Story perspectives

Trump’s Islamophobic attacks target Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan

By Drooid · Oct 10, 2026, 12:32 AM UTC · How we work

Left

Professors call racist dog-whistle

U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social Oct. 7 calling Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed “Mohammed” and a “radical extremist” and “terrorist sympathizer.”
Law professors Khaled Beydoun and Ian López call the posts a strategic racist dog-whistle that exploits Islamophobia instead of offering substantive critique.
Abdul El-Sayed said Trump’s attacks distract from policies’ impact at gas pumps.
A poll Oct. 6 showed El-Sayed leading the Senate race 45.6% to Mike Rogers’ 41.4%.

Right

Alleged extremist ties

U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social on Oct. 8 calling Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed “Mohammed” and a “radical extremist” and “terrorist sympathizer” in Michigan.
The post also alleged El-Sayed has ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, Al-Qaeda, and claims he is friends with left-wing streamer Hasan Piker.
El-Sayed’s campaign cited endorsements from Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Elizabeth Warren.
The United Auto Workers union also publicly backed El-Sayed.

Center

Schumer denounces remarks

U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social Oct 7, calling candidate Abdul El-Sayed “Mohammed” and labeling him a “extremist” and “terrorist sympathizer” in Michigan.
Center coverage says the Michigan Senate race could decide Senate control, with polls showing a contest between El-Sayed and Mike Rogers.
Senate Leader Chuck Schumer called Trump’s remarks bigoted and said El-Sayed is on track.
Mike Rogers, Trump-endorsed nominee, criticized Canada tariffs and urged ending the war.

Blindspot

Law professors Khaled Beydoun and Ian López said Trump’s use of “Mohammed” is a strategic racist dog-whistle that evokes Islamophobia.
Within this story's sources, this analysis appears mainly in Left-leaning coverage and receives less attention in Center-leaning and Right-leaning coverage.

History

Historical Context

After the September 11, 2001 attacks sparked a near-ten-fold rise in anti-Muslim hate crimes and prompted President George W. Bush’s 2001 visit to a Washington mosque, the 2002 creation of the Department of Homeland Security, and polls showing widespread bias, the rhetoric persisted. In October 2024, Donald Trump’s Truth Social claim labeling Michigan candidate Abdul El-Sayed a “radical extremist” revived those post-9/11 Islamophobic echoes, drawing condemnation from Senate leader Chuck Schumer.

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Professors call racist dog-whistle

U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social Oct. 7 calling Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed “Mohammed” and a “radical extremist” and “terrorist sympathizer.”
Law professors Khaled Beydoun and Ian López call the posts a strategic racist dog-whistle that exploits Islamophobia instead of offering substantive critique.
Abdul El-Sayed said Trump’s attacks distract from policies’ impact at gas pumps.
A poll Oct. 6 showed El-Sayed leading the Senate race 45.6% to Mike Rogers’ 41.4%.

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