A Reunited United States
As President Donald Trump embarks on his second term, the United States has in recent decades rarely been as divided as it is now. Republicans and Democrats report ever-shrinking common ground between their parties.
This is not just a mild disagreement among compatriots. Members of both parties are increasingly likely to describe their counterparts as close-minded, dishonest, immoral and unintelligent. But there is still hope of restoring unity.
Just a week after Trump’s election, my organization, The Concordia Forum, which brings together influential Muslim leaders from across the political spectrum to drive positive change in their communities, hosted its 15th annual retreat in Georgia, a key battleground state. On our final day we convened at The Carter Center to discuss the implications of Trump’s victory for the United States’ future. Many participants met at this conference for the first time.
It could have gone spectacularly wrong. But it didn’t.
I must confess my own cautious anxiety when I saw Sameera Fazili, National Economic Council deputy director under President Joe Biden, file in alongside Bill Bazzi, the MAGA-voting Muslim mayor of Dearborn Heights, Michigan. But there indeed were fractious moments. Participants included individuals who rarely find themselves in the same room, not to mention on the same panel, engaging in productive dialogue. And yet, we found common ground on the core American values of faith, family, and freedom.
Three panel discussions on immigration, the Middle East, and the economy, sparked emotions from both sides. As former State Department policy adviser Wa’el Alzayat, now CEO of Emgage USA, which educates and mobilizes Muslim American voters, acknowledged: “We are a divided country, and the Muslim community is no exception.”
I was particularly moved by Texas Republican Mohamed Elibriary, a former Department of Homeland Security adviser, who reminded us of the socioeconomic frustrations underpinning the nationalistic sentiments of many white, working-class Americans. This underserved group has too often been overlooked. I was also touched by the third and final panel, which sought to cultivate commonalities and channel them into positive change. Despite their political differences, Samra Luqman, a Trump voter from Michigan, and Madina Wilson-Anton, a Democratic state representative in Delaware, urged Muslim Americans to engage with their local communities. Luqman called for the recognition that “leadership is about service” as Wilson-Anton demanded that Muslims “show up, despite what people expect us to do”. Their messages were the same: Muslim Americans must engage and lead by example.
Yet this engagement is precisely what American politics has lacked. As Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar acknowledged during a candid critique of her own party, “Why would you vote for a party that isn’t listening to you?”
Simply by talking to one another, attendees came to appreciate their different views and identify the many shared values—freedom, integrity and opportunity—that have earned the United States its reputation as the world’s greatest modern democracy.
The Concordia Forum’s ability to bring senior Muslim American political leaders from both sides of the political divide together is unique. And that success proves that a solution to extreme polarization exists. It is talking and listening to one another. Despite robust disagreements, the gathering in Georgia brought out shared insights into ways in which Trump can make the most of his second term. To preserve not just his own legacy but also that of his country, he must promote religious liberty and forward-thinking governance, ensuring that all communities are represented in policymaking while simultaneously investing in reducing the risk of violent hate crimes that discourage marginalized groups from civic participation.
At the same time, he should encourage entrepreneurship and economic empowerment for all citizens, enabling even the most marginalized groups to contribute economically and socially. This, coupled with global diplomatic efforts on matters that should unite all Americans, such as the abuse of Uyghur Muslims in China, would foster national unity.
Finally, Trump should roll back federal interference and empower local authorities to collaborate with tailored, grassroots initiatives that can tackle polarization, restore people’s trust, and foster social cohesion.
The president’s second term was made possible, ultimately, by a broad coalition that encompassed minorities including Muslim Americans. He now has the profound opportunity to leverage this coalition to create a new platform for national unity and make the United States feel whole again.
The views expressed herein are those of the author and not necessarily those of GMF.