters?

Harris is now struggling to connect with American Muslim voters like other minorities, many of whom feel her campaign’s outreach efforts lack sincerity. Despite attempts to leverage her ‘Muslim sounding’ name and identity politics to win Muslim and Arab votes, Harris has no direct ties to either community. Instead of addressing critical issues like foreign policy or anti-Muslim hate, she and the Democrats continue to push a generic cover all “Islamophobia” narrative, which is losing traction.

This mirrors the experience when Rashad Hussain, the U.S. Ambassador for Freedom of Religion, visited the UK Parliament with Congresswoman Ilhan Omar. Rather than engaging meaningfully with broader faith communities, they opted for photo-ops with a small group of handpicked Muslims.

This left a negative impression not only among British Muslims but also with other faith groups, who wanted serious discussions on broader hate issues, such as anti-Christian, anti-Jewish, anti-Hindu, alongside anti-Muslim bigotry.

Harris’s failure to address these deeper concerns and instead play performative politics has alienated voters who sought genuine solutions, not tokenism. Many now see through the Democrats’ attempts to court them through gatekeepers and activists disconnected from the community’s core issues.

This growing disillusionment would obviously lead some to consider alternatives, including the Republican Party and Green Party, where they hope for more straightforward and substantive engagement within the United States and internationally.

The Role of Emgage and Soros: Political Manipulation?

Emgage, a nonprofit organization aligned with the Democratic Party, has been instrumental in mobilizing Muslim voters for Democratic candidates. However, Emgage’s ties to donors, linked to billionaire George Soros, have raised concerns. As reported by CNBC, Soros and his affiliated organizations have funnelled millions into political groups supporting the Democratic Party. Add to this the recent engagement of George Soros’s son, Alex Soros, to Huma Abedin, a close aide to Hillary Clinton and a figure many within the counter-extremism field considered to have ties to the Muslim Brotherhood.

This connection fuels suspicions of a larger, more orchestrated political manipulation, tying together progressive billionaires, Woke Leftists, Muslim Brotherhood operatives, and Democratic operatives in an effort to reshape U.S. politics nationally and internationally.

The Stakes of the 2024 Election: A Choice Between Two Futures

The stakes of the 2024 election could not be higher.

This election raises concerns about the future of stability within the U.S. and its affect globally – particularly if Kamala Harris were to win.

Many fear her progressive, interventionist policies will accelerate America’s decline as a superpower and lead to further destabilization, especially in the Middle East and Europe. Some have speculated that under the Biden-Harris Administration, the seeds of a larger global conflict—possibly World War 3—have already being sown. A Harris presidency could also reignite an “Arab Spring 2.0,” where social media-driven unrest, originally ignited under Obama-Clinton policies, could destabilize entire nations especially in the age of Artificial Intelligence coupled with traditional social media.

Contrast this with Donald Trump who is still viewed favorably by many around the world, from the masses to political leaders. His “America First” approach is now seen as a potential path to peace and stability, especially when compared to the turmoil triggered by Democratic foreign interventions.

The fear of Harris continuing this legacy as President, particularly through alliances with its network of activists and social media operatives which have been built up with money and open influence under the Obama and then Biden Administrations, suggests a dangerous recipe for global chaos that we will need to collectively address before its too late.

If Harris wins, expect further activism abroad, driven by those connected to her campaign, and the potential activation of networks across the Muslim world, causing even deeper international unrest. Such networks would thrive under Harris-Walz but could be reined in under a Trump-led government. The stakes are high, and how the U.S. engages internationally over the next few years will profoundly impact global peace, economics and stability.

So what is at Stake for Muslims?

As Muslims, this election is not about choosing between two candidates, but about the future of our communities globally. Whether American Muslims or British Muslims, we must engage honestly and transparently with U.S. policies.

Under a Republican president like Donald J Trump, we expect a more straightforward, no-nonsense dialogue across the diversity of Muslims and issues.

Under a Democratic president like Kamala Harris, we are likely to be relegated to dealing with “House Muslims” – figures who prioritize their own self-interest rather than those of the broader Muslim community or wider communities.

This election offers us all an opportunity to reset our role in global conversations and demand policies that reflect our common values and priorities as human beings not just as Muslims. But regardless if we are Muslim or not, we must not shy away speaking truth to power, from calling out U.S. policies to holding leaders accountable, regardless of party affiliation – it is a sign of a healthy people and strong leadership that listens.

Mohammed Abbasi

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