Muslim leaders endorse Trump with most persuasive closing arguments against Kamala Harris: 'I am no longer a Democrat'



Muslim community leaders in Minnesota made the best possible closing argument for Donald Trump over the weekend.

Speaking at the Minnesota Capitol on Saturday, Muslim and Somali leaders gathered behind a lectern adorned with a "Trump Make America Great Again" sign to explain why they cannot possibly support Kamala Harris for president.

'The Democratic Party is now the party of war. It's the party of the billionaires. It's the party of silencing free speech.'

"We're gathered here today to fully support and endorse President Trump and JD Vance," one of the men said.

The leaders felt compelled to endorse Trump because they believe he is the best candidate to lead America after four years under the leadership of Harris and President Joe Biden. Specifically, they praised Trump for his vision and record on the economy, education, immigration, personal freedom, crime and safety, and foreign policy and for promoting conservative family values.

Interestingly, nearly every speaker said they feel that the Democratic Party has abandoned them — becoming a party that doesn't care about the concerns of every day Americans.

One of the most interesting individuals who spoke at the event was Abshir Omar, a man who once worked on Democrat Sen. Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign.

In no uncertain terms, Omar explained he now supports Trump because the Democratic Party has become everything it once claimed to stand against.

"You see all these people in this room were former Democrats — we were die-hard supporters," he said. "We were loyal to the Democratic Party, but that party is no longer loyal to us and no longer loyal to this country. We send billions overseas to prosecute wars against innocent people, yet we can't prosecute war against poverty in this country. We spend billions giving to lobbyists, yet we can't help homelessness in our community.

"The Democratic Party is now the party of war. It's the party of the billionaires. It's the party of silencing free speech," he continued. "That is not who I am, and that is not my values. My values are still my values, but the party of the Democratic Party no longer holds those values to be true, and today, in front of my own community and the rest of our society, I'm telling you I am no longer a Democrat. I have left that party. I have left that party, and I'm sticking to my conscience. I don't care what is politically expedient. I don't care what you look like, who you pray to."

Omar went on to say:

I'm a person of deep Muslim faith. I have Abrahamic religion. I love my Jewish brothers and sisters. I love my Christian brothers and sisters. People come from different communities and backgrounds. We're all the same. We live in a country where we should be working together. Not hurting each other, not defaming each other. We should be protecting the rights of every person to speak. Because today if I am supporting the censorship of a segment of this country — guess what — tomorrow I will be censored too. And I don't want that for myself or for my family.

And that's why it's surprising to say Trump is kind of an a**hole. He says a lot of things. He's not the nicest person in the room. He's not going to sugarcoat things for you. But guess what: The four years he was president, nothing happened to me personally. I was safe; this community was safe. This country was safe.

Another man who spoke at the event said he loves Trump because "he's a fighter."

"More importantly, the left left us. They left us," that man continued. "Thirty-three percent of our kids cannot read — cannot read at grade level. Minnesota in education? We are failing in every standard. Eighth-graders — 60% cannot do math at grade level. These are our kids. We are talking about economic conditions here. Our conditions is [sic] horrible. We can't afford anything as working-class and middle-class people. Now please understand this: We love our brothers and sisters who are Democrats, but you left us.

"And because the left left us, join the right and vote for Trump 2024," he declared.

Harris is facing a well-known problem with Arab-American and Muslim voters, and Trump is benefiting from it.

Not only is Harris viewed as the pro-war candidate, but Muslim voters are often socially conservative, holding values that traditionally align with the Republican Party.

Harris' far-left record and progressive vision, moreover, are weighty baggage that blocs of traditionally Democratic voters — like the Muslims endorsing Trump in Minnesota — can no longer ignore.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Suspect accused of shooting Orthodox Jewish man who was on his way to synagogue is an illegal immigrant: Report



The suspect accused of shooting an Orthodox Jewish man who was on his way to synagogue in Chicago last weekend is an illegal immigrant, Fox News reported.

