# Republican Muslim Coalition

The Republican Muslim Coalition (RMC), is an American Muslim political advocacy group. RMC works to build ties between the American Muslim community and the Republican Party in the United States and elevate American Muslim voices in American Politics. Since 2016, the President of RMC, Saba Ahmed, urged Muslim Americans to vote Republican.

## George W. Bush Presidency

Six days after the September 11 attacks, President Bush made a public appearance at Washington, D.C.'s largest Islamic Center where he acknowledged the "incredibly valuable contribution" of American Muslims and called for them "to be treated with respect". Numerous incidents of harassment and hate crimes against Muslims and South Asians were reported in the days following the attacks. On national television, Bush quoted from the Qur'an and worked to assure Americans that the vast majority of Muslims are peaceful.

## Donald Trump Presidency

In 2017, Saba Ahmed has said she is "deeply hurt by Donald Trump's ignorant views of Islam."
During the 2024 United States presidential election campaign, President Trump reached out to Muslim and Arab-American communities in Michigan as part of his bid for re-election as President. A major reason that motivated Michigan's Muslim leaders to endorse for President Trump was because of his commitment to bring peace in the Middle East, particularly in Lebanon, the Gaza Strip, and the Palestinian territories of West Bank and East Jerusalem.

## Republican Muslim Vote

In the 2000 Presidential election, 78 percent of Muslim Americans supported Republican candidate George W. Bush over Democratic candidate Al Gore. However, due to the wars that took place in Afghanistan and in Iraq, and due to what has been perceived as increased anti-Muslim rhetoric from the Republican Party after the September 11 attacks, support for the Republican Party among American Muslims has declined sharply.
By 2004, Bush's Muslim support had been reduced to under 1%, and Democratic candidate John Kerry's support rose to 93%, with 5% voting for Ralph Nader.
According to a 2018 poll from the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding, American Muslims were as satisfied with the American trajectory as the general public, reporting at around 27%. Regarding the 45th president of the United States, Donald Trump, Muslims are the least likely to approve of him across all faith groups including non affiliated Americans. This is particularly due to the deeply unpopular policies like recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and the Muslim travel ban (Executive order 13769).
During the 2024 United States presidential election, An August 2024 survey published by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) found that in Michigan, 40 percent of Muslim voters supported Stein, 18% supported Trump and 12% supported Harris. In CAIR's exit poll, published on November 8th, 53% of Muslims voted for the Green Party candidate, Jill Stein. Only 20% of Muslims voted for Harris and only 21% voted for Trump.
Republican Muslim vote by presidential election :
| Election year | Republican |
| 2000 | 78% |
| 2004 | <1% |
| 2008 | 2% |
| 2012 | 4% |
| 2016 | 13% |
| 2020 | 19% |
| 2024 | 21% |