A Republican gubernatorial candidate who spent weeks warning of “Muslim infiltration” in Dearborn, Michigan, has issued a public apology and canceled his planned “American Crusade” march after spending 72 hours meeting with residents and visiting local mosques. Anthony Hudson, a truck driver from Grand Blanc Township running for Michigan governor in 2026, acknowledged he had been “lied to with the propaganda” about the Detroit suburb and admitted, “I was wrong.”
A Stunning About-Face
Hudson’s reversal came after he visited three mosques and toured local businesses in Dearborn, where he was received with what he described as “a lot of hospitality”. Speaking from inside a Dearborn mosque on November 15, 2025, Hudson told his supporters: “I can tell you in good faith right now today, standing at a pulpit in a mosque, that Sharia law does not exist in Dearborn, Michigan, nor do I believe it exists anywhere in the United States”.
“You have all been lied to with the propaganda that’s going on about Dearborn, Michigan. I can tell you with absolute faith that everything you’ve been told or taught about Dearborn is a complete fabrication of the truth.”
— Anthony Hudson, Republican gubernatorial candidate
The Trump-supporting “America First” candidate went further, stating that if anyone attempted to burn the Quran in front of him, “I’ll be the first to put out the fire”.
From Inflammatory Rhetoric to Reconciliation
Just days earlier, Hudson had promoted his planned march with Christian nationalist rhetoric, claiming he would “expose Dearborn for what it is” and declaring that “CHRIST WILL NOT BE MOCKED”. He had suggested that Marines, National Guard members, and a “Patriot Militia” would join him. He claimed 5,000 “patriots” were ready to march, though only 42 people had marked themselves as attending on Facebook.
Hudson’s announcement of the “peaceful assembly” scheduled for November 19, 2025, at Schaefer Road and Michigan Avenue had accused the city of “Muslim infiltration” and falsely claimed Sharia law existed there. The rhetoric drew widespread criticism from civil rights advocates, including the Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI).
Understanding Dearborn’s Demographics
Dearborn achieved historical significance in 2023 when it became the first Arab-majority city in the United States with 55% of its population identifying as Middle Eastern or North African. The 2020 census showed Dearborn had 109,976 residents who identified as Middle Eastern or North African, which made up 54.5% of the population and increased by seven percentage points from 2019.
The largest ethnic groups in Dearborn are Lebanese Americans, numbering 22,806, followed by Yemenis at 14,513 and Iraqis at 4,988, while 9,488 residents identify as Arab. The Islamic Center of America, located in Dearborn, is the largest mosque in North America.
A Pattern of Islamophobic Attacks
Hudson’s initial rhetoric fits within a broader pattern of Islamophobic misinformation targeting Dearborn. In February 2024, the city ramped up police presence at places of worship and major infrastructure points after a Wall Street Journal opinion piece described Dearborn as “America’s jihad capital,” prompting Mayor Abdullah Hammoud to cite “an alarming increase in bigoted and Islamophobic rhetoric online targeting the city”.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations documented a record 8,658 anti-Muslim incidents in 2024, marking a 7.4% increase from the previous year and the highest number since CAIR began tracking such data in 1996. The majority of these complaints involved workplace discrimination, immigration issues, education, and hate crimes.
Christian Nationalism and Anti-Muslim Sentiment
The first statements of Hudson’s campaign demonstrate how Christian nationalist movements throughout America have created rising anti-Muslim feelings across the nation. Research shows Christian nationalism leads to xenophobic attitudes and religious minority opposition because its supporters view immigrants and religious minorities as dangers to their concept of Christian democracy.
“We’ve seen no evidence of Sharia law taking place anywhere in this community—not in the businesses, not in the streets, not in people’s homes—so I would like to say I apologize. I admit when I’m wrong.”
— Anthony Hudson.
Political Context
The Michigan governorship will be contested by multiple candidates seeking to succeed Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who cannot run for re-election due to term limits. The campaign website shows that Hudson supports three major tax elimination initiatives and backs all points from former President Donald Trump’s Agenda 47 platform. Hudson launched his gubernatorial campaign in February 2025 by presenting himself as a working-class family man who relocated to Michigan from Texas in 2012.
The gubernatorial contest features Republican candidates Aric Nesbitt, who serves as state Senate leader; Chris Swanson, who is Genesee County Sheriff; Jocelyn Benson, who is Michigan Secretary of State; and Mike Duggan, who is Detroit Mayor.