KUWAIT CITY, March 8: US President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he has appointed Hamtramck, Michigan, Mayor Amer Ghalib as the new US Ambassador to the State of Kuwait. The announcement was made in a post on Trump's Truth Social platform.

Trump expressed his excitement about Ghalib's appointment, stating that he was "elated" about the new role, noting that Ghalib had worked diligently in his electoral campaigns in Michigan. The president also emphasized that Ghalib, who holds a PhD in medicine, would represent the US with pride in his new diplomatic position.

Born in Yemen, Ghalib, 45, was elected as Hamtramck's first Arab-American and Muslim mayor in 2021. He made history as the first Arab to hold the office in the city, and during his tenure, Hamtramck also swore in its first all-Muslim city council.

Ghalib had been a strong supporter of Trump during the 2024 election, endorsing him and campaigning alongside him. He also spoke at a rally the day before the election and welcomed Trump when the president visited a campaign office in Hamtramck. Ghalib expressed that Trump's visit was a gesture of respect and appreciation for the community.

Under Ghalib's leadership, Hamtramck's city council passed a resolution in December 2023 to rename one of the city's streets to "Palestine Avenue" in support of Palestinians amid the ongoing war in Gaza. During the council meeting, Ghalib explained that the street name change was a symbolic gesture meant to represent the values of Hamtramck's community. He also noted the importance of making a statement despite knowing it would not directly impact the conflict.

In addition to Ghalib’s appointment, Trump also announced other ambassadorial appointments, including Duke Buchan III as the US Ambassador to Morocco and Michel Issa as the US Ambassador to Lebanon. Trump praised Buchan for his role in strengthening US-Moroccan relations and spoke highly of Issa, calling him an outstanding businessman and financial expert, confident that he would serve with honor and distinction.