Sections
Search

  • Politics
  • Economics & Finance
  • Business & Entrepreneurship
  • Art & Culture
  • Science & Technology
  • Environment & Climate Change
  • World
  • World Leaders
  • The Americas
  • Europe
  • Middle East & North Africa
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • United States
  • India
  • China
  • Russia
  • About
  • Authors
  • Publications
  • Events
  • Multimedia
  • Videos
  • Podcasts
  • Events
  • Russia
  • Publications
  • Authors
  • About
Fair Observer

MULTIMEDIA

Russians — The Great, the Gifted and the Terrible

Fair Observer

VIDEOS

FO° Talks: US–Israeli Relations Explained, Part 3: Shifting Coalitions

Fair Observer

PODCASTS

Julien Reitzenstein on Understanding the Rise of Fascism in the Modern World

PUBLICATIONS

Fair Observer

Support Fair Observer

We rely on your support for our independence, diversity and quality.

Donate Now
Fair Observer Logo
Support us
Search
  • FO° Events
  • Support FO°
  • Login
Fair Observer Logo
Podcasts

These Middle Easterners Support Donald Trump

By Razan Alzayani & Hebah Fisher & Kerning Cultures Network
Follow
Follow
Follow
Razan Alzayani, Hebah Fisher, Kerning Cultures Network
@ralzayani
@fishermandow
@kerningcultures
SHARE
October 15, 2016 23:30 EDT
Check out our comment feature!

Saved Successfully.

This article saved into your bookmarks. Click here to view your bookmarks.

My Bookmarks

“Donald J. Trump is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country’s representatives can figure out what the hell is going on,” reads Donald Trump, the 2016 Republican nominee for president at a rally in December 2015, following the San Bernardino shooting in the United States.

You can imagine our intrigue when we learned that there is a growing movement among Americans of Middle Eastern descent, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, who are supporting Trump.

We spoke with Hossein Khorram, an Iranian Muslim American living in Seattle, who is a fundraiser for Trump Victory Inc. So far, he has raised $140,000 for the Trump campaign.

Iranian Revolution of 1979

Hossein was born in northern Tehran, went to public schools and, in the 1970s, he remembers “when everything went south.”

“I clearly recall the inception of the revolution in Iran,” remembers Hossein. “They were a small group of people, not popular. In my high school maybe 5% were the Islamists. [And] 95% were people like me who respect the religion and God, and Prophet Muhammad, but felt that was not a license to override other people with.”

As the Islamic Revolution picked up momentum in Iran, Hossein’s parents encouraged their two sons to go abroad for their schooling. So Hossein got a visa and went to the US. His family followed him a few months later, but his father, Farhad Khorram, continued going back and forth to check on the family business. Farhad and his brother owned a large manufacturing company with a couple hundred employees selling fireproof safes and metal cabinetry in Tehran.

On one trip back to Tehran, Farhad was planning a hunting trip with his brother and four friends, about 3,400 miles away from the capital. As he spoke freely about the trip in his office, one man from the Foundation of the Weak, Bonyad Mostazafan, was stationed at the office as a guard and overheard his plans. These foundations were notorious during the time of the revolution for doing political work under the guise of charitable organizations, including seizing private assets.

“And when [my father] went hunting, the revolutionary guards were waiting for them.” The guards claimed his father and friends were plotting a coup against the regime as enemies of God, and they pointed to the weapons Farhad and friends were carrying as proof of their ill intent. The guards blindfolded Farhad and party, put them in a mini bus and drove them to the Evin Prison, which is notorious for its executions and political prisoners.

At the prison, the guards brought pieces of paper, handed them to Farhad and the others, and instructed the group to write their wills because they were going to be executed.

Donald Trump, Donald Trump for president, Supporters of Donald Trump, Middle Eastern supporters of Donald Trump, news on Donald Trump, news on the US presidential election, 2016 US presidential election news, news on America, Hillary Clinton, Iranian Americans

Hossein Khorram © Hebah Fisher

The guards blindfolded them and lined them up, but instead of shooting at them, they shot into the air. “It took them a few minutes to kind of touch and figure out which world they were in—is it this world or the next? And after a minute or so, no they’re not dead yet, they’re still here.” The guards said they changed their minds and would execute the group in the morning.

