AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): Donald Trump, the U.S. President, in an effort to undermine the Democrats' image in the midterm elections, called them "jihadists." These remarks, which reflect the continuation of anti-Muslim policies in U.S. election campaigns, have sparked anger among the Muslim community and civil rights activists.
Trump, in remarks reminiscent of his Islamophobic and fascist nature, claimed, "We are seeing the election of jihadists everywhere." By linking Muslim candidates to concepts such as communism and jihadism, he attempted to use fear-mongering tactics to incite his voter base against the presence of Muslims in the political arena.
The U.S. President further targeted the Somali-American community in these racist remarks, saying, "They are not smart, they have no talent, they have no achievements, and now they are telling us how to run our country." This comes after he had previously made similar remarks, calling Somali immigrants "trash," reflecting the depth of his contemptuous view of non-white communities.
In this regard, some Muslim figures who have achieved victories in recent elections have been the target of direct attacks by Trump, including Abdul El-Sayed in the Michigan Senate primary and Zohran Mamdani in the New York mayoral race. Trump, by publishing biased images on social media, incited his supporters against these individuals, falsely claiming, "They are coming to take your homes and property."
Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, in response to these racist attacks, told CNN, "Trump and his wife's image shows two people who do not love each other but have united to take billions of dollars from your pocket; while my wife's and my image shows two people who genuinely love each other."
The Islamophobic atmosphere within the Republican Party is not limited to Trump; South Carolina Senator and Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Tim Scott also defended the ads against El-Sayed, raising allegations about his alignment with resistance groups. Additionally, figures such as Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville brazenly labeled Muslim candidates as "radical Islamists" and "terrorists."
In this hate-mongering campaign, South Carolina Representative Nancy Mace also joined in, making derogatory remarks claiming that "every Muslim in office in America is a Trojan horse and a threat to our national security and republic." This rhetoric shows how power institutions in the United States use the keyword "national security" to suppress the presence of Muslims in the public sphere.
However, a few voices within the Republican camp have also warned against this trend. Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy, in a different reaction, condemned these remarks.
Also, Edward Ahmed Mitchell, the Deputy Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), strongly criticized Trump and warned that "President Trump, by describing Muslim officials as a threat, is effectively placing a target on the backs of Muslim elected officials across the country."
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