Muslim civil rights under strain in Trump’s second term, says USCMO chief

By Iftikhar Gilani

ANKARA, Turkiye (MNTV) – Oussama Jammal is the secretary general of the U.S. Council of Muslim Organizations, an umbrella body representing major national Muslim groups across the United States.

A longtime advocate for civil rights, interfaith engagement, and constitutional protections, he has been a prominent voice on issues ranging from Islamophobia and immigration policy to U.S. foreign policy and free speech.

During his recent trip to the Turkish capital, Ankara, he spoke with Muslim Network TV on a range of issues confronting American Muslims during the second Trump administration.

He said while Muslims survived the initial Trump presidency, the current term is marked by a loyal inner circle that advances the president’s agenda without restraint, making civil rights protections harder to defend.

Jammal warns that Muslims now face pressure on multiple fronts, from immigration crackdowns and political targeting to attempts to suppress First Amendment rights, particularly around advocacy for Palestine.

He says Muslim Americans are being caught in broader national tensions, including intensified immigration enforcement against Latinos, rising hostility toward Somali Americans in Minnesota, and political attacks linked to figures such as Rep. Ilhan Omar.

According to Jammal, advocacy for Palestine has become the main flashpoint, drawing fierce pushback from pro-Israel lobbying groups that he says wield disproportionate influence over U.S. policy.

Jammal strongly criticized state-level efforts in Texas and Florida to designate the Council on American-Islamic Relations as a terrorist organization, calling the moves unconstitutional and politically motivated.

He argues that Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza has awakened American public opinion, especially young people, while also triggering a crackdown on student activism and free expression.

Despite these challenges, Jammal strikes a defiant tone.

He says Muslim Americans are becoming more politically engaged, running for office and building alliances across society.

Framing the moment as a test of the U.S. Constitution, he says Muslims are prepared to carry the mantle of civil rights, not only for their community, but for the future of American democracy itself.

Excerpts of his interview:

MNTV: Mr. Jammal, thank you very much for joining us. As secretary general of the U.S. Council of Muslim Organizations, let me begin by asking you this. President Donald Trump has now completed one year in office during his second term. How would you describe the current state of Muslim civil rights in the United States?

Jammal: Thank you for the interview. The state of Muslim Americans under the second Trump administration is more challenging than during the first one. We survived the first Trump administration, but the second term is certainly tougher, not only for Muslim Americans, but for the entire American people, and in many ways, for the world.

You can clearly see major changes in how the United States views its relationship with the rest of the world. Whether it is Europe, NATO allies, Russia, or Latin America, we are witnessing a new era of politics that President Donald Trump is introducing.

For Muslim Americans, this period is particularly difficult. On one hand, in the last election, many Muslims voted for Donald Trump, especially in Detroit, which is a key swing state. On the other hand, we now see the president attacking Muslim communities, particularly in places like Minnesota, where the majority of Somali Americans live.

So yes, we have serious concerns about the president’s policies, especially when it comes to the civil rights of Muslims in America.

MNTV: You mentioned immigration crackdowns. Some argue these affect immigrant Muslims, while others say even Muslims who are long-established Americans are being targeted. Can you explain this distinction?

Jammal: When we talk about indigenous Americans, we must include African Americans. African Americans, whether Muslim or Christian, have long faced discrimination in this country. Under Trump’s administration, that discrimination has become more pronounced.

Now, when it comes specifically to Muslims, we see two broad categories. First, immigrant Muslims who are legally in the United States. These are often the most visible and vocal groups, especially because they raise issues related to Palestine, Kashmir, Sudan, Libya, and Syria.

Among these, the Palestinian issue is the most significant. Because of the strength of Zionist lobbying in America, Muslims who advocate for Palestine often find themselves in direct political confrontation. This confrontation can take many forms. Sometimes it involves immigration pressure. Sometimes it is framed through the so-called war on terrorism or accusations linked to Hamas. Everything becomes mixed together.

The overall purpose is clear. It is about finding ways to attack Muslim Americans.

At the same time, immigration crackdowns are not limited to Muslims. Latinos, especially from Mexico and Latin America, are under massive attack. In fact, in many cases, they are being targeted even more aggressively than Muslims.

Then there is the Somali community. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar has become a symbol for Somali Americans, most of whom live in Minnesota. The rhetoric directed at her leads directly to hostility and violence against Muslims. Minnesota also has political importance, as it is connected to Vice President Kamala Harris’ election path, so multiple political calculations are at play.

All of this shows how the president uses different excuses and narratives to attack certain communities.

MNTV: If we compare Trump’s first term with his second, are Muslim Americans more organized and politically resilient now?

Jammal: There are two important points here. Yes, we learned a lot from the first Trump term. But the second term is very different from the first.

The biggest difference is the president’s team. During his first term, Trump had advisors who restrained him. You had people like Rex Tillerson, James Mattis, national security advisors and others who understood America’s diversity and its relationship with the world.

This time, the situation is very different. The president has surrounded himself with a team that is 100 percent loyal to him. They are fully aligned with his agenda and advance it without reservation.

So the question now is not just how Muslims react, but how resilient we can be politically. How much can we withstand, and how well can we defend our rights?

We are determined to survive. We are determined to fight for our civil rights. We are determined to defend our rights as Americans. But it will be tougher this time because the president has more confidence and fewer internal restraints.

