A prominent group that once championed Trump’s outreach to Arab American voters is stepping back from the former president after his recent comments on the Gaza Strip. The organization, formerly known as Arab Americans for Trump, has officially changed its name to Arab Americans for Peace.
Bishara Bahbah, the group’s chairman, announced the rebranding during a phone interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday. The decision follows Trump’s controversial remarks at a Tuesday press conference alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House. During the event, Trump proposed that the U.S. should “take over” the Gaza Strip and suggested transforming the area into “the Riviera of the Middle East.”
Trump’s comments drew immediate criticism from many within the Arab American community, who saw the statements as both dismissive of Palestinian sovereignty and insensitive to the ongoing conflict in the region. The name change reflects the group’s shift in priorities, signaling a move away from political affiliation toward a broader mission of advocating for peace in the Middle East.
