Trump targets Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed with anti-Muslim rhetoric at Michigan rally
US President Donald Trump called Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed a “jihadist” at a Sunday rally and questioned his loyalty to the country. A former Arab American ally of Trump condemned the remarks.
US President Donald Trump stepped up his anti-Muslim rhetoric on Sunday against Abdul El-Sayed, a Michigan Senate candidate and former Detroit health official, at a rally in the state. Trump portrayed him as a national security threat and questioned his loyalty to the United States. The remarks come as the country approaches the midterm elections, in which Congress seats, including part of the Senate, are contested.
According to the Associated Press, Trump called El-Sayed a “jihadist” who was “on the side of the terrorists” and said he would “have to go through a metal detector” before entering the Senate. The president also repeatedly invoked the 9/11 attacks, likening the act of stopping El-Sayed from entering the Senate chamber to the passengers who fought hijackers aboard United Flight 93.
El-Sayed, who would become the first Muslim US senator if elected, has described attacks on his loyalty as “shameful” and has repeatedly denied any ties to extremist groups.
Bishara Bahbah, a founder of Arab Americans for Trump, condemned the comments. The group helped lead Trump's outreach to Arab American voters in 2024. In a phone interview, Bahbah said the statements were out of line, were “crossing a red line” and were racist.
Trump was speaking to support Mike Rogers, the Republican Senate candidate in Michigan. During the event he also returned to remarks he made earlier in October about the physique of Ohio Republican Senator Jon Husted, and encouraged the crowd to compliment rapper Nicki Minaj's behind.
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