The Fine Print | Notes from the Legal Director
March 19, 2025 | Marium Uddin
I must respond to the deeply troubling statement made by Trump regarding Gaza. No Palestinian or person of conscience will submit to the kind of bullying that seeks to dehumanize and threaten an entire people. Trump’s statement is entirely in line with his history of hateful, divisive, and discriminatory policies, such as the Muslim travel ban, and reflects the same morally bankrupt conduct we’ve seen in his treatment of world leaders like Zelenskyy.
His words are one-sided, selectively acknowledging only one side’s suffering while completely ignoring the decades of persecution, oppression, and torture endured by Palestinians under occupation. It is a continuation of his pattern—when Black Lives Matter protests arose, Trump defended white supremacists, claiming there were “very fine people on both sides,” yet demonizing those whose views diverged from his own. He consistently maligns the vulnerable and supports the powerful in their exploitation and abuse.
Hamas, as has been pointed out, is more than a group—it represents an idea, and ideas cannot be killed. Trump’s hollow threats will not intimidate those who have spent their entire lives standing against the daily aggression and threats posed by Zionist occupation forces. His words ring empty to a people who have been fighting for their freedom with bravery and determination for generations. Palestinians, in the face of oppression, show immense courage. To suggest they will back down in the face of more threats ignores the reality of their struggle.
Trump’s attempt to paint a vision of a “beautiful future” in Gaza, built on the blood of murdered Palestinian women and children, mirrors the dark history of this country, where the luxurious mansions of the South were built on the backs of enslaved people. Nothing good can come from soil drenched in innocent blood drained from lynchings.
Finally, Trump’s invocation of hell is particularly ironic coming from someone who has consistently shown himself to be devoid of moral conscience. When a person invokes sacred concepts like hell without a shred of understanding, it is they who stand in danger of divine justice. His threats of hellfire sound hollow, as the true punishment awaits those whose hearts are filled with injustice and whose actions deny the existence of a higher moral authority. The real torment, as promised by God, is reserved for those who commit oppression in the name of power.
In short, Trump’s words are yet another example of his divisive, dangerous rhetoric that seeks to dehumanize and intimidate. But no amount of bullying will deter the Palestinian people from their rightful pursuit of freedom and dignity.
The Fine Print | Real power and protection is always hidden in the fine print. MLFA brings the fine print to life with this series of articles, cutting through the noise to break down the rights, risks, and realities you need to know. No loopholes, no confusion, just clear, unapologetic insight into the laws that shape the lives of Muslims in America.
