In a fiery campaign stop in Detroit on Monday, Vice President Vance escalated his attacks on Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, branding the former Detroit health director as “very, very evil” and warning that his brand of politics is “on the rise” in America.
“There’s something about Abdul El-Sayed that is very, very evil,” Vance told the crowd, according to remarks captured at the rally. He went on to frame El-Sayed as a divisive figure who prioritizes one group over others, a charge he said would “destroy the United States of America.”
The vice president’s remarks zeroed in on El-Sayed’s association with left-wing Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, who has drawn scrutiny for past comments that appeared to justify the September 11 attacks and for recent remarks about American Jews. Vance invoked Piker’s 9/11 comments to suggest El-Sayed harbors sympathy for those who share his religion but lacks compassion for others.
“When I see Abdul El-Sayed campaign around this state with somebody who said that America deserved 9-11, what I see is a man who has sympathy and compassion for people who share his religion but have nothing for people who don’t,” Vance said, adding that El-Sayed would “apologize for a murderer” if the person looked a certain way but would not understand the plight of an innocent child of the “wrong faith.”
Piker has become a flashpoint in the Michigan Senate race despite not being on the ballot. His recent comments about American Jews and Israel drew rebukes from across the political spectrum. El-Sayed has tried to distance himself, stating that “nobody speaks for this campaign besides me and my campaign spokespeople.” He also reaffirmed his commitment to Jewish safety, calling antisemitism “a scourge.”
Over the weekend, El-Sayed reached out to the Jewish Democratic caucus and apologized for earlier remarks following an attack on a Detroit synagogue, when he said “hurt people hurt people.” He told reporters that he condemned the attack outright but acknowledged the timing of his context was inappropriate. Vance, speaking at the rally, noted that the synagogue’s rabbi and security guards were present, using the moment to hammer El-Sayed’s response.
El-Sayed, meanwhile, used a pre-rally press conference to pivot to economic messaging, attacking the Trump administration’s trade war with Canada — a policy that he said is costing Michigan families nearly $6,000 a year. He also took aim at his general election opponent, former Representative Mike Rogers, accusing him of being a rubber stamp for the president.
“With Mike Rogers, he has no choice but to rubber stamp, to ‘roger,’ a trade war that is now costing Michiganders—that he says he wants to serve—nearly $6,000 a year,” El-Sayed said. He framed the race as a clear choice between “the chaos of the Trump administration, the cowardice of Mike Rogers, and the corruption of the entire MAGA party” and a politics that puts people ahead of corporations and special interests.
The sharp exchange underscores the increasingly personal and heated nature of the Michigan Senate contest, which has drawn national attention as both parties vie for a crucial seat. Vance’s use of the word “evil” marks a notable escalation in rhetoric, even by the standards of modern campaigning.
Political analysts note that the controversy surrounding Piker could continue to dog El-Sayed, especially as he seeks to broaden his appeal beyond the Democratic base. El-Sayed has already ruled out campaigning with Piker, but the streamer’s shadow looms large over the race. Meanwhile, the Michigan Senate race is also drawing 2028 hopefuls eager to gain an early edge, adding another layer of complexity to an already volatile contest.
As the general election approaches, both sides are likely to keep the focus on the themes that animate their bases: Vance and Republicans will continue to paint El-Sayed as a radical, while El-Sayed will try to tie his opponents to unpopular Trump policies. The coming weeks will test whether Vance’s sharp language moves voters or backfires in a state that remains a key battleground.
