Beyond Executive Orders: How Trump Campaigning Pushed Arab Muslims into Hiding Online?

This article investigates the effects of divisive campaign rhetoric on Arab and Muslim American behavior. It examines whether President Trump's anti-immigrant stance during his campaign influenced day-to-day segregation in public life.

Data & Methods

Using three data sources - television news coverage, social media activity, and a survey - to understand shifts among Arab Americans following the election.

• TV News Coverage: Tracking changes in media representation
• Social Media Activity: Analyzing Twitter usage patterns by Arabic-sounding names
• Survey Data: Measuring reported public space avoidance

Key Findings

Our analysis shows that campaign rhetoric had consequences beyond executive orders:

• Users with Arabic-sounding Twitter handles saw location sharing drop 10-20% after major campaign events.
• Muslim survey respondents indicated increased avoidance of public spaces post-election.

Why It Matters

These findings demonstrate tangible impacts of presidential campaigns on the lived experiences and visibility of minority communities.