Trump attacks Muslim Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, mispronounces his name; El-Sayed hits back
Washington — US President Donald Trump has repeatedly mispronounced the name of Muslim Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan while calling him a jihadist and extremist. El-Sayed has described the remarks as an attempt to target Muslims and their faith.Speaking at an election rally, Trump repeatedly addressed El-Sayed as “Mohammed,” although his actual name…
Washington — US President Donald Trump has repeatedly mispronounced the name of Muslim Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan while calling him a jihadist and extremist. El-Sayed has described the remarks as an attempt to target Muslims and their faith.
Speaking at an election rally, Trump repeatedly addressed El-Sayed as “Mohammed,” although his actual name is Abdul. He said, “I’m the president, I can call him whatever I want,” and described El-Sayed as a “radical jihadist.”
Trump also misnamed El-Sayed in a post on Truth Social, calling him a “jihadist lunatic,” an “extremist” and a supporter of terrorists. He praised Republican candidate Mike Rogers as the right candidate for the people of Michigan.
Abdul El-Sayed, a 41-year-old epidemiologist, is running against Mike Rogers in November’s midterm elections. If elected, he would become the first Muslim US senator.
Responding on X, El-Sayed said Trump knows his name is Abdul but is targeting not only him but all Muslims. He accused the president of using his name and religion to distract from problems such as inflation, fuel prices and healthcare costs.
“They think we don’t understand reality,” El-Sayed said. “It’s time for change.”
