Full Breakdown
Trump Misnames Michigan Senate Candidate, Prompting Broad Condemnation
By Drooid · · How we work
The Controversial Post
On the night before the first general-election debate scheduled for Oct. 8, 2026, President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that “Mohammed El-Sayed is a terrible Candidate for the Dumocrats.” The post, appearing around 11 p.m., also labeled the candidate a “RADICAL Extremist, Terrorist Sympathizer” and linked him to commentator Hasan Piker. Trump’s use of El-Sayed’s middle name, rather than the name by which he is known, sparked immediate backlash from Arab-American leaders and Democratic officials.
Campaign Context
The race pits Democratic public-health official Abdul El-Sayed (full name Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed) against Republican Mike Rogers for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Sen. Gary Peters, who announced he would not seek re-election in 2026. El-Sayed, a Muslim who has run under the name “Abdul” since kindergarten, addressed the misnaming at a Grand Rapids campaign stop, noting that Trump “is struggling a little bit” with his name.
Official Responses
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer denounced the remarks as “bigoted” and a “desperate” attack on El-Sayed. Michigan state Rep. Democratic former House Floor Leader Abraham Aiyash framed the incident as a “racist distraction” aimed at deflecting criticism of rising gas, grocery and utility costs.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Mohammed El-Sayed is a terrible Candidate for the Dumocrats,” — Donald Trump, republican president
- “senator that represents everyone in Michigan, he should denounce Donald Trump for his bigoted comments right now," Farhat said.” — Rep. Alabas Farhat
- “It has everything to do with his extreme ideas that would devastate working families—from his high-tax agenda to abolish private health insurance to calling to empty the prisons," Brouillet said Oct.” — Alyssa Brouillet, a spokeswoman for Rogers
- “The only reason you won't say it is cause I keep ripping you because of the way you say it," El-Sayed said.” — Abdul El-Sayed
- “ "This November, plenty of Mohammeds, Jacobs, Matthews, Marys and everyone in between will cast their vote for Abdul El-Sayed because they want money out of politics, money in their pockets and a check on Trump’s corruption," Aiyash said.” — Floor Leader Abraham Aiyash