President Donald Trump accused Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed of extremist ties at a Michigan rally Sunday, backing Republican Mike Rogers in a race that could shape Senate control.
At the Oct. 25 event in Port Huron, Trump called El-Sayed a “jihadist Muslim Brotherhood member” and said he was “on the side of the terrorists.” He also suggested metal-detector screening if El-Sayed enters the Senate. A recording documents the remarks, but Trump offered no evidence for the allegations.
Trump also attacked El-Sayed in a separate Truth Social post, as EconoTimes previously reported. The Associated Press reported finding no evidence that El-Sayed belongs to the Muslim Brotherhood. In a fact-check focused on Rogers’ claims about El-Sayed’s birth mother, Michigan Public said Rogers had supplied no evidence for his allegations about the candidate and his family.
Trump also drew on the resistance of passengers aboard United Flight 93 during the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks as he urged voters to defeat El-Sayed. Rogers is seeking the seat held by retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters.
In a statement issued before El-Sayed’s later rally in Grand Rapids, his campaign called Trump’s attacks bad faith and said it remained focused on costs facing Michigan voters. At the rally, El-Sayed said, “I will be Senator Muhammad to you, bro,” the Associated Press reported.
Bishara Bahbah, a founder of the group formerly called Arab Americans for Trump, told the Associated Press, “They are racist.” The AP described Trump’s attacks as an effort to increase Republican turnout amid voter concerns about inflation, fuel prices and the Iran war.
El-Sayed and Rogers are among six candidates listed for the Senate contest by the Michigan Department of State. The statewide early-voting period runs through Nov. 1; some communities offer additional days. Voters will choose a senator on Nov. 3.
