Trump calls Michigan Democrat Abdul El-Sayed a 'jihadist' at Port Huron rally, drawing rebuke from former Arab American ally

What happened at the Port Huron rally

President Donald Trump stepped up his anti-Muslim rhetoric against Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed on Sunday, Oct. 25, according to Associated Press reporting published by PBS NewsHour and NPR. Trump called El-Sayed, a former Detroit health official, a "jihadist" who was "on the side of the terrorists." He also said El-Sayed would "have to go through a metal detector before he's allowed to go into the Senate."

Trump repeatedly referred to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, comparing an effort to keep El-Sayed out of the Senate chamber to the passengers who fought the hijackers on United Flight 93. He also went after Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and said he had come to Michigan "to keep a jihadist Muslim Brotherhood member from becoming a United States senator."

Why Port Huron

Port Huron is a Canadian border city about an hour north of Detroit, near communities where Trump made significant gains among Arab American voters in 2024, the AP reported. That year he became the first Republican presidential candidate since 2000 to win Dearborn, which has one of the nation's largest concentrations of Arab Americans.

How El-Sayed and his allies responded

El-Sayed, who would be the nation's first Muslim senator if elected, has called attacks on his loyalty "shameful" and has repeatedly denied ties to extremist groups. Campaign spokesperson Cole Wozniak said in a statement, "While they lie and resort to desperate, bad faith attacks, Abdul remains laser focused on his plans to bring down costs."

NPR reported that El-Sayed told supporters at a Grand Rapids rally later Sunday that he does not care how Trump pronounces his name. "I will be Senator Muhammad to you, bro," he said. Sen. Bernie Sanders, speaking at the same event, said Trump and his allies were using Islamophobia because they have "nothing to say" about health care, housing and income inequality.

A former Trump ally objects

Bishara Bahbah, a founder of Arab Americans for Trump, condemned the remarks in a phone interview with the AP. "They are crossing a red line. They are racist," he said. His group, which helped lead Trump's 2024 outreach to Arab American voters, has since been renamed Arab Americans for Peace, and Bahbah said "people are going to remember that on Nov. 3."

The Muslim Brotherhood claims

A central part of the Republican strategy in the campaign's final weeks has been an effort to tie El-Sayed to the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamic movement with branches the U.S. government has designated as terrorist organizations. The AP reported there is no evidence El-Sayed has any affiliation with the group. His half-sister, Eman Abdelhadi, wrote on social media in 2012 that "my family has long been MB" and described her mother's involvement in the early 1970s. El-Sayed was born in the United States to Egyptian immigrant parents who divorced when he was young, and he was raised by his father.

Republican nominee Mike Rogers repeated the allegations before Trump spoke Sunday. During their second and final debate, Rogers asked El-Sayed, "Are you for America, or are you for these terrorist groups overseas?" El-Sayed answered that he is proud of a Constitution that guarantees everyone the right to pray as they choose.

Scrutiny of El-Sayed's record

Trump also targeted El-Sayed's ties to streamer Hasan Piker, who appeared with him several times during the primary, including on election night. The AP noted El-Sayed has faced criticism for refusing to say whether Iran or Israel poses a bigger threat, and for saying "hurt people hurt people" after a Detroit-area synagogue attack earlier this year. He later apologized and said he was not trying to justify the attack.

Why the race matters nationally

El-Sayed and Rogers are competing for the seat of retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters, and the race is among a handful that could determine control of the Senate, according to the AP. The outlet reported that with Republicans on the defensive over inflation, soaring fuel prices and the Iran war, Trump has sought to drive turnout by casting Democrats as existential threats. More coverage of the midterms is in our elections section.

Trump did not announce new factory investments at the rally, instead repeating investments already being made by domestic automakers. The AP reported those automakers could see their finances slump if the president expands his trade war with Canada. Rapper Nicki Minaj also appeared on stage and urged attendees to vote for Michigan's Republican ticket.

What to watch next

• Election Day on Nov. 3, when Michigan voters choose between El-Sayed and Rogers for the seat held by retiring Sen. Gary Peters.
• Whether the Michigan contest helps decide control of the Senate, as one of a handful of races the AP identified as pivotal.
• How Arab American voters in and around Dearborn respond after the criticism from Bishara Bahbah.
• Whether Trump expands his trade war with Canada, which the AP reported could hurt domestic automakers.