Rare unity in Congress over Trump nominee who praised Saddam

New York – In a rare display of bipartisan unity, US senators from both parties have voiced strong reservations about President Donald Trump's nominee for ambassador to Kuwait, Amer Ghalib, citing his past social media posts and statements that critics say reflect anti-Israel views and sympathy for controversial Middle Eastern figures.

Ghalib, the mayor of Hamtramck, Michigan, and the first Muslim mayor to endorse Trump during his 2024 presidential campaign, was nominated in March 2025. Trump has credited Ghalib with helping secure significant support from Arab and Muslim American voters in Michigan, a key battleground state that contributed to his electoral victory.

"I am pleased to announce that Amer Ghalib will be the next United States Ambassador to Kuwait. As the Mayor of the City of Hamtramck, Michigan, Amer worked hard to help us secure a Historic Victory in Michigan," Trump said in announcing the nomination.

But Ghalib's path to confirmation has been rocky, culminating in a contentious Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on October 23, where lawmakers grilled him over a history of online activity that included liking posts comparing Jews to monkeys, supporting the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel, and referring to former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein as a "martyr" in a 2020 Facebook post.

Ghalib has also faced questions about his views on the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas, groups designated as terrorist organizations by some US lawmakers. During the hearing, Ghalib defended his record, emphasizing that many of his statements were made as a private citizen before entering public office.

"I was a private citizen... and it was the day when the American military bases were attacked in Iraq," he said when pressed on the Hussein post.

"There's no doubt that Saddam was a dictator. I mean, I can say no. It wouldn't matter. He's in God's hands; he's going to get the treatment he deserves," he added.

On broader Middle East policy, Ghalib pledged loyalty to Trump's agenda, stating, "I think we can coexist in the region and that's the answer, that everybody has the right to exist now. I trust the president's policies and I will support his policies."

Critics, however, were unmoved. Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, a staunch supporter of Israel and author of legislation to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist group, announced on October 24 that he could not back the nomination. "The Muslim Brotherhood is a global terrorist organization. Amer Ghalib refers to them as an inspiration. That is in opposition to President Trump and is disqualifying. I cannot support his confirmation for the Ambassador to Kuwait," Cruz said in a statement.

During the hearing, Cruz pressed Ghalib further: "It appears you have a deep-felt and passionate view about the Middle East. But it is a view that is in direct conflict with the policy positions of President Trump and this administration."

Other Republicans echoed these concerns. Senator Dave McCormick of Pennsylvania questioned Ghalib's reluctance to affirm Israel as the national homeland of the Jewish people.

"I just don't know how we send an ambassador to the Middle East who doesn't support protecting Israel as home to the Jewish people," McCormick said.

Democrats joined the fray, with Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire highlighting the sensitivity of Ghalib's Hussein remarks given Kuwait's history of invasion by Iraq in 1990.

"As a private citizen, it is fine for you to have those views. But it is very different when you are an ambassador representing the United States of America, particularly in a country that Saddam Hussein invaded," Shaheen told Ghalib.

The backlash extends beyond Capitol Hill. Jewish advocacy groups, including the Anti-Defamation League and the American Jewish Committee, have urged the withdrawal of the nomination, arguing that Ghalib's record promotes antisemitism.

Conservative activist Laura Loomer, a vocal Trump supporter, has amplified these criticisms on social media, claiming that at least eight senators have pledged to vote against Ghalib.

"Amer Ghalib should be DEPORTED from our country, and he belongs NOWHERE NEAR President Trump... It's time for the Trump administration to stop playing footsie with jihadi Muslims in Michigan," Loomer posted on X.

Despite the mounting opposition, Ghalib has received backing from Trump, who reportedly called him personally after the hearing to reaffirm support. In a Facebook post on October 14, Ghalib wrote: "President Trump has just called me and emphasised his unwavering support to me to serve as the next Ambassador of the United States to the state of Kuwait, and he thanked our community for their support."

The State Department has also praised Ghalib's qualifications, stating: "His multicultural experience, deep regional knowledge and demonstrated success as a politician, leader and community organizer, make him a well-qualified candidate to serve as US Ambassador to the State of Kuwait."


Some observers argue that Ghalib's past statements, while controversial, should not overshadow his commitment to US interests. "Saddam in the eyes of Kuwaitis is viewed as an aggressor, who invaded their country," Paul Manni, a Middle East observer, told Rudaw.

Manni, who campaigned alongside Ghalib for President Trump's reelection in Michigan, added, "Mr. Ghalib is very committed to the values of our American country and he deeply wants to serve this role as an ambassador. I feel that he will protect the Kuwaitis and protect America in both interests

Ghalib's confirmation prospects appear dim. The nomination requires approval from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee before a full Senate vote. With Republicans holding a slim majority in the Senate and at least three committee members indicating opposition, including Cruz, the path forward is uncertain.

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