U.S. senator-elect Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed drew praise from prominent Egyptian public figures after his Nov. 4 victory, while Egyptian state outlets largely overlooked the result, Reuters reported.
Reuters said the win made El-Sayed the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Senate. The outlet described him as born in Michigan to parents who immigrated from Egypt. He has spoken about his family’s ties to Egypt, praised the country’s cuisine and humor, and recalled summer visits to Alexandria, where his father grew up.
Television host Amr Adib praised the U.S. political system for allowing El-Sayed to reach the Senate, Reuters reported. Presenter Yasmine El-Khateib wrote that the result showed “the will of the people can prevail.” Her post also praised the U.S. system for allowing voters to overcome religious and ethnic differences and presidential opposition. Reuters said Egyptian public figures also emphasized El-Sayed’s opposition to President Donald Trump.
A widely circulated comedy clip put El-Sayed’s face on Mr. Bean dancing before a downcast Trump, Reuters reported. Alaa Mubarak, son of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, circulated footage from El-Sayed’s victory remarks. The clip included a joking address to Vice President J.D. Vance using “habibi,” an Arabic term of endearment.
Loay El-Khateeb, a pro-government commentator, argued on Facebook that El-Sayed’s Egyptian background should not lead to expectations from the victory. He also rejected calling the win an Egyptian or Arab accomplishment, Reuters reported.
Reuters linked state media’s limited coverage to El-Sayed’s criticism of the government in Cairo. The outlet contrasted the muted response with past state-media attention to Egyptian Americans who gained prominence in the United States, including Oscar-winning actor Rami Malek. In a 2026 campaign interview, El-Sayed described Egypt as “a military dictatorship funded by our tax dollars here,” Reuters reported.
EconoTimes earlier reported on Haley Stevens’ endorsement of Republican Mike Rogers in the Michigan race, where Rogers faced El-Sayed.
