Yasmeen Altaji gives a round-up of today's trends
Trending Middle East
Trump takes early lead over Harris and Arab Americans react
This is trending your daily rundown of news from the Middle East and around the world brought to you by The National. From Abu Dhabi, I'm Yasmin Altaji, here are today's headlines. Donald Trump has taken the lead in the US presidential election. The former president already had the edge over Kamala Harris on Tuesday night after polls closed before securing the swing state of North Carolina. The vice president is expected to win more traditionally democratic states later. Still, battleground states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Georgia will be too close to call. Each candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win, Republicans have secured the Senate majority, and the House is still up for grabs as of this recording. Meanwhile, Arab Americans and Dearborn were waiting for results after contrasting campaigns across the community backed Mr. Trump, Ms. Harris, and third-party candidates such as Jill Stein and Queen Elman. The national's correspondence on the ground report outrage and frustration in the community after months of pressure on Democrats for stronger policy against Israel as it continues its wars in Gaza and Lebanon. While some fear a Trump presidency could have detrimental effects in the Middle East, particularly on Palestine, others in the community praised Trump's efforts to connect with a key demographic. Some say they're prepared to lobby the incoming administration on the issues that matter to them, regardless of who wins. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has fired Defense Minister Jov Galant in a milestone decision met with protests. Mr. Netanyahu said in a statement, "significant gaps were discovered between me and Galant in the management of the campaign." It's the latest twist in a rift between Israel's defense ministry and military officials against Mr. Netanyahu and his far-right cohort over a potential ceasefire in Gaza. That's all for this morning's headlines. You can get these stories at our site and visit the nationallose.com/podcasts for more like this. Yes, me and Altaji, and the National. (upbeat music) (upbeat music)