El-Sayed pushes back at Republicans who judge him because he ‘might pray differently’

Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed accused President Donald Trump and Republican opponent Mike Rogers on Thursday night of weaponizing his Muslim faith against him. Speaking in Marquette, Michigan, El-Sayed urged voters to evaluate his record rather than his religious practices. He stated that while he might pray differently than previous officeholders, his commitment to the Constitution remains unwavering. The comments marked a direct pushback against growing allegations linking him and his family to the Muslim Brotherhood. Trump posted a video late Thursday explicitly labeling El-Sayed a member of the Egyptian-founded group. The administration has designated certain chapters of the organization as terrorist entities. El-Sayed, an American of Egyptian descent, would become the first Muslim senator if elected. He expressed frustration that opponents focus on his personal identity instead of policy issues affecting constituents. He noted that his mother and sister are not running for office, yet they face scrutiny alongside him. El-Sayed dismissed suggestions that his relatives belong to the Muslim Brotherhood as absurd. He explained that his parents divorced when he was three years old. Raised by his father and stepmother, he did not see his mother for years. When he later inquired, he said no one in his family had been a member of the organization. Republicans have pointed to social media posts by his half-sister that appear to reference his mother’s involvement with the group during the 1970s. El-Sayed admitted he did not know what his mother was doing in Egypt during that decade. The debate over El-Sayed’s faith extends beyond the presidential attacks. In a separate campaign video released on October 19, 2026, El-Sayed addressed people of faith without specifying his religion. He described himself as a daily prayer practitioner dedicated to serving God and neighbors. The video emphasized the lack of faith in Washington and positioned him as a leader for families feeling hopeless. The clip was shared with an Instagram account named Clergy For Abdul, which features endorsements from clergy across various traditions. Rev. Shannon Jammal-Hollemans appeared in supporting content, noting that healthcare costs burden her congregation. She observed that maintaining her church food pantry became harder due to rising expenses compared to a year and a half prior. She identified El-Sayed as a trustworthy leader representing shared values. However, skepticism persists among some Christian leaders. Pastor Lorenzo Sewell of 180 Church in Detroit questioned whether El-Sayed could responsibly recommend federal judges. Sewell warned that such appointments could lead to the implementation of Sharia law across the United States. El-Sayed’s campaign maintains that he opposes incorporating any religious rules into U.S. law. During a recent town hall, he drew a parallel to John F. Kennedy, who faced scrutiny for being Catholic. El-Sayed adopted Kennedy’s famous defense, stating he is running for the U.S. Senate and happens to be Muslim. On Monday, ABC’s The View host Sunny Hostin criticized Trump’s characterization of El-Sayed as a jihadist. Hostin labeled the remarks despicable and Islamophobic. She highlighted El-Sayed’s credentials, including a medical degree from Columbia University, a Rhodes Scholarship, and a doctorate in public health from Oxford University. Hostin argued that such treatment undermines the principle that all religions are welcome in the country. The Michigan Senate race remains tight. El-Sayed continues to frame the contest around qualifications and service rather than theological differences. His strategy involves appealing broadly to voters of faith while distancing his candidacy from specific religious identities. Opponents continue to press the narrative regarding his family connections to the Muslim Brotherhood. El-Sayed insists these claims distract from the economic and social challenges facing Michigan residents. The exchange underscores the central role of religious identity in the current political discourse surrounding the election.