Well, buckle up because Michigan Rep. Debbie Dingell just took things to a whole new level.
In an interview on CNN, Dingell went all-in on the alarm bells, insisting that former President Donald Trump—if elected again—plans to set up internment camps. Yes, you read that right. According to Dingell, Trump’s second term could include actual internment camps for Muslims and Arabs in the United States.
“The Arab American community needs to be reminded and cannot forget. He wants to ban Muslims. He wants to deport Muslims, and he wants to start internment camps. And that‘s what we are busy talking to every voter. He‘s telling you what he‘s going to do. Believe him,” Dingell said.
When Jake Tapper asked Dingell what she meant, even he seemed to struggle to wrap his head around it. Tapper pointed out that while Trump has talked about tightening immigration enforcement and building more detention centers for undocumented migrants, the jump to internment camps for Muslim citizens takes it up several notches. Dingell, however, was unflinching. She claimed Trump has “been very clear” on this, though she didn’t have a specific quote handy and promised to “find it” later.
“Internment camps?” Tapper asked.
“Yes. He has talked internment camps,” Dingell argued. “You know what, Jake, you may have to visit me in one. I get worried enough when he talks about what he‘s going to do to his political enemies, but he has talked about them in this with different groups of people.”
Tapper remarked, “Well, I’ve heard him talking about rounding up undocumented migrants and, obviously, for that, you would need some sort of camp. But what do you mean internment camps for Muslims and Arabs?”
“He has spoken about that in different audiences. I don’t have the exact citation right here, but I’ll find it for you. And he‘s been very clear,” Dingell said.
Now, here’s the kicker: despite Dingell’s warning, there’s a growing number of Muslim leaders and Arab American voters in Michigan who actually support Trump. At a recent rally in Novi, Michigan, Trump received a surprising endorsement from Imam Belal Alzuhairi, who praised Trump’s stance on reducing overseas conflicts, including in the Middle East and Ukraine. Alzuhairi and others voiced a hopeful vision of Trump as a peacemaker—a narrative that certainly doesn’t line up with Dingell’s claims of internment camps. Alzuhairi even went as far as to say that “God saved his life twice for a reason,” suggesting that Trump is destined to end bloodshed abroad.
BREAKING: Members of the Arab & Muslim community in Michigan just got on stage at the Trump rally to publicly endorse him. Trump was already going to win Michigan, but Arab voters will make it a landslide
“We as Muslims stand with President Trump because he promises peace NOT… pic.twitter.com/G3dVRtDu5L
— George (@BehizyTweets) October 26, 2024
It’s not hard to see why Dingell might be rattled by these endorsements, given that Michigan’s Arab American and Muslim voters are an influential constituency. Democrats have traditionally relied on these communities, but Biden’s policies, particularly on foreign affairs, are increasingly under fire within these groups. People are noticing that the promises of “peace and stability” aren’t materializing under this administration, especially with the ongoing tensions in Gaza, Ukraine, and more.
It’s quite a leap to accuse a candidate of planning internment camps—especially without concrete evidence—but that’s where Dingell is placing her bets. And it’s worth asking if this is a genuine concern or just fearmongering aimed at keeping undecided voters from jumping ship. After all, when you’re making these kinds of accusations on national television, you’d think there’d be some backup information. Yet Dingell didn’t come armed with any direct quotes or official statements, and her ominous warnings about visiting her “in one of these camps” sounded more like a scene from a political thriller than real policy.
The contrast between Dingell’s claims and the support Trump is getting from some Muslim leaders creates a stark image. One side insists that Trump is angling for a new wave of authoritarian policies, while others, looking at the same candidate, see him as a potential solution to wars they feel the current administration has ignored. The narrative here is clear: Democrats are doubling down on the scare tactics, hoping to cling to their base, even if it means spreading unverified claims about internment camps. Meanwhile, Trump’s gaining traction as someone who, rightly or wrongly, promises to deliver on peace.
In the end, it might just be that the louder the Democrats get, the more skeptical people become.
