Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El‑Sayed refuses to condemn terrorist groups
On Oct. 9, 2026, Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El‑Sayed in Michigan declined to condemn Hamas, Hezbollah, al‑Qaeda or the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps when repeatedly asked by reporters during a campaign event.
The candidate told a reporter, “I’m not interested in talking about this, ask about healthcare instead,” and added, “That’s weird, since you talk about foreign policy a lot.” His avoidance of the question prompted criticism from opponents and commentators, who argue the refusal raises doubts about his stance on terrorism.
Republican U.S. Rep. Peter Meijer noted that El‑Sayed was asked three times, “Who’s the greater danger to America: Israel or Iran?” and never provided an answer. Similarly, former Republican congressman Mike Rogers said El‑Sayed “criticized” him for requesting a condemnation, calling the terms “scary words” while refusing to label the groups as terrorist.
The controversy resurfaced during a Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing on Aug. 5, 2026, where Homeland Security analyst Kyle Shideler testified that El‑Sayed’s father‑in‑law, Jukaku Tayeb, previously led CAIR‑Michigan and sat on the Islamic Society of North America Founders Committee, both organizations linked to the Muslim Brotherhood. Shideler also highlighted El‑Sayed’s connections to Emgage, a voter‑mobilization group described as having close ties to CAIR and founded by a former CAIR member who once appeared on a terror watchlist and consulted with convicted terrorist Sami al‑Arian.
Critics argue that El‑Sayed’s unwillingness to denounce extremist groups, coupled with the alleged affiliations, could signal an implicit tolerance for organizations that have targeted U.S. interests. Supporters of the candidate contend the focus on his foreign‑policy remarks distracts from his primary campaign message on health care and economic issues.
The next public forum is scheduled for the upcoming Michigan primary, where voters will again have the chance to question El‑Sayed on both domestic policy and his approach to national security concerns.
