Ex-Hamtramck mayor says Trump named him Arab American affairs adviser

Charles E. Ramirez, The Detroit News on Nov 2, 2026

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DETROIT — Former Hamtramck Mayor Amer Ghalib said he was appointed by U.S. President Donald Trump as an envoy and adviser.

"I would like to express my sincere gratitude to President Trump for appointing me as his Envoy and Advisor for Arab American Affairs, and for his continued trust and support," Ghalib wrote in an Oct. 21 Facebook post.

"While I cannot promise to resolve every challenge facing Arab Americans across the United States, I can promise to be a strong and dedicated voice for Arab American communities in the White House, ensuring that their concerns are heard and their perspectives are represented. I will also continue serving as Senior Advisor for Strategic Partnerships at AmeriCorps, a federal agency dedicated to advancing national service and civic engagement throughout the United States and its territories."

Officials for the White House were not immediately available for comment on Monday.

Ghalib, an immigrant from Yemen, ousted incumbent Hamtramck mayor Karen Majewski in 2021.

Trump asked for his endorsement in the 2024 presidential election over Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, according to Ghalib. The then-mayor announced his endorsement for Trump less than a week later.

Ghalib and three members of Hamtramck's city council attended Trump's 2025 inauguration.

In March 2025, Trump nominated Ghalib to be the U.S. ambassador to Kuwait. However, at least four Republican U.S. senators said they would not support his appointment, leaving him without enough votes to advance out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Ghalib said he wouldn't withdraw from being nominated.

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