El-Sayed dismisses Trump’s warnings as he dodges questions on jihad and Sharia
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Democratic Senate hopeful Abdul El-Sayed rejected President Donald Trump’s accusations that he is a jihadist, but the clash highlighted Trump’s concerns about El-Sayed’s views as voters weigh economic and security issues.
Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed held a news conference in Detroit on Monday, rejecting President Donald Trump’s accusations that he supports jihad and would impose Sharia law. El-Sayed said the president’s remarks are intended to divert attention from rising fuel prices, the war in Iran and other concerns that affect everyday Americans.
"They have nothing to say about solving the problems in your life. They’re not talking about your gas or your groceries… They’re not talking about clean air or clean water. They’re not talking about any of the things that the government is actually supposed to solve. Why? Because Donald Trump has created those problems," El-Sayed said, describing the attacks as "deflections and deceptions based on no evidence."
At a rally the previous day, Trump claimed El-Sayed would need a metal detector to enter the Senate chamber and suggested he wanted to impose Sharia law. El-Sayed responded with humor, referencing his University of Michigan background, and emphasized that his name and faith are unrelated to economic hardships faced by voters.
The race, pitting El-Sayed against former Republican Congressman Mike Rogers, remains close and could determine Senate control for the next two years. El-Sayed added that most Michigan voters reject the president’s rhetoric, describing them as a small, loud minority.