President Biden has dispatched administration officials to meet with Arab American and Muslim leaders in Michigan on Thursday as discontent within the community over his refusal to call for a cease-fire in the Middle East could derail his reelection campaign.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed the meetings, saying they’re a “continuation of conversations” the administration has been having with the Arab and Muslim communities.
“We are going to listen to and hear what leaders of that community have to say. We are open to that [and] having a real open and honest dialogue,” she said.
Among those traveling to Michigan include Samantha Power, head of the U.S. Agency for International Development; Jon Finer, deputy national security adviser; and Steven Benjamin, who directs the Office of Public Engagement.
Others expected to attend are Tom Perez, who leads the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, as well as Mazen Basrawi, the White House liaison to American Muslim communities, and aides Jamie Citron and Dan Koh.
Biden campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez and other campaign aides traveled to suburban Detroit last month, but Muslim and Arab American leaders refused to attend a listening session with them.
The order comes as Mr. Biden faces increased pressure, including from fellow Democrats, to take a tougher stance against Israel as civilian casualties mount in the Gaza operation. They say Israel’s military assault on Palestinians in the Gaza Strip is disproportionate to Hamas’ terrorist rampage on Oct. 7 and has sparked a massive humanitarian crisis.
Palestinian health officials say over 26,000 people have been killed in Israel’s Gaza campaign in retaliation for the Oct. 7 raid, a figure that cannot be independently confirmed. Mr. Biden is increasingly heckled at public events by pro-Palestinian protesters who interrupt his speeches with chants of “Genocide Joe” and “Cease-fire now.”
Muslim and Arab American community leaders have launched the “Abandon Biden” campaign aimed at sinking his reelection bid and discouraging voters from supporting him in November. The group held a rally Wednesday in North Carolina.
Michigan is a battleground state that is home to a large population of Arab Americans who are furious with his strong support for Israel. The Israeli government has opposed a cease-fire, arguing it would let Hamas regroup and rearm and that the fighting will not stop until more than 100 hostages still in the terrorists’ hands are freed.
Mr. Biden won Michigan by 154,000 votes in 2020, but the state has more than 242,000 Muslim voters, according to the U.S Religion Census. That could make a repeat victory in Michigan a challenge this year.
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.
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