President Trump escalated his attacks on Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed during a rally in the state on Sunday, suggesting the Democrat should be subjected to a metal detector before entering the U.S. Capitol. Trump's remarks came as the race between El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers remains effectively tied, with recent polls showing the candidates within the margin of error.
"Anyone with that record of support for jihadists would be screened and unable to get a seat on an airplane. They certainly should not give him a seat in the United States Senate," Trump told the crowd. He went on to say, "He would be the only senator that will have to go through a metal detector before he's allowed to go into the Senate. I want him to have a metal detector."
El-Sayed, who would become the first Muslim senator if elected, has faced a barrage of attacks on his faith and family background throughout the campaign. In a social media post ahead of the rally, Trump labeled El-Sayed a "Jihadist Member of the Muslim Brotherhood" and claimed he wanted the U.S. to adopt Sharia law. These allegations have been repeatedly denied by El-Sayed's campaign, which has disavowed any connection to the organization, designated as a terrorist group by the Trump administration.
During a recent debate, Rogers echoed similar accusations, pointing to political contributions from individuals allegedly linked to the Muslim Brotherhood and asserting that El-Sayed had "pledged his support" to the group. El-Sayed's team has dismissed these claims as baseless and part of a smear campaign.
The race has drawn national attention, with forecasters split on the likely outcome. Decision Desk HQ, a data partner of The Hill, gives El-Sayed a 67 percent chance of victory, while the Cook Political Report rates the contest a "toss up." A Marist poll released this week shows El-Sayed with a narrow 2-point lead, well within the survey's margin of error.
Trump's comments are part of a broader effort to rally Republican voters in Michigan, a key battleground state. The president has also been pressing other issues in the final stretch, including pressure on California over voter rolls. Meanwhile, Democrats have been pushing back, with former President Obama recently criticizing Trump and his allies in a fiery Ohio rally.
El-Sayed's campaign did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Trump's latest remarks. The candidate has previously clashed with media figures over the Muslim Brotherhood allegations, including in a tense exchange with Fox News anchor Bret Baier, which was covered in this report.
As the election nears, both campaigns are focusing on turnout and swing voters. Trump's metal detector comment is likely to further energize his base, but it may also galvanize Muslim-American voters and civil rights groups who see it as discriminatory. The outcome in Michigan could hinge on how these competing dynamics play out at the ballot box.