The following morning, the guards lined the group up and shot in the air. This went on for four or five days. Each day, Hossein’s father was told that he would be executed, and by the next morning the guards changed their minds. Eventually, his father was transferred to a different prison where he was held for another eight months. Then, one day, the clergy walked up to Farhad and offered him a deal: Pay $80,000 as compensation for their hospitality, and they would let him out for a vacation for one day.

“My aunt came up with the money, and they had him leave for one day, but the understanding was he would never come back.”

By this time, the regime had seized all the Khorram family’s assets, and Hossein’s father had nothing—they lost possession of their houses, bank accounts, everything. The family borrowed money from friends, and Farhad was driven to the border and escaped into Pakistan. At the kindness of strangers, he found his way to the US to reunite with his family, and they began rebuilding their lives.

Middle Eastern Supporters of Donald Trump

Today, Hossein lives in Seattle in the United States and is a real estate developer. We met him in one of his buildings, an apartment complex that has Trump/Pence signs hanging off the balconies. Most of the tenants are Iranians—older men and women who sit in the common room and play board games, talking in Farsi. And most are voting for Trump for the same reasons as Hossein.

“Politics tore our life apart,” says Hossein. “Before this revolution, we were just ordinary people who didn’t really care for politics, but we paid a very dear price. Our life became political. I became active in the Iranian resistance to the regime. And one thing that compels me to the Trump campaign is the way appeasement policies have not paid off. Since President [Barack] Obama signed the nuclear agreement with Iran … we have to let go of appeasement, and the time is now.”

Among Christian Arabs or ethno-minorities such as Yazidis, Assyrians and Chaldeans, supporters of Trump feel that the US has not been tough enough on rising Islamist extremism that threatens their home country communities. “We don’t think that a third Obama term is going to be good for the Middle East,” says David William Lazar, a member of the American Mid East Coalition for Trump. “And by third Obama term I mean Hillary Clinton. So we looked at what Mr. Trump was saying about his Middle East policies, and that’s why we’re working to get him elected.”

The American Mid East Coalition for Trump comprises Lebanese, Iraqis, Assyrians, Turks and Iranians, who outline seven of Trump’s Middle East policies they support:

“(1) His opposition to the destructive Iran Deal signed by the Obama administration with the Ayatollah regime in Tehran; (2) His firm opposition to the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamist influence in the United States; (3) His determination to destroy ISIS [Islamic State] and push back against all terror groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah and all other Jihadi terror groups; (4) His willingness to take action in defense of the persecuted Christians and Yazidis in the Middle East; (5) His determination to help in the creation of free zones inside Syria and Iraq to resettle the refugees; (6) His support for the formation of an Arab coalition against terrorists; (7) His vision to help the Middle East become stable and prosper.”

One rising sentiment seems to be that while Hillary Clinton is politically correct, her policies voting twice for the PATRIOT Act and for the Iraq War have adversely impacted the Middle East as a region and its diaspora population in the US. We heard a lot of: “I’d rather have someone slap me in the face than stab me in the back. At least I know what I’m dealing with.”

Or, we heard that Trump’s volatility and unfamiliarity with politics are perceived as his strengths: “I’m going to vote for Trump,” says Ray Hanania, a Palestinian American journalist living in Chicago. “Even though it’s a 50/50 risk he may be just as bad as Hillary … or! Maybe, there’s a chance, because he’s so uncontrollable, that he could turn out to be the catalyst that changes the dynamics of how this country deals with the Middle East. Now, people say, oh that’s a big if! But I say, OK, it’s a chance. But you know, when you gamble, you’re taking a chance, and I’m willing to risk it with him rather than risk with somebody I know is going to take me down a road I don’t want to go down.”