The shooting suspect — 22-year-old Sidi Mohamed Abdallahi — is a Mauritanian national who was released into the United States after being captured in Border Patrol’s San Diego Sector in March 2023, the cable network said, citing four law enforcement sources.

A Jewish advocacy group said Chicago police indicated during a Monday meeting with the group that Abdallahi shouted 'Allahu Akbar' during a later shoot-out with cops, WMAQ-TV reported.

Fox News noted that the Department of Homeland Security views illegal immigrants from Mauritania — a majority Muslim country in northwest Africa — as "special interest aliens" over security concerns and that they're supposed to receive additional DHS vetting.

More from Fox News:

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had initially told Fox News Digital that it had no interaction with him. Law enforcement sources say that there is detainer request on Abdallahi — a request that he is transferred to ICE custody in the event of his release — but that 'sanctuary' policies in Cook County, Illinois, prohibit local authorities from cooperating with it.

What's the background?

Chicago police said Abdallahi was identified as the offender who shot a 39-year-old man in the 2600 block of West Farwell Avenue around 9:30 a.m. Saturday. NBC News reported that the victim is Jewish and was wearing a kippah — the Jewish skullcap — while on his way to services on the Jewish sabbath.

A Jewish advocacy group said Chicago police indicated during a Monday meeting with the group that Abdallahi shouted "Allahu Akbar" during a later shoot-out with cops, WMAQ-TV reported.

The station noted that the group — the Jewish United Fund — said police who met with its members indicated that Abdallahi shouted the well-known Muslim declaration while firing at officers, which led to a concern that hate played a role in the incident. However, WMAQ said police haven't confirmed those details to the station.

Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling on Tuesday said there wasn't enough evidence to charge Abdallahi with a hate crime due to the suspect still being in the hospital in the wake of the shoot-out, the station said.

"We do investigations [that are] based on facts that we gather into evidence in order to present charges," Snelling said, according to WMAQ. "Until we have those facts, we will not announce charges. It's about what we can prove at the time based on the facts."

The suspect shot the victim "in the shoulder without saying a word," Snelling said at a Monday news conference, according to NBC News, which added that the victim was treated in a hospital and discharged Saturday afternoon.

Police said about 30 minutes after the first shooting, Abdallahi fired at responding officers and paramedics multiple times from various locations. Police said officers returned fire, striking the offender, who was placed into custody, taken to an area hospital, and charged. Police said a weapon was recovered at the scene. Police said no officers or fire department members were injured. The suspect was in critical condition, investigators told WGN-TV.

You can view video here apparently showing part of the suspect's second wave of gunfire, and he hollers something at the 43-second mark after firing a shot. While that same moment is included in WLS-TV's video report at the 13-second mark, the station cuts the audio just before the suspect's outburst.

'What will it take for you to acknowledge the Jewish community?'

Abdallahi was charged with six counts of first-degree attempted murder, seven counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm upon a police officer/firefighter, and one count of aggravated battery/discharge of a firearm, all of which are felonies, police said.

City Alderman Debra Silverstein — who attends the same synagogue as the Jewish man who was shot — said at the same news conference Monday that there's increased fear among local Jews, NBC News noted.

"A man wearing the kippah as he walked to synagogue was shot, and this has just escalated our anxieties," she said, according to the news network, which added that Silverstein in a later message to constituents wrote that she's "very disappointed" that hate crime charges had not been filed despite "evidence that seems to suggest an anti-Semitic motive for the shooting."

Silverstein told CBS News she visited the victim Saturday night after his hospital release and noted that he's doing "OK."

Rabbi Shlomo Soroka of Agudath Israel of Illinois told WMAQ-TV in regard to the lack of hate crime charges that "there’s no question that from an emotional standpoint, it’s disappointing. But I think it’s equally important to understand that whether or not there is a hate crime charge, that’s a technicality. That doesn’t change the reality of our experience.”

