Cruz ‘cannot support’ Trump’s Kuwait ambassador pick over Muslim Brotherhood remarks
In a heated nomination hearing on Thursday, Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) publicly declared his opposition to the Trump administration’s nominee for U.S. Ambassador to Kuwait, Amer Ghalib. Cruz’s decision stems from Ghalib’s controversial comments regarding the Muslim Brotherhood, which Cruz labeled as a “global terrorist organization.” The senator criticized Ghalib for referring to the Brotherhood as an “inspiration,” which he believes contradicts U.S. interests and undermines President Trump’s stance on the group. Cruz’s remarks were made on social media platform X, where he emphasized that Ghalib’s views are “disqualifying” for a position that requires unwavering alignment with U.S. foreign policy.
Ghalib, who currently serves as the mayor of Hamtramck, Michigan, faced tough questioning from Cruz and other senators during the hearing. The discussion centered on Ghalib’s past comments about Saddam Hussein and the U.S. relationship with Israel, particularly in light of the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Born in Yemen and moving to the U.S. at age 17, Ghalib’s journey from a factory worker to mayor has been marked by significant milestones, including his endorsement of Donald Trump for president in 2023. However, his tenure as mayor has not been without controversy; in 2024, Ghalib’s administration approved a resolution to avoid investing in Israeli companies, which raised further concerns among lawmakers about his ability to represent U.S. interests in Kuwait.
The hearing also highlighted Ghalib’s social media activity, which has drawn scrutiny from both sides of the aisle. Senator Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) confronted him over a Facebook comment likening Jews to monkeys and his failure to address antisemitic comments made by political appointees. Ghalib defended his social media interactions, claiming they were often taken out of context or mistranslated. Despite his explanations, the senators remained unconvinced, with Rosen declaring that Ghalib’s behavior was “beyond the pale” and asserting that he would not support his nomination. As of now, no date has been set for a final vote on Ghalib’s confirmation, leaving his future as ambassador uncertain amid a backdrop of heightened scrutiny and political division.
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Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, announced after a contentious nomination hearing Thursday that he would not support the Trump administration’s pick for ambassador to Kuwait.
Among other areas of concern, Cruz expressed alarm over Amer Ghalib’s refusal to outright condemn the Muslim Brotherhood, a group Cruz believes works against the geopolitical interests of the United States.
“The Muslim Brotherhood is a global terrorist organization,” Cruz said
in a post on X.
“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.”
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Ghalib, the mayor of Hamtramck, Mich., sparred with Cruz and other members of the
Senate
earlier that day, clashing with several lawmakers over issues like the United States’ relationship with Israel, comments he had made about the war in Gaza and more.
According to the Department of State, Ghalib was born and raised in Yemen before coming to the United States at age 17. After working full-time in an auto parts factory, he attended the Ross University School of Medicine from 2006-2011 and went on to work as a healthcare professional at the Hamtramck Medical Group until his entry into politics.
Ghalib made news when he was elected as mayor in 2021, becoming the first Muslim to fill the role. In that capacity, he endorsed
Donald Trump
for president in 2023.
“Mr. Ghalib’s journey began as a farmer in Yemen, then as an autoworker in the United States, a healthcare professional, and then as an elected mayor of his city. 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 U.S. Ambassador to the State of Kuwait,” the State Department wrote
in its summary
of the administration’s nominee.
WHITMER SILENT ON MUSLIM MAYOR TELLING RESIDENT HE’S ‘NOT WELCOME’ FOR SLAM ON TERRORIST SYMPATHIZER
On Thursday, when asked by Cruz if he still considered Saddam Hussein, the former president of Iraq, a martyr, Ghalib initially skirted the question.
“I was a private citizen in 2020,” Ghalib answered, referring to the timing of a social media post when he had given that description.
“I’m just asking your views. I asked you about today. Do you continue to believe that Saddam Hussein is a martyr today?” Cruz asked again.
“I don’t think that — 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,” Ghalib said.
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Hussein served as president from 1979 until his government was overthrown in the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq. In the aftermath, an Iraqi tribunal found him guilty of willful killing, illegal imprisonment, deportation and torture, among other abuses. He was hanged on Dec. 30, 2006.
Ghalib and the Hamtramck City Council entered the spotlight in 2024 when the city
voted unanimously
to approve a resolution that, in response to the war in Gaza, required the city to avoid investing in Israeli companies. Citing that resolution, Cruz and other senators expressed reservations that Ghalib would be able to faithfully carry out positions held by the administration. especially if it were to designate the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization or other policy issues that could conflict with Ghalib’s personal views on the Middle East.
Those hesitations stretched across the aisle.
“You liked a Facebook comment comparing Jews to monkeys,” Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., said. “You characterized leaders you don’t like as becoming ‘Jewish.’ As mayor, you failed to comment after one of your political appointees called the Holocaust ‘advance punishment’ for the War in Gaza, and you denied that Hamas used sexual violence as a weapon of war on Oct. 7.”
Ghalib did not deny authoring the posts. Instead, he defended himself by arguing that his comments had been taken out of context or that lawmakers had selectively misconstrued his actions. In response to Rosen’s remarks about liking a post comparing Jewish people to monkeys, Ghalib said that he had made it a practice to interact with all social media comments left on his page as a form of acknowledgment. He said those views did not reflect his positions.
“I think a lot of my posts were written in Arabic and mistranslated,” Ghalib said in response to further questioning about some of the posts he had made himself.
The State Department and Ghalib’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Rosen and other senators did not seem moved by Ghalib’s explanations.
“That is beyond the pale. I will not be supporting your nomination,” Rosen said. “And if you are confirmed — I want you to remember this, sir: You will be an ambassador for the United States of America. And, thus, as ambassador, we must show respect to everyone. We will be watching to see if that happens.”
No date has been set for a final vote on Ghalib’s nomination.
Eric
Eric is a seasoned journalist covering US Politics news.
