Trump Criticizes Abdul El‑Sayed with Inflammatory Remarks at Iowa Rally

During an Iowa campaign rally on Sunday, Donald Trump criticized Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El‑Sayed, repeatedly labeling the Michigan progressive a “jihadist.”

His remarks were aimed at swaying voters in a tight contest that could help decide Senate control in the upcoming midterm elections.

Describing El‑Sayed, a practicing Muslim, in overtly racist language, Trump said Congress would need “a special metal detector for Abdul” if he were elected.

“If you vote for this jihadist lunatic who wants to destroy you, you’re crazy,” Trump declared.

The Michigan Senate race has drawn national focus recently. Hayley Stevens, who lost to El‑Sayed in the August primary, has refused to campaign with him and called on him to disavow a political advertisement from an outside group linking rising prices to U.S. military support for Israel’s war on Gaza.

El‑Sayed responded by asking Stevens to stay away from a joint campaign appearance that Sunday. Stevens then endorsed Mike Rogers, El‑Sayed’s Republican opponent. The last‑minute endorsement prompted criticism from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who is Jewish.

Conversely, Trump praised Stevens for defecting from El‑Sayed and encouraged her to join the Republican Party.

“It was an incredible thing,” Trump said. “I’d love her to join the Republican Party. I think that could happen.”

Trump then extolled Rogers using metaphorical language.

“Mike Rogers is apple pie,” Trump declared. “And you know what this country needs? A little apple pie. We don’t need the communists or jihadists, the Muslim Brotherhood. We need apple pie. He’s apple pie. He’ll be good.”

Trump noted he had little time to watch football that weekend because he had been “going to these damn rallies all over the place.”

“Pretend I’m on the ballot,” Trump said. “Essentially, I am on the ballot.”

Source link