Muslim Support for Democrats Collapses as Trump Gains Ground on Gaza, Immigration, and Economy
Washington, DC – May 6, 2025 — A new independent poll commissioned by the Muslim American Leadership Alliance (MALA) and conducted by JL Partners reveals a politically diverse American Muslim electorate increasingly open to engagement from both parties—particularly Republicans on key policy issues.
While American Muslims remain divided nearly evenly between Democratic (34%), Republican (33%), and Independent (34%) identification, support for the GOP rises significantly on issues such as immigration, economic policy, and gender ideology.
The poll also finds that nearly half (43%) of Muslim voters backed Donald Trump in 2024, and over one in four support his provocative Gaza development proposal to transform the territory into the “Riviera of the Middle East.”
“These results reveal a complex, dynamic Muslim electorate—one that defies lazy political generalizations,” said Zainab Zeb Khan, President and Founder of MALA. “Muslim Americans are not single-issue voters. There’s widespread openness to conservative policies—particularly on economic and social grounds—paired with a desire for real respect and recognition from both parties.”
Despite negative views of prominent GOP figures like Donald Trump (-14 net favorability) and JD Vance (-18), the Republican Party as a whole is viewed more favorably by Muslim voters, with 40% expressing a positive opinion.
Key Findings Include
Economy
Net positive sentiment toward a range of Trump-era policies, including tax cuts, removing taxes on tips, and deregulation efforts
Immigration
65% support deporting illegal immigrants who commit additional crimes; 49% favor skills-based immigration
Social Issues
A majority say the U.S. has gone “too far” on gender ideology; pronoun rituals and gender curricula are broadly opposed
Methodology
JL Partners surveyed 600 self-identified Muslim Americans online between March 28 and April 2, 2025. Data were weighted by age and gender. Margin of error is +/- 4.0%.
Party ID
33% Republican, 34% Democrat, 34% Independent
2024 Vote
43% of American Muslims voted for Donald Trump
Top Voting Priorities
Economy and immigration
Israel-Gaza
44% support neither Hamas nor Israel; 26% back Trump’s Gaza redevelopment plan; 52% say Trump’s approach is more likely to achieve peace than Biden’s Despite conventional wisdom, the poll suggests that the political future of America’s Muslim voters is up for grabs—if approached thoughtfully.