Soroka added to WFLD-TV that the victim — described as an Orthodox Jew — took his "little girls with him" to synagogue "every single week." But for some reason, not this past Saturday.

"And this week, this particular week, he decided to go by himself, and his little girls weren’t with him," Soroka observed. "Can you imagine what would have happened if those little girls were with him?"

Abraham Trachtman told WBBM-TV that there's a large Orthodox Jewish community in the area and that he also was headed to a local synagogue when he was told of the shooting: "A Jewish guy walking to synagogue, Saturday morning, Sabbath morning, it just, it doesn't make sense."

Local Jewish leaders also noted to WFLD that Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson hadn't acknowledged the shooting or their pain. However, Johnson's office on Tuesday issued the following statement:

On behalf of the City of Chicago, our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the victim and his loved ones from this weekend’s shooting incident that took place in Rogers Park. This tragic event should have never happened, and we recognize the dedication of our first responders who put their lives on the line during this shooting. The Mayor’s Office is in close communication with the Chicago Police Department as the investigation continues. All Chicagoans deserve to feel safe and protected across the city. There is more work to be done, and we are committed to diligently improving community safety in every neighborhood.

However, the Jewish United Fund told Johnson in response, "You failed to identify that the victim was a Jewish man, in a densely populated Jewish neighborhood, going to synagogue for Shabbat morning prayers. What will it take for you to acknowledge the Jewish community?"

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

No, Israel Didn’t Start The War With Hezbollah

After months of enduring attacks, Israel has conducted perhaps the most impressive military operation in modern history.

UK men get over 2 years in jail for social media posts deemed 'racist' — apparently in wake of deadly child stabbings



A pair of men in the United Kingdom each were sentenced to over two years in jail for posting what officials deemed "racist messages" on social media, the Cheshire Constabulary said Tuesday.

Officials said 36-year-old Christopher Taggart of Caesars Close, Runcorn, and 34-year-old Rhys McDonald of Oxford Road, Runcorn, appeared Tuesday at Chester Crown Court.

'This should serve as a stark reminder against posting abusive messages online — we are all responsible for our actions, including what we post on social media.'

Taggart was sentenced to 32 months — just four months shy of three years — and McDonald was sentenced to 28 months, officials said, adding that they both pleaded guilty to "publishing written material to stir up racial hatred." Officials also said Taggart pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon in a private place.

Cheshire Police on Aug. 5 became aware of "concerning messages that were openly available to view on Facebook" that Taggart and McDonald posted, officials said, adding that multiple posts contained "racial abuse" and encouraged people to "engage in racial hatred."

Taggart posted messages between July 29 and Aug. 6; McDonald posted messages between July 29 and Aug. 5, officials said, adding that they were arrested Saturday. Officials added that officers found brass knuckles in Taggart’s home during a search.

July 29 was the day of a deadly mass stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed children's dance class in Southport. A 17-year-old male was accused of killing three and injuring numerous other victims in the attack.

Pallbearers carry the coffin of 9-year-old Alice Da Silva Aguiar from St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Southport, Aug. 11, 2024, following a funeral service for her. Alice and Bebe King and Elsie Dot Stancombe were murdered during a July 29 knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance party that also left another 10 people injured.Photo by ANNABEL LEE-ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images

Officials initially said there was no evidence that terrorism was a motive in the deadly knife attack, which angered many who accused the government of covering up evidence. Police identified suspect Axel Rudakubana and charged him with three counts of murder and 10 counts of attempted murder. Officials identified him as being from Cardiff but also noted that his parents are Rwandan.

Unrest and violence erupted the day after the stabbings and have spread across the United Kingdom. Prime Minister Keir Starmer denounced the violence and blamed "far-right thuggery."

