US President Donald Trump intensified his attacks on Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed on Sunday, invoking the September 11, 2001, attacks to portray him as a Muslim extremist ahead of next week’s midterm elections.
“I’m here to keep a jihadist, Muslim Brotherhood member from becoming a United States senator,” Trump told a rally in Port Huron, Michigan, where the president sought to bolster Republican candidate Mike Rogers.
Trump likened voting against El-Sayed to the actions of Michigan-born Todd Beamer and other passengers who fought back against hijackers aboard United Airlines Flight 93 during the September 11 attacks.
“Twenty-five years later, Michigan needs to stand up and fight, just like Todd did, to stop a jihadist from walking into the Capitol,” Reuters quoted him saying.
El-Sayed has rejected accusations that he is linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, with the candidate describing questions about his loyalty to the United States as “shameful”.
If elected, he would become the first Muslim to serve in the US Senate.
Michigan is among the most competitive states in the November 3 midterm elections, with the contest between El-Sayed and former US representative Rogers expected to play a role in determining control of the Senate.
Rogers has alleged, without providing evidence, that El-Sayed has links to the Muslim Brotherhood, one of the Arab world’s oldest and most influential Islamist groups.
However, Rogers told NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday that he had never called El-Sayed a terrorist.
“I’ve never called him a terrorist,” he said, while arguing that El-Sayed had not adequately addressed questions about the allegations.
The attacks drew cheers from the mostly White crowd at Trump’s rally, with some attendees shouting “traitor” and “deport”, despite El-Sayed having been born in Michigan.
Trump’s remarks came a day after former president Barack Obama campaigned for Democrats in Detroit, criticising efforts to portray El-Sayed as less American because of his religion.
“We have seen this movie before,” Obama said, drawing parallels with false claims about his own birthplace.
The campaign has also focused on the economic impact of US tariffs on the automotive industry, a key concern in Michigan. Rogers has praised tariffs for attracting manufacturing investments to the state but acknowledged concerns about their impact on the automobile sector.
Republicans currently hold a narrow majority in the Senate, and Democrats need to gain seats in the midterm elections to take control of the chamber. - October 26, 2026
