Arab businessmen and Gulf industry leaders are blasting Donald Trump for his extreme views on Muslims, with some of the region’s most powerful men branding Trump “the biggest enemy of Islam” and others eyeing a rethink of ties with the controversial Republican presidential candidate.
Trump’s comments are having a very real impact on his business interests in the Middle East, according to the Independent. Landmark Group, one of the biggest Middle Eastern retail companies headquartered in Dubai, said that it would no longer be stocking products from the Trump Home decor range in its Lifestyle stores.
One of Dubai’s most prominent businessmen, Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, has ruled out any chance of working with US presidential candidate Donald Trump, saying he doesn’t trust him anymore and branded Trump “the biggest enemy of Islam” and accused Trump of supporting ISIS because “he is encouraging them, this is what they want to hear.”
Trump Tower currently rents space to Qatar Airways.
The Independent via the Financial Times does an excellent rundown of what is at stake for Trump’s business interests in the Middle East and in the United States, as his high-end branded hotels and properties across the United States may see fewer Muslim visitors and his commercial properties like Trump Tower may lose tenants.
Trump Tower currently rents space to Qatar Airways.
Arab businessmen and industry leaders in the region weren’t alone in their anger with what some would call racism from Trump. Facebook CEO and founder Mark Zuckerberg, in a public post on his Facebook page last night, blasted the leader and stood by American Muslims.
“I want to add my voice in support of Muslims in our community and around the world. After the Paris attacks and hate this week, I can only imagine the fear Muslims feel that they will be persecuted for the actions of others.”
The comments have largely united and angered Democrats in the United States, while simultaneously dividing Republicans among unfamiliar lines. Former Vice President and Neoconservative Dick Cheney said, “I think this whole notion that somehow we can just say no more Muslims, just ban a whole religion, goes against everything we stand for and believe in,” according to CNN.
At a press conference on Tuesday, House Speaker Paul Ryan also slammed Trump. “This is not conservatism,” he said. “What was proposed yesterday is not what this party stands for.”
Trump is known for his headline-grabbing statements, as his candidacy for president has electrified an extreme element of the Republican base by playing to fears, but even he may not have calculated that a global backlash to his comments would ensue.
In Britain, over 300,000 citizens signed a petition to ban Donald Trump from visiting the UK. Only 100,000 signatures are needed for it to be considered by parliament.
As ABC News reports, less than 24-hours after Trump announced an end-of-year trip to meet with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, the leader “made known that he “rejects” the Republican presidential front-runner’s proposed ban on Muslims entering the United States.”
“The State of Israel respects all religions and strictly guarantees the rights of all its citizens. At the same time, Israel is fighting against militant Islam that targets Muslims, Christians and Jews alike and threatens the entire world,” Netanyahu said in a statement issued Wednesday by the prime minister’s office, according to ABC.
