Trump warns Michigan voters about Abdul El-Sayed amid concerns over jihadist ties and Senate control
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President Donald Trump urged Michigan voters to reject Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, comparing him to the hijackers of United Flight 93 as the state’s Senate race nears the November 3 election.
President Donald Trump spoke at a rally in Port Huron, Michigan, warning voters that a "jihadist, Muslim Brotherhood member" could end up in the U.S. Senate if Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed prevails. Trump pointed to the September 11 attacks, saying Michigan must "stand up and fight, just like Todd did, to stop a jihadist from walking into the Capitol," and said El-Sayed would likely need to pass through a metal detector to enter the Senate.
El-Sayed, who would be the first Muslim elected to the Senate if victorious, denied the allegations and said in a campaign advertisement, "Faith is a thing there's just too little of in Washington." Former U.S. Representative Mike Rogers, the Republican contender, has said without evidence that El-Sayed has ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, a claim the candidate called "shameful."
Rogers told NBC's "Meet the Press" that El-Sayed had not answered questions about the allegations and described him as a "Democrat Socialist of America-aligned candidate" with "radical support groups" opposed to America. Trump later praised Rogers on Fox News, calling him "an amazing senator" and "solid as a rock. Apple pie."
The race is widely viewed as pivotal for control of the Senate, with Democrats needing a small number of seats to overturn the current Republican majority. Former President Barack Obama also campaigned in Michigan, criticizing the attacks on El-Sayed as efforts to portray him as unpatriotic.