Counter-demonstrators march against an anti-immigration protest in London, Aug. 7, 2024. Nightly riots erupted after three children were murdered in Southport on July 29.Photo by BENJAMIN CREMEL/AFP via Getty Images

However, now-suspended U.K. Labour Party Councillor Ricky Jones reportedly was arrested last week on suspicion of encouraging murder of anti-immigration protesters after an outdoor speech in London in front of a rabid, far-left crowd during which he hollered, "They are disgusting, nasty fascists, and we need to cut all their throats and get rid of them all!" A video of the speech shows him sliding his finger across his neck as he spoke; he then led a “free, free Palestine!" chant.

Radio host Glenn Beck, co-founder of Blaze Media, last week opined that "two-tier justice" — in which police more or less ignore Muslim immigrant crime but come down hard on non-Muslims — has been laid bare in the U.K. in the wake of the deadly knife attack.

Also last week, Sir Mark Rowley, commissioner of London's Metropolitan Police, said "we will come after you" — even if you live in another country — if you post material online about the rioting in England that officials say incites racial hatred.

Indeed, U.K. police last week said they arrested a 55-year-old woman in connection with an "inaccurate social media post" in regard to the "identity of the attacker in the Southport murders," the Cheshire Constabulary said in a separate report.

Stephen Parkinson — director of public prosecutions of England and Wales — also said, "We do have dedicated police officers who are scouring social media. Their job is to look for this material, and then follow up with identification, arrests, and so forth."

In regard to the two jailed men, Chief Superintendent Alison Ross said, “Since the start of the recent disorder in other areas of the UK, we have been clear that we will not tolerate this kind of behavior in Cheshire, including those who post racial abuse online. Much of the violent disorder which has taken place across the UK in recent weeks has been fueled by malicious communications online, something which Taggart and McDonald decided to take part in. But they were not able to hide behind their devices and online accounts — they were soon identified and are now being held accountable. This should serve as a stark reminder against posting abusive messages online — we are all responsible for our actions, including what we post on social media.”

Anything else?

A 32-year-old Romanian citizen with no fixed address was charged last week with attempted murder after an 11-year-old girl was repeatedly stabbed in London's Leicester Square. She survived but needed plastic surgery. Officials said the attack was not terror-related.

Three males were arrested last week in connection with what Austrian officials said was a foiled terror plot targeting Taylor Swift concerts in Vienna — apparently fueled by radical Islam.

Swift is expected to perform five concerts at London’s Wembley Stadium starting Thursday through Aug. 20 to close the European leg of her Eras Tour.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Christian sentenced to death in Pakistan for sharing 'hateful content' against Muslims on social media — and dissenters rally



Pakistani dissenters rallied Tuesday for a Christian sentenced to death on blasphemy charges — specifically sharing "hateful content" against Muslims on social media, the Associated Press reported.

Dozens with the country's civil society rallied in the southern port city of Karachi against the sentence nearly a year after one of the worst mob attacks on Christians in the country, the AP added. Civil society groups stand up for human rights in Pakistan.

The outlet said blasphemy accusations are common in Pakistan and that under the country’s blasphemy laws, anyone found guilty of insulting Islam or Islamic religious figures can be sentenced to death.

The outlet said several Christians also joined the rally, which was held one day after a court in Sahiwal in the Punjab province announced the death sentence against Ehsan Shan. Khurram Shahzad, Shan’s lawyer, on Monday said Shan will appeal the verdict, the AP said.

More from the outlet:

He was arrested in August 2023 after groups of Muslim men burned dozens of homes and churches in the city of Jaranwala in Punjab after some residents claimed they saw two Christian men desecrating pages from Islam’s holy book, the Quran. The two men were later arrested.

Though Shan was not party to the desecration, he was accused of reposting the defaced pages of the Quran on his TikTok account.