While statistics are difficult to gather with any certainty on the Middle Eastern American population in the US, one survey by the Council on American-Islamic Relations in March 2016 found that 11% of their surveyed 1,850 registered Muslim voters across six states support Donald Trump.

From our on-the-ground conversations with Middle Eastern Americans in Maryland, Washington, DC, Chicago, Los Angeles and Seattle, we found quite a few who plan to vote for Trump—some are silent in their support, some are vocal.

*[Author’s note: The views expressed herein do not reflect the views of Kerning Cultures and company. This feature was originally published on Kerning Cultures, a partner institution of Fair Observer.]

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Fair Observer’s editorial policy.

More Episodes

Julien Reitzenstein on Understanding the Rise of Fascism in the Modern World

In this powerful episode, Rod Berger engages with historian Julien Reitzenstein to unpack the modern resurgence of fascism worldwide. Reitzenstein...

Julien Reitzenstein & Dr. Rod Berger, May 26, 2025
Fair Observer

Why Donald Trump Targets Harvard, and Why That Matters

Fair Observer Editor-in-Chief Atul Singh and retired CIA Officer Glenn Carle dissect the political and cultural significance of Donald Trump’s...

Glenn Carle & Atul Singh, May 24, 2025
Fair Observer

FO° Podcasts: Iran’s Axis of Resistance Is Now in Shambles. What Next?

This discussion covers the collapse of Iran’s Axis of Resistance, a network of militant proxies and allied states central to...

Khosro Isfahani & Atul Singh, May 3, 2025
Fair Observer

Shifting Geopolitical Winds Post-Election with Atul Singh

Rod Berger interviews Atul Singh, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Fair Observer, to analyze the global reactions to a significant US...

Atul Singh & Dr. Rod Berger, February 15, 2025
Fair Observer

Must Listen

Donald Trump Is Back. The World Is Worried.

Donald Trump represents a return to isolationism and nativism, two long-standing tendencies in American politics. These tendencies have led to...

by Atul Singh & Glenn Carle, February 9, 2025
Fair Observer

Religious Freedom Hangs in the Balance in Syria

HTS, an Islamist group with al-Qaeda roots, is now the strongest force in Syria. The fallen Assad regime, while brutal,...

by Flavius Mihaies & Atul Singh, January 1, 2025
Fair Observer

Donald Trump Is Back. Why, and What Happens Now?

Antoine van Agtmael, a sage of our times who coined the term “emerging markets” in 1981, discusses Donald Trump’s victory,...

by Atul Singh & Antoine van Agtmael, December 17, 2024
Fair Observer

Making Sense of the New Trumponomics Starting in 2025

Trumponomics 2.0 combines deregulation, tax cuts and tariff threats to boost US manufacturing. How exactly this will be implemented remains...

by Christopher Roper Schell & Atul Singh, December 15, 2024
Fair Observer

Making Sense of South Africa's Rich History

South Africa's history is a journey from colonization and racial injustice to resistance and the overthrow of apartheid. In this...

by Atul Singh & Martin Plaut, November 8, 2024
Fair Observer

A Swiss Perspective on World Affairs Today

Switzerland plays a pivotal role in global diplomacy and trade, engaging in peace talks and economic partnerships across various regions....

by Thomas Greminger & Atul Singh, October 31, 2024
Fair Observer

Making Sense of Rising Tensions in the Horn of Africa

Tensions in the Horn of Africa are escalating, driven by disputes over Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam, which threatens Egypt's vital...

by Martin Plaut & Atul Singh, October 25, 2024
Fair Observer

The Quad’s Evolution From Providing Public Goods to Security Cooperation

Professor Haruko Satoh from the Osaka School of International Public Policy and Dr. Satu Limaye, Vice President and Research Program...

by Satu Limaye & Haruko Satoh, September 22, 2024
Fair Observer

 