Even now, we see clashes with the Supreme Court, federal courts, and federal judges. The president often makes decisions that are later overturned. Despite this, we believe deeply in the U.S. Constitution and the American legal system.

We are prepared for a legal and political fight, especially against those around the president who are pushing harmful agendas. Unfortunately, the Israeli agenda plays a dominant role in many of the policies targeting Muslim Americans.

MNTV: Your organization, the U.S. Council of Muslim Organizations, includes groups such as the Council on American-Islamic Relations. Recently, CAIR has been targeted and designated by some state authorities. What does this signal for Muslim civil society in the United States, and is there any way out?

Jammal: What we are seeing is extremely concerning. Two governors, the governor of Texas and the governor of Florida, declared CAIR, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a terrorist organization, linking it to the Muslim Brotherhood.

There is absolutely no legal basis for these decisions. These governors do not have the authority to make such designations. These actions fall completely outside their constitutional powers.

Because of this, CAIR has already challenged these decisions in court, and we strongly believe they will win. These declarations were made under pressure and influence from Israel and pro-Israel lobbying groups.

We describe these politicians as Israel-first, not America-first. Their decisions are not about protecting Americans. They are about serving foreign political interests.

MNTV: One development we have seen during the Gaza war is the large-scale mobilization of Muslims and non-Muslims alike, especially young people, demanding a ceasefire. How has this affected Washington’s response?

Jammal: This has been a double-edged sword.

On the positive side, it educated the American public. It mobilized young people in a way we have never seen before. It created enormous pressure on the Israeli lobby and changed public awareness.

But on the other side, it has been used against the Muslim community.

They accuse Muslims and activists of antisemitism. They claim protests incite violence. They are using these accusations to suppress freedom of speech and punish First Amendment rights.

Foreign students are being targeted. Their visas are threatened. Universities are being pressured to revoke scholarships, discipline students, or withhold academic records.

Universities themselves are under intense pressure. State governments, especially in Texas and Florida, are intervening. Deans and administrators are being pushed to silence student activism.

This shows that the Zionist lobby understands something important. They see that public opinion is shifting. They fear that this shift will influence future U.S. foreign policy. That is why the response has been so aggressive.

So yes, Gaza educated the public, but it also created new challenges for Muslims and their allies.

MNTV: Is there any recognition inside the United States that, despite Trump’s “America First” slogan, U.S. policy often appears to be “Israel First”?

Jammal: What Gaza has done is create a real rupture inside the American conservative movement. There is now a clear divide between the MAGA base and those who are firmly Israel-first.

This is a positive development.

Many Americans are now asking important questions. Why should American taxpayers fund Israeli military adventures? Why should Americans be responsible for genocide? Why should the United States be dragged into an expanding war, possibly even with Iran?

People are questioning why America defends Israel unconditionally.

This rupture is historic. It challenges decades of unquestioned loyalty to Israel. That is a major change, and we are watching closely to see how it develops.

MNTV: Has this internal division reduced the pressure on Muslim Americans, or has it increased it?

Jammal: Unfortunately, the pressure is increasing.

When young people shift their views, when public opinion changes, and when even parts of the conservative base begin questioning Israel-first policies, those who feel threatened double down.

The Israeli lobby and its allies intensify their efforts. They push harder. They seek to silence Muslim voices.

We are now seeing Muslim Americans running for public office in greater numbers. We are engaging with universities, youth movements, and even building relationships with Republicans and conservatives.

These are major changes, and they alarm those who want to maintain the status quo. That is why they are trying to crush the movement before it grows further.

So yes, we are prepared to push back, but we also know they are working aggressively to silence us.

MNTV: What message do you have for Muslims in the United States and around the world who feel anxious about civil rights, justice, and political developments in America?

Jammal: America is going through a serious test.

Muslim Americans still believe in the American system. We believe in the Constitution. What we are witnessing now is a test of whether America will remain true to its founding principles or whether it will fundamentally change.

If this political direction continues beyond Trump, especially if someone with a similar agenda follows him, then the global order we have known will change dramatically.

But if this period is temporary, then once this administration ends, future leadership could work to restore what was lost.

Our message is clear. Muslim Americans will be resilient. Muslim Americans will be champions of civil rights.

In the past, African Americans carried the torch of civil rights, leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. Today, Muslim Americans may be called to carry that torch.

We are fighting for the soul of America because we love this country. We love the American people. The problem is not America itself. The problem is an agenda imposed from outside that is changing what America used to stand for.

MNTV: There is also discussion about President Trump potentially seeking a third term. Is such a constitutional amendment possible?

Jammal: At this point, this idea seems more like wishful thinking.

There are serious questions about whether the president would even be physically fit for a third term. There are already public discussions about his health.

Constitutionally, this has never happened before. A president serving beyond two terms is unprecedented.

What makes this situation unusual is that Trump lost an election, refused to accept the result, and then returned to office. That alone makes him a very different kind of president.

What is also striking is that he has strong support. This is not a fringe movement. He won more than 50 percent of the vote. Millions of Americans believe in what he says.

As for a constitutional amendment, it is still unclear how that would even work. Would it require a vote in Congress? A national referendum? We simply do not know.

Personally, I have not researched the legal pathway in detail, and I cannot speak definitively on whether such an amendment could succeed.