Trump attacks Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed at Iowa rally

US President Donald Trump repeatedly called Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed a "jihadist" at a campaign event in Iowa on Sunday. El-Sayed is a progressive from Michigan and a practicing Muslim. The Michigan Senate contest is extremely close and, after Tuesday's midterm elections for the US Congress, could play a major part in deciding which party holds the Senate.

Trump said that if El-Sayed were elected, Congress would have to "get a special metal detector for Abdul." He added: "If you vote for this jihadist lunatic that wants to destroy you, you're crazy." The source describes the remarks as brazenly racist.

Stevens' endorsement goes to the Republican

The Michigan race has drawn national attention in recent days. Hayley Stevens, who lost to El-Sayed in the August Democratic primary, declined to campaign with him. She demanded that he publicly disavow a political ad from an outside group that linked rising prices to US military support for Israel's war in Gaza.

El-Sayed responded by telling Stevens to stay away from a joint campaign event planned for Sunday. Stevens then endorsed his Republican opponent, Mike Rogers. Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer, who is Jewish, condemned her move so close to the vote.

Trump, by contrast, praised Stevens for turning against El-Sayed, calling it "an incredible thing" and saying he would love her to join the Republican party. He described Rogers in metaphorical terms, saying he is "apple pie" and that the country needs "a little apple pie" rather than communists or jihadists.

Trump also noted that he had little time to watch football this weekend because he had been going to rallies all over the place. "Pretend I'm on the ballot," he said, adding that essentially, he is.