Trump, Republicans Target Michigan Senate Candidate Over Muslim Brotherhood Allegations

In the final weeks of the 2026 Michigan Senate race, Republican operatives and former President Donald Trump have intensified attacks on Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed, asserting that he and his family maintain ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist organization designated as a terrorist group by some U.S. officials. El-Sayed has repeatedly denied any affiliation and emphasized his loyalty to the Constitution.

The Hill

Abdul El-Sayed, the son of Egyptian immigrants, was raised in the Detroit suburbs. During the 2011 Democratic primary, he authored a HuffPost essay that speculated the Muslim Brotherhood’s rule in Egypt might be less harmful if “strong liberal democratic structures” existed. Republicans have highlighted these past statements and a social-media comment from his half-sister recalling a 1970s family discussion about the Brotherhood. El-Sayed’s campaign has consistently disavowed any personal or familial connection to the group.

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A recent Marist poll shows El-Sayed leading former Rep. Mike Rogers 50 % to 48 % among likely Michigan voters. Republican super-PACs—including the Great Lakes Conservative Fund and the Senate Leadership Fund—are spending millions of dollars on ads that link El-Sayed to the Muslim Brotherhood and portray him as a security risk.

The Hill

• Abdul El-Sayed: In a town-hall and a Newsmax interview, he “clearly disavowed” the Muslim Brotherhood and rejected any suggestion of dual loyalty.

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• Donald Trump: At an October 25, 2026 rally in Port Huron, he said El-Sayed should be screened with a metal detector before entering the Senate chamber, likening the candidate to the September 11 attackers.

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• Barack Obama: Speaking at a Detroit event, the former president warned that the “movie” of unfounded accusations has been used before and will not succeed in Michigan.

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• Ross K. Baker, Rutgers University: Commented that the name “Muslim Brotherhood” carries a “sinister” connotation, likely fueling the Republican strategy.

The Hill

Political scientist John Clark of Western Michigan University noted that while the ads have high visibility, many voters already familiar with El-Sayed may be “unaffected” by the allegations.

The Hill

• “It’s disgusting and it’s un-American.” — Abdul El-Sayed

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• “It may be the Muslim Brotherhood is radical, which of course it was,” — Ross K. Baker

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• “Abdul El-Sayed and his family’s ties to designated terrorist groups have raised so many red flags that even the mainstream media can no longer ignore them.” — National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC)

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• “Twenty-five years later, Michigan needs to stand up and fight just like Todd did to stop someone like that from walking into the Capitol,” — Donald Trump

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• “You’re asking the question because implicitly you assume that I’ll have dual loyalties,” — Abdul El-Sayed

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• “We have seen this movie before,” — Barack Obama

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Republican claims rely on an essay, a 2012 letter, and statements from El-Sayed’s half-sister, yet no formal investigation or legal finding has linked El-Sayed or his immediate family to the Muslim Brotherhood. El-Sayed’s own statements and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee have offered no evidence supporting the allegations. The NRSC’s assertion of “red flags” remains an attributed claim without disclosed documentation.

The Hill

Michigan voters will decide the seat on November 3, the scheduled date for the 2026 midterm elections. Both campaigns are expected to continue emphasizing their contrasting narratives in the final days leading up to the vote.

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