WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has compared Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed to the hijackers involved in the September 11, 2001, attacks, intensifying his criticism of the Michigan candidate ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.
Speaking at a campaign rally in Port Huron, Michigan, on Sunday, Trump described El-Sayed as an extremist and alleged that he was affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, without presenting evidence to support the claim.
“I’m here to keep an extremist, Muslim Brotherhood member from becoming a United States senator,” Trump told supporters.
El-Sayed, who could become the first Muslim elected to the US Senate if successful, has denied any affiliation with the Muslim Brotherhood and rejected questions about his loyalty to the United States as “shameful.”
Trump also invoked the actions of Todd Beamer and other passengers who resisted the hijackers aboard United Airlines Flight 93 during the September 11 attacks, urging Michigan voters to oppose El-Sayed.
“Twenty-five years later, Michigan needs to stand up and fight, just like Todd did, to stop an extremist from walking into the Capitol,” Trump said.
The president further claimed that El-Sayed would be the only senator required to pass through a metal detector before entering the Senate.
Why Is El-Sayed Facing Allegations Over His Political and Religious Affiliation?
El-Sayed’s Republican opponent, former US Representative Mike Rogers, has alleged that the Democratic candidate has links to the Muslim Brotherhood. El-Sayed has denied the allegation, while Rogers has argued that the candidate has not adequately addressed questions surrounding the claims.
Speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday, Rogers described El-Sayed as a Democratic Socialists of America-aligned candidate and criticised groups supporting his campaign.
El-Sayed has defended his faith in a recent campaign advertisement, saying, “Faith is a thing there’s just too little of in Washington.”
The allegations have become a prominent feature of the contest for an open Michigan Senate seat, with the outcome potentially influencing control of the upper chamber of Congress.
How Has Barack Obama Responded to the Attacks on El-Sayed?
Former US president Barack Obama defended El-Sayed during a Democratic campaign rally in Detroit on Saturday, arguing that his opponents were attempting to portray him as less patriotic and less American.
Obama compared the attacks against El-Sayed to false claims about his own birthplace, which he faced during his political career.
“We have seen this movie before,” Obama said. “I starred in it … This stuff didn’t work on me. Not in Michigan. It’s not going to work on Abdul.”
The competing campaign appearances highlighted Michigan’s importance ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. Trump won the Port Huron area by more than 66% in the 2024 presidential election.
Economic policy has also featured in the campaign, particularly the US-Canada tariff dispute and its effects on the American automobile industry. Rogers praised Trump’s tariffs for attracting manufacturing investments to Michigan but expressed concern about their impact on the automotive sector.
“There’s some good, and there’s some things we have to work on,” Rogers said during his NBC interview.
Trump, meanwhile, endorsed Rogers in an interview with Fox News, describing him as a candidate who shares the beliefs of Michigan voters.
Republicans currently hold narrow majorities in both chambers of Congress. Democrats are seeking enough seats in the midterm elections to regain control of the Senate and House of Representatives.