Full Breakdown
Abdul El-Sayed’s 2021 Blog Post Comparing Donald Trump to Osama bin Laden
8/14/2026, 8:58:44 PM
El-Sayed’s Blog Post Equating Trump with Bin Laden
In a 2021 essay titled “Why aren’t we treating Donald Trump like we treat other terrorists?” Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed argued that President Donald Trump’s role in the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack mirrored Osama bin Laden’s role in the 2001 attacks. El-Sayed wrote that Trump “recruited, radicalized and reassured” the rioters just as bin Laden did the hijackers, and he called Trump’s conduct “terrorism.” He urged Congress to convict Trump and bar him from future office, framing accountability as both a constitutional and moral duty.
Campaign Context and Political Stakes
El-Sayed’s essay resurfaced during his 2026 Senate campaign against Rep. Haley Stevens. The post, originally on a private blog, has been highlighted by Republican-aligned groups funding attack ads. The campaign has also faced scrutiny for El-Sayed’s past association with streamer Hasan Piker, who once claimed “America deserved 9/11.” El-Sayed has disavowed the remark but declined to renounce Piker, describing pressure to do so as “cancel culture.”
Official Campaign Response
Spokeswoman Roxie Richner rejected interpretations that El-Sayed called for the death penalty, emphasizing that he seeks “legal accountability” for any president who attacks democracy.
Public Backlash and Criticism
Critics have accused El-Sayed of attempting to mislead voters by removing earlier online content, including videos where he discussed replacing the Second Amendment and opposed Fourth of July fireworks. The comparison of Trump to bin Laden has been a focal point for Republican attack narratives, which portray the essay as extremist rhetoric.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Why aren't we treating Donald Trump like we treat other terrorists?” — Abdul El-Sayed
- “So, yes, Donald Trump deserved his impeachment just like he deserves to be convicted and removed from the right to ever run for office again. Of course. Every single member of Congress who believes in an America true to the ideals we claim for her has a constitutional—a moral—obligation to hold Donald Trump accountable for his terrorism,” — Abdul El-Sayed
- “Holding Osama bin Laden accountable is something we got right,” — Abdul El-Sayed
- “That’s an absurd and false interpretation of what he said," Richner told Fox News Digital.” — Roxie Richner, campaign spokeswoman
