Member-only story
Abdul El-Sayed, US’ 1st Muslim Senator, Was Called ‘Terrorist’ By Trump
Trump Called Him A Terrorist. Michigan Called Him Senator.
Abdul El-Sayed had an uncomfortable message for US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance as he celebrated his historic election victory in Michigan.
They had used a range of racist labels and rhetoric to target El-Sayed ahead of the midterm elections, which he was contesting against Trump’s handpicked candidate, Mike Rogers. Trump mocked his name, and said that as president, he could call the Michigan physician and former public health official anything he wanted. Trump called El-Sayed a “jihadist”, while Vance described him as a “psychopath”.
Now, the 42-year-old winner of the Michigan race pointed out, they would soon need to address him as a senator.
“ JD, habibi [Arabic term of endearment], it is an irony — you are constitutionally obligated to swear me in in January,” El-Sayed told cheering supporters in the early hours of Wednesday, shortly after he was projected to win the highly contested race.
“ Donald, I know you struggle with my name, so when JD swears me in, you can call me ‘senator’. May we never have to see the likes of you in Michigan again.”








