President Trump launched a blistering attack on Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed (D) in the aftermath of Thursday night's debate, using his preferred derogatory nickname and leveling unfounded accusations against the progressive Democrat.
In a late-night post on Truth Social, Trump declared that Republican nominee Mike Rogers had "completely obliterated" El-Sayed, whom he referred to as "Mohammed," and then escalated his rhetoric, calling El-Sayed a "Jihadist lunatic" who "hates our Country, the Black People of Detroit, and wants to see the U.S. fail." The president also claimed, without evidence, that El-Sayed's statements were "loaded up with lies and deceit."
Trump has repeatedly used the name "Mohammed" for El-Sayed, whose full name is Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed. The candidate has accused the president of weaponizing his name and Muslim faith to distract voters from the economic pain caused by Trump's policies.
"He knows my name is Abdul. He says it everyday," El-Sayed wrote on social media after Trump again used the incorrect name ahead of the debate. "He thinks so low of us. He thinks he can use my name and my faith to distract us from the suffering his policies are inflicting on us at the pump, at the grocery store, and at the doctor's office. He thinks we don't know any better. It's time for change."
During the debate, El-Sayed sought to paint Rogers as a rubber stamp for the president, arguing that the race is about whether voters can trust their next senator to stand up to Trump. "It's about whether or not you trust your next U.S. senator [to] stand up to Trump and Trumpism," he said. "But when [you're] running because Donald Trump called you and asked you to run, you can tell he's not going to stand up to anybody."
Rogers, for his part, tried to highlight areas where he disagrees with the administration, pointing to his call this week to end the trade war with Canada and suggesting that the mass federal immigration crackdown had gone too far at times. The debate, which was marked by sharp exchanges, is part of a closely watched race that could help determine control of the Senate. The heated moment underscores the high stakes for both parties in Michigan.
Trump's attack comes as his approval ratings have sunk to historic lows ahead of the midterms, and his involvement in the race may be a double-edged sword. While he remains popular with the GOP base, his inflammatory rhetoric could alienate swing voters. El-Sayed has tried to turn the president's attacks into an opportunity, framing the contest as a referendum on Trumpism. The face-off between the two candidates highlighted their starkly different visions for the state.
Political analysts note that Trump's use of a Muslim candidate's name as a slur is a deliberate strategy to energize his base, but it risks backlash in a diverse state like Michigan. The president has a history of such attacks, including his controversial remarks about Somali residents in Minnesota, which drew widespread condemnation.
As the campaign heats up, both candidates are vying for support in a state that could be pivotal in the battle for the Senate. El-Sayed's campaign has sought to harness the energy of progressive voters, while Rogers is betting on a more traditional appeal to independents and disaffected Democrats. The outcome may hinge on whether Trump's involvement helps or hurts the Republican cause.
