Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee in Michigan's open Senate race, on Tuesday accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of pressing the Trump administration to enter the ongoing conflict with Iran. The war, which began with joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Tehran on Feb. 28, has now dragged on for more than seven months, and its economic toll is becoming a central campaign issue.
Speaking to NewsNation's chief Washington anchor, Leland Vittert, El-Sayed asserted that Netanyahu's advocacy was a key factor in the decision to go to war. "There's no disagreement on that," he said. "He came to the Situation Room and advocated for the war, and we're now paying ... for it. Our gas, our groceries are unaffordable, and that's on top of the billions in tax dollars that we spend sending our money over there."
The conflict has disrupted global energy markets, with commercial oil traffic through the Strait of Hormuz effectively halted. That has sent prices soaring, and affordability has become a top concern for voters. A Marquette Law School poll from August found that 75% of respondents believe the military operations have not been "worth the cost."
President Trump has maintained that his administration, not Israel's, is calling the shots in the war. But Netanyahu has pushed back, insisting his government has "every right to self-defense" and will "exercise that right whenever necessary."
Lawmakers have responded to public discontent by passing several Iran powers resolutions—three in the House and one in the Senate—urging the administration to end U.S. military operations against Iran. El-Sayed has been vocal in his opposition to the war, saying, "I have been more than extremely clear about this: I don't want our tax dollars being used to subsidize war abroad. I don't want our tax dollars being used to fund, unconditionally, foreign militaries."
El-Sayed's comments come as he prepares to face Republican former Rep. Mike Rogers in a Thursday debate in Grand Rapids. Rogers, who previously supported Trump's tariffs as "necessary," reversed his position on Wednesday, calling for an immediate end to the trade fight with Canada. El-Sayed seized on the shift, accusing Rogers of "flip-flopping" because he is trailing in the polls. "Donald is the reason we're in a trade war. And he's the reason you're running," El-Sayed wrote on social media.
The Michigan race is seen as a key battleground in the fight for Senate control. Former President Obama's planned campaign stop for El-Sayed underscores the national attention on this contest. Recent surveys have shown El-Sayed holding a narrow lead among likely voters, and outside groups are pouring money into the state in anticipation of a close finish.
El-Sayed's critique of the war and its economic consequences is part of a broader Democratic message that the Trump administration's foreign policy has been reckless and costly. As the debate approaches, he is likely to hammer Rogers on his shifting positions and his alignment with the White House on trade and military matters.