Pakistan minority rights campaigners in Karachi protest the sentencing of a Christian man to death for sharing an allegedly blasphemous TikTok post, July 2, 2024. In an order released on July 1, a Christian man was sentenced by an anti-terror court for reposting an image of a torn and defaced Koran alongside online accusation against two Christian brothers who were originally arrested for blasphemy but released after investigators believed they were framed over a personal grudge, according to domestic media.Photo by RIZWAN TABASSUM/AFP via Getty Images

Christian leader Luke Victor called for Shah’s release at Tuesday’s rally in Karachi, the AP said, adding that Victor also demanded action against those who were involved in burning churches and homes of Christians in Jaranwala.

The outlet said blasphemy accusations are common in Pakistan and that under the country’s blasphemy laws, anyone found guilty of insulting Islam or Islamic religious figures can be sentenced to death.

The AP added that while authorities haven't yet carried out a death sentence for blasphemy, riots, lynchings, killings, and other violence can follow mere accusations of blasphemy.

How are observers reacting?

Several hundred comments have appeared underneath the AP story on the death sentence as published by Yahoo News. A number of them invoked the recent pro-Palestinian protests on U.S. college campuses:

  • "I'm sure the college kids will be protesting this," one commenter noted sarcastically. "(Not really...they wont care)."
  • "Ah, the religion of peace. Where is the outrage on college campuses, where is the UN, the [International Criminal Court], [the] other 'protectors' of human rights???" another commenter wondered. "Dead silence from them all!"
  • "This is the people that the Squad and the university protesters are trying to help. The nicest people on earth!" another commenter stated with sarcasm. "(I had to say this or else they'd come after me!)"
  • "Wonder how many of those pro-Palestinian protesters will react to what happens here, or if their myopic worldview only extends to Gaza," another commenter asked.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Biden White House cancels Ramadan event after too many Muslim leaders reject invitation because of war in Gaza: Report



The Biden administration was forced to cancel an annual Ramadan celebration after too many Muslim leaders rejected the invitation to attend because of the continuing war in Gaza, reports say.

This week, the White House had intended to host an iftar, an evening meal held during Ramadan that breaks the daily fast from sunrise to sunset, providing the president an opportunity to meet with members of the Muslim community and discuss issues that impact them. The event has been so popular during the Biden administration that last year, one of the attendees spontaneously shouted, "We love you!" before Biden even began his remarks, the AP reported.

However, this year, that iftar had to be pared back and then ultimately canceled in favor of a private celebration for members of the administration on Tuesday evening. To explain the dramatic change, many have pointed to Biden's support for Israel following the October 7 attacks as hostilities in the region continue.

"It’s inappropriate to do such a celebration while there’s a famine going on in Gaza," said Wa’el Alzayat, a leader of the Muslim advocacy group Emgage who attended the iftar at the White House last year.

"We’re just in a different world. It’s completely surreal, and it’s sad," Alzayat continued.

"The American Muslim community said very early on that it would be completely unacceptable for us to break bread with the very same White House that is enabling the Israeli government to starve and slaughter the Palestinian people in Gaza," added Edward Ahmed Mitchell, deputy director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

Despite the iftar debacle, the White House did hold a separate business meeting with some Muslim leaders. However, that meeting also revealed simmering tensions between Muslims and the administration as well. An emergency medicine doctor from Chicago even walked out of the meeting because he was "the only Palestinian" in attendance. "Out of respect for my community, I’m going to leave," he said.

Neither the private iftar nor the meeting with Muslim leaders appeared on the president's public schedule, and members of the press were not permitted to "capture" either event, a break from previous custom, the AP said.

Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre claimed Biden hosted the meeting because "community leaders expressed the preference" for a "working group meeting" where he could "get feedback from them." As to the canceled iftar, Jean-Pierre stated, "The president is going to continue his tradition of honoring the Muslim community during Ramadan."

