Shahd Alhamdan
JEDDAH — The news of removal of Donald Trump products from several retail stores in the Middle East and his books from Jarir Bookstore has evoked a mixed response in the Gulf region, with many supporting this move while a few calling the move cosmetic.
Following Republican presidential hopeful’s racist declarations that he would seek to ban Muslims entering the US during his election stump, Donald Trump was faced a hailstorm of criticism — both from within and outside the US.
It also has sparked actions from business interests in the Middle East with the latest "Dump Trump" move coming from retailers in Saudi Arabia.
According to CNN Money, one of the home décor chain named Lifestyle has removed all Trump products from all of it outlets in several countries in the Middle East and North Africa as well as Pakistan and Tanzania.
Days later, Centrepoint, Home Centre, City Max and Jarir Bookstore, in Saudi Arabia too removed Trump’s products and books from their shelves.
Many people supported the stores’ action, especially after Trump’s latest attack, in a series of racist barbs, against Muslims. However, some Saudis felt that removing of Trump’s books from the market would not prove anything and also could be counter-productive.
For many though the reaction is swift and apt. They believe that if Trump’s business is rejected it will affect his pockets, where it will hurt him the most. For, they feel, he was a businessman before he took to politics.
That sentiment was echoed by Fatma Almajarbi, a Kuwaiti female, who was critical of Trump’s call to ban Muslims. “Of course, I support this action because even thinking of preventing Muslims from entering America is being discriminatory.
“Trump should stop what he is doing and alter his way of thinking or else the Muslim world would act in unison to counter him, especially that half of his profits came from dealing with Muslims.”
On Twitter, many Saudis tweeted their support for removing Trump's products and books from the market. Apart from the many tweets that lauded the retail stores for their quick and bold initiatives, many others described the "Dump Trump" move as a positive step.
However, there were some who took the contrary view. Sara, a Saudi, who did not want her last name mentioned, explained that she would understand if it was boycotting of all his products in every which way.
“Yet, people can buy his books online. Also as him being a public figure, people should have some information about him.
“He has also a TV show, so he has another side than the one that people are talking about in the current moment. But, this does not mean that I back what he is saying or doing, but instead of these moves I am for mobilizing people against what he is saying, his attitude, and make them vote against him,” she said.
Sara added that like knowing about Hitler and his speeches and learning about Hulagu Khan and his intransigence, people should know about Trump since he is part of the American history.
Khalid, a Saudi who did not want to reveal his last name, said, “I have read several pages from his book and there are many nice ideas, even though he hates Muslims because of the attacks but this is not a reason for removing his books from the store shelves.”
He explained that he used to read about Trump before he became part of the US election and he believes that he is one of the most successful people in America.
From all what Khalid has read and understands from Trump’s speeches is that he only wants to reduce the number of Muslims entering the country because he is afraid of terror attacks. Trump claims that there are some people who are threatening America, and Khalid thinks it is true.
