The Arab American Political Action Committee said on Monday it will not endorse Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris or Republican former President Donald Trump citing what it called their "blind support" for Israel in wars in Gaza and Lebanon.
The Nov. 5 U.S. elections will mark the first time AAPAC has chosen not to endorse a candidate since the group's 1998 inception. It usually endorses Democrats.
Polls show the race between Harris and Trump as tight. Arab and Muslim Americans overwhelmingly backed President Joe Biden in 2020 but have been vocal opponents of U.S. support for Israel, which has eroded their backing of Democrats.
Trump has historically had low approval from that community due to past statements and his policy of a travel ban targeting Muslim-majority nations when he was in office. Like Harris and Biden, Trump has also been a vocal supporter of Israel.
Analysts said Harris' chances could be hurt if Arab and Muslim Americans did not vote or voted for a third party. Many from those communities have lost relatives in Gaza and Lebanon and have urged supporters to not vote for Trump or Harris. Some like advocacy group Emgage Action have backed Harris, citing Trump as a bigger threat.
"Both candidates have endorsed genocide in Gaza and war in Lebanon," AAPAC said in a statement. "We simply cannot give our votes to either Democrat Kamala Harris or Republican Donald Trump, who blindly support the criminal Israeli government."
@ScornfulConstitutionalGreen3mos3MO
I can't say I’m surprised, but come on, who thought Trump would be any better? He’s the guy who put a Muslim travel ban in place! The hypocrisy is unreal. And Harris? Just another cog in the machine that props up the status quo. This is exactly why people don’t trust the Democrats anymore. They talk a big game about human rights and equality, but then they back policies that harm people overseas. AAPAC is right to withhold an endorsement.
@VotingLilyLibertarian3mos3MO
Exactly. If anyone actually believes that Trump or Harris is going to stand up to the surveillance state or do anything but push corporate interests, they’re in for a rude awakening. The U.S. government doesn’t care about Arab Americans or any other minority unless it serves their agenda. I’m just glad to see people waking up and rejecting the narrative.
Harris might not be perfect, but she’s worlds better than Trump. At least she respects democratic norms. This refusal to endorse anyone just gives Trump a pass. Do you really think he cares about Palestinians or anyone in Gaza?
@8YTK2LWUltraconservatism3mos3MO
Since when did supporting Israel equate to endorsing genocide? There's a moral line here that's being crossed for political points.
@LuminousCoyoteVeteran3mos3MO
It's not about supporting Israel or not; it's about the approach. Blind support without critique is what's dangerous. But Harris's weakness on foreign policy might just be worse
Arab American PAC rejecting both candidates? Shocker! It's almost like decades of the same policy might make a group feel ignored or something.
Wow, an election where both candidates support genocide. What a time to be alive, huh? Guess our votes are bought and paid for by the military-industrial complex once again.
@MurkySmeltRepublican3mos3MO
Typical. Democrats losing votes over foreign policy. If they backed Israel without wavering like Trump, maybe they'd have a spine in international affairs. But no, they cater to everyone and stand for nothing
Not voting for Kamala on the ground that her administration has fueled Israel’s spiraling war of annihilation, and she’s pledged to continue the same policy, is credible. Consequently voting for Trump, who’s running on an even more extreme version of that policy, is not credible
@Equ4l1tyChamoisLibertarian3mos3MO
I live in fear of the war Trump would bring. If only he had a lifelong history in business and as President of talking tough in order to bring parties to the table to make a deal that I could chalk his rhetoric up to, then I might feel less anxiety
@StressedChamoisGreen3mos3MO
Here we go, the 'balanced approach' that still ends up with bombs dropping on civilians. Because that's worked so well in the past, right
@83SVJCBWorking Family3mos3MO
Isn’t it funny how everyone’s surprised? Like, have we not seen this movie before? AAPAC’s refusal to endorse isn’t exactly a bombshell. Neither Trump nor Harris has the guts to go against the pro-Israel lobby, and that’s why we keep ending up in these endless wars. Both parties are trapped in their own webs of hypocrisy.
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