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Newsweek editor gives Bill Maher headaches, gets Democrat guest to admit border wall may have helped illegal alien crisis



Batya Ungar-Sargon, Newsweek's opinion editor and author of "Bad News: How Woke Media Is Undermining Democracy," gave Bill Maher all sorts of headaches on "Real Time" Friday night, particularly when she got a former U.S. representative — a Democrat, no less — to admit a wall at the border with Mexico actually may have helped America's illegal alien crisis.

What are the details?

In one segment, Ungar-Sargon challenged Maher, asking him if he really believes America is better off now than in 2018.

"How were we worse?" Maher replied.

"Ask the American people," Ungar-Sargon answered back. "Inflation, immigration crisis, eight million people ... who cross [the border] illegally ... we don't know who they are. Crimes being committed. People can't afford homes because of the [high] mortgage rates."

Another program guest, former U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), tried to call out Ungar-Sargon by saying if former President Donald Trump "would've built the wall, maybe all these people wouldn't be coming over illegally."

Ungar-Sargon obviously wouldn't let that moment go.

"Oh, so you support building the wall?" she answered back, laughing.

Furiously digging his way out of the faux pas, Ryan somehow managed to declare that Ungar-Sargon "can't have it both ways. You're blaming [President Joe] Biden for [illegal] immigration. Trump said he was going to build a wall. He didn't do s**t!"

— (@)

In another segment, Ungar-Sargon wasn't buying the idea that Biden may lose Michigan in the election due to the state's high Muslim population being angry that he's backing Israel in its war against Hamas.

"I think that the media really, really wants to put this narrative out there that Biden is going to lose Michigan over Gaza when the truth is he's going to lose Michigan over 600,000 auto workers because his EV market was extremely punishing to auto workers," she stated.

More from Ungar-Sargon:

There's been this big realignment where working-class Americans are very, very, very much on the Trump train: People who used to be Democrats and used to vote for Democrats. And rather than admit that — this outrage that Democrats lost the working-class vote — and try to figure out how we can appeal to them again, they're looking for excuses and other things to blame. Like ... this war in Gaza, or they'll call them deplorables, or they'll call them racists, you know, because they don't want to admit that Trump has picked up a lot of the policies that used to be Democratic policies in the '90s, like controlling the border, for example. The idea that an open border and mass migration is extremely punishing to the working class; it drives down their wages. It's class warfare against the working class. It is an upward transfer of wealth from the working class who end up competing with immigrants to the elites who end up employing them, and now they can employ cheap [labor] immigrants instead of having to pay working-class Americans a living wage.
— (@)

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Leftists Lose Their Minds When Wall Street Journal Notices Michigan-Grown Jihadis

The headline is regarded as far worthier of condemnation than the fact that thousands in one city repeatedly celebrated the indiscriminate massacre and rape of men, women, and children.

Disgusting: Ilhan Omar pledges alliance to Somalia first, Muslims second, and America ... never?



Representative Ilhan Omar has come under fire after giving a speech during which she pledged her allegiance to “Somalians first, Muslims second.”

“Many Somalians have personally called me to encourage me to speak to the U.S. government and help Somalia,” Omar told the audience. “My answer to Somalians was that the U.S. government will only do what Somalians in the U.S. tell them to do!”

“They will do what we want and nothing else. They must follow our orders, and that is how we will safeguard the interest of Somalia,” she continued. “The U.S. is a country where one of your daughters (myself) is in Congress to represent your interest.”

Pat Gray and Keith Malinak are not surprised but not pleased either.

“Has she been deported yet?” Malinak asks. Gray answers with another question, “Has she been removed from office?”

“I don’t care if you deport her or not, get her out of office. That is outrageous,” Gray adds.

Gray believes it’s the most “egregious” thing he’s ever heard from a U.S. representative.

“In their language, talking about their country, with their interests of that nation over America’s interests,” Gray scoffs.


Want more from Pat Gray?

To enjoy more of Pat's biting analysis and signature wit as he restores common sense to a senseless world, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution, and live the American dream.