Fair Observer, 461 Harbor Blvd, Belmont, CA 94002, USA

Sections

  • Politics
  • Economics & Finance
  • Business & Entrepreneurship
  • Art & Culture
  • Science & Technology
  • Environment & Climate Change
  • World Leaders
  • World
  • The Americas
  • Europe
  • Middle East & North Africa
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • United States
  • India
  • China
  • Russia
  • Events
  • Publications
  • Authors
  • About
  • Publish
  • Contact
  • Login
Fair Observer

MULTIMEDIA

Russians — The Great, the Gifted and the Terrible

Fair Observer

VIDEOS

FO° Talks: US–Israeli Relations Explained, Part 3: Shifting Coalitions

Fair Observer

PODCASTS

Julien Reitzenstein on Understanding the Rise of Fascism in the Modern World

PUBLICATION

Fair Observer

Fair Observer Monthly: March 2025

Support Fair Observer

We rely on your support for our independence, diversity and quality.

Donate Now
© Fair Observer All rights reserved
Designed, Developed and Maintained by Netleon IT Solutions
Fair Observer Education Logo Fair Observer Leadership Academy Logo

    Fill below form to share your concern with us

    *Indicates required field

    BOOKMARK

    Want to save this post?
    Click to Login

    Support independent, crowdsourced nonprofit journalism.

    Fair Observer is a 501(c)(3) independent nonprofit. We are not owned by billionaires or controlled by advertisers. We publish nearly 3,000 authors from over 90 countries after fact-checking and editing each piece. We do not have a paywall and anyone can read us for free. With your vital donations, we can continue to do our work.

    Please make a recurring (or even one-time) donation today. Even $1 goes a long way because a million donors like you mean one million dollars. Thank you for keeping us independent, free and fair.

    One Time Monthly Yearly

    Sign into your Fair Observer Account

    • Lost your password?
    Forgot Password

    Forgot Password

    Enter your registered email address or username. You will receive a link to create a new password via email.

    • Log in

    Or
    Return to Login

    Forgot Password

    We have sent a link to your registered email address to reset your password.

    Back to Login

    Become a Member & Enjoy Exclusive Benefits!

    • Access to comments feature
    • Bookmark your favorite articles
    • Exclusive invitations to FO° Talks & FO° Live
    • Access to all of our e-publications
    Explore Membership
    Return to Login

    NEWSLETTER

    Make Sense of the World

    Unique Insights from 2,500+ Contributors in 90+ Countries

    NEWSLETTER

    Make Sense of the World

    Unique Insights from 2,500+ Contributors in 90+ Countries

    Fair observer

    Make Sense of the World

    Unique Insights from 2,500+ Contributors in 90+ Countries

    We Need Your Consent
    We use cookies to give you the best possible experience. Learn more about how we use cookies or edit your cookie preferences. Privacy Policy. My Options I Accept
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Edit Cookie Preferences

    The Fair Observer website uses digital cookies so it can collect statistics on how many visitors come to the site, what content is viewed and for how long, and the general location of the computer network of the visitor. These statistics are collected and processed using the Google Analytics service. Fair Observer uses these aggregate statistics from website visits to help improve the content of the website and to provide regular reports to our current and future donors and funding organizations. The type of digital cookie information collected during your visit and any derived data cannot be used or combined with other information to personally identify you. Fair Observer does not use personal data collected from its website for advertising purposes or to market to you.

    As a convenience to you, Fair Observer provides buttons that link to popular social media sites, called social sharing buttons, to help you share Fair Observer content and your comments and opinions about it on these social media sites. These social sharing buttons are provided by and are part of these social media sites. They may collect and use personal data as described in their respective policies. Fair Observer does not receive personal data from your use of these social sharing buttons. It is not necessary that you use these buttons to read Fair Observer content or to share on social media.

     
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    These cookies essential for the website to function.
    Social Media
    These cookies are used to enable sharing or following of content that you find interesting on our website. These settings apply to third-party social networking and other websites.
    Performance & Functionality
    These cookies are used to enhance the performance and functionality of our website. They provide statistics on how our website is used and help us improve by measuring errors. Certain functionalities on our website may become unavailable without these cookies.
    Analytics
    SAVE & ACCEPT

    Total Views: 592