Did Trump's Pakistan pivot cost him support in the US midterms?
Did Trump's Pakistan pivot cost him support in the US midterms? Submitted by Ali Jaswal on Sun, 11/15/2026 - 11:01 Pakistani Americans who backed Trump in 2024 say they switched to the Democrats after the US president abandoned Imran Khan and embraced Pakistan’s military leadership Supporters celebrate at a midterm election night watch party for Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed in…
Donald Trump's decision to distance himself from former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and instead ally with Pakistan's military leadership appears to have cost him support among Pakistani Americans during the 2026 midterms. According to Pakistani Americans who previously backed Trump in 2024, they switched their allegiance to the Democrats after Trump abandoned his promise to secure the release of Khan and cultivated a close relationship with Pakistan's powerful army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir.
The US diaspora community, estimated at 680,000 Pakistani origin individuals in 2023, holds significant influence in key battleground states such as Michigan and Pennsylvania. Despite Trump's initial promise to release Khan and restore democracy in Pakistan, the dissatisfaction among the Pakistani American community deepened as Trump's administration embraced Munir and downplayed human rights concerns.
This shift in allegiance has fueled disillusionment within the Pakistani American community, leading many to support Democratic candidates in the midterms.
Written by urgent.news from Middle East Eye's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
