Michigan Senate Race: Trump Calls Rival a Jihadist

The Michigan Senate race has entered its final stretch with President Donald Trump intensifying his focus on the religious identity of his Democratic opponent. On Sunday, the president delivered a speech in Port Huron that centered on the candidacy of Abdul El-Sayed, the former Detroit health official.

Trump labeled El-Sayed a "jihadist" who was "on the side of the terrorists." The president argued that El-Sayed would have to pass through a metal detector to enter the Senate chamber. He drew a direct comparison between stopping El-Sayed and the passengers who fought hijackers aboard United Flight 93 on September 11, 2001. Trump also attacked Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar, calling her a "Muslim Brotherhood member." He stated he came to Michigan to prevent a "jihadist" from becoming a senator.

Bishara Bahbah, a founder of the group Arab Americans for Trump, condemned the remarks. The organization helped lead the president's outreach to Arab American voters in 2024. Bahbah said in a phone interview that the president's statements were "out of line" and "crossing a red line." He described the rhetoric as racist and noted that the group has since changed its name to Arab Americans for Peace.

El-Sayed responded at a rally in Grand Rapids later that day. He said he did not care how Trump pronounced his name. He told supporters that he would be "Senator Muhammad" to them after November. In a separate response, Senator Bernie Sanders said the use of Islamophobia showed that Trump had "nothing to say" about issues like health care and housing.

Republican Mike Rogers, El-Sayed's opponent, has also targeted the Democrat's faith. During their final debate, Rogers asked if El-Sayed was for America or for "terrorist groups overseas." El-Sayed called the question "shameful." He pointed to the Constitution's guarantee of the right to pray as they choose. Rogers claimed the Muslim Brotherhood celebrated only one victory in the U.S. primary this year: El-Sayed's. There is no evidence of an affiliation between El-Sayed and the group, though his half-sister mentioned family ties to the movement on social media in 2012.

The political context for Trump's remarks includes the ongoing Iran war and rising fuel prices. The president has been framing El-Sayed as an existential threat to generate voter turnout. Port Huron is a border city north of Detroit where Trump made gains among Arab American voters in 2024. He also became the first Republican presidential candidate since 2000 to win Dearborn, a city with a large Arab American population.

Trump did not announce new economic investments at the rally. Instead, he repeated commitments from domestic automakers. Rapper Nicki Minaj appeared on stage to urge voters to support the Republican ticket. Trump commented on her appearance before she stood for the crowd, saying the group loves her and she has been with them for a long time.