Trump Attacks El-Sayed Over Muslim Faith

The Michigan Senate nominee's faith became a central target of the former president's campaign remarks and social media posts.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Islam

Trump Attacks El-Sayed Over Muslim Faith

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Trump publicly attacked Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed over his Muslim faith at a rally in Port Huron, Michigan, calling him a "jihadist" and a "Muslim Brotherhood member." He also posted a photo on Truth Social comparing El-Sayed and his wife Sarah Jukaku with Trump and first lady Melania Trump.

Why it matters

The remarks target a candidate's religion in a competitive Michigan Senate race against Republican Mike Rogers, whom Trump has endorsed. The episode highlights how religious identity is being used as a campaign theme in the 2026 midterm contest.

The remarks were delivered at a rally in Port Huron and in a campaign stop in Lubbock, Texas, with the Truth Social post published in August. The source does not report a response from the El-Sayed campaign or any polling shift tied to the remarks.

The players

Donald Trump

The former U.S. president and Republican figure who endorsed Mike Rogers and made the remarks about El-Sayed.

Abdul El-Sayed

The Democratic candidate in the 2026 Michigan U.S. Senate race, who is running against Republican Mike Rogers.

Mike Rogers

The Republican candidate in the 2026 Michigan U.S. Senate race, endorsed by Donald Trump.

The details

At a rally in Port Huron, Trump called El-Sayed a "jihadist" and a "Muslim Brotherhood member," and during a Lubbock, Texas stop he referred to him as "Abdul Ramadan." Trump also posted an image comparing El-Sayed and Jukaku with himself and Melania Trump, a psychiatrist whose father sits on the board of CAIR Michigan.

May 2006: El-Sayed and Jukaku married, when she was 19.
August: Trump posted the comparison photo on Truth Social.
2026: Michigan Senate midterm election between El-Sayed and Rogers.

Political Context

This continues a pattern from Trump's 2016 and 2020 campaigns, when he proposed restricting travel from Muslim-majority countries and drew criticism for religiously framed rhetoric. Opponents have argued that such attacks treat a candidate's faith as a disqualifying trait rather than a matter of policy.

Voters in the United States who follow religious identity in politics may weigh how candidates are being characterized on faith when evaluating Senate races. The remarks show how campaign messaging about religion can shape what issues voters encounter in the 2026 midterms.

The takeaway

Religious identity remains a contested theme in U.S. campaign rhetoric, and voters often weigh how candidates respond to such attacks. Following candidates' own statements alongside coverage of attacks offers a fuller picture of the race.