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Trump accused El-Sayed of being linked to Muslim extremism and the Muslim Brotherhood, but the candidate has denied any affiliation with the organisation.
“I’m here to keep a jihadist, Muslim Brotherhood member from becoming a United States senator,” Trump told supporters at the rally.
Trump also invoked the actions of passengers aboard United Airlines Flight 93, including Michigan native Todd Beamer, who fought back against the hijackers on September 11.
“Twenty-five years later, Michigan needs to stand up and fight, just like Todd did, to stop a jihadist from walking into the Capitol,” Trump said.
Trump further claimed that El-Sayed would face additional security restrictions if elected, saying he would be the only senator required to pass through a metal detector before entering the Senate.
El-Sayed has rejected accusations that he has links to the Muslim Brotherhood. He described questions about his allegiance to the United States as “shameful.”
In a recent campaign advertisement, he also defended his faith, saying, “Faith is a thing there’s just too little of in Washington.”
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Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers has also questioned El-Sayed’s political associations. Speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press before Trump’s rally, Rogers said El-Sayed had not adequately addressed questions surrounding the allegations.
“He’s a Democrat Socialist of America-aligned candidate who has these pretty radical support groups that don’t like America,” Rogers said.
However, the allegations of El-Sayed’s affiliation with the Muslim Brotherhood have not been substantiated in the reports cited.
If elected, El-Sayed would become the first Muslim to serve in the US Senate.
Trump’s Michigan appearance came a day after former President Barack Obama campaigned for Democrats in Detroit.
Obama criticised efforts to portray El-Sayed as less patriotic or less American than his opponents. He compared the attacks to false claims about his own birthplace that he faced during his political career.
“We have seen this movie before,” Obama said. “I starred in it … This stuff didn’t work on me. Not in Michigan. It’s not going to work on Abdul.”
The exchange highlights the political importance of Michigan ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.
El-Sayed and Rogers are competing for an open Senate seat in one of the country’s closely watched races. The outcome could help determine which party controls the chamber.
Economic policy and manufacturing investments have also emerged as key issues in Michigan’s Senate contest.
Rogers praised Trump’s tariffs, crediting them with helping secure manufacturing investments in the state by Chevrolet and Detroit Diesel. However, he expressed reservations about the effects of tariffs on the automobile industry.
“There’s some good and there’s some things we have to work on,” Rogers said during his Meet the Press interview.
Trump, meanwhile, praised Rogers in an interview with Fox News, describing him as a candidate who shared Michigan voters’ beliefs.
Republicans currently hold narrow majorities in both chambers of Congress. Democrats are seeking to gain seats in the Senate and House of Representatives in the November 3 elections, making competitive states such as Michigan particularly important.
[…] Trump Compares Muslim Senate Candidate Abdul El-Sayed to 9/11 Hijackers […]