Abdul El-Sayed Campaign Volunteer’s Remarks Rekindle Muslim Brotherhood Allegations

Undercover video released by a right-leaning outlet shows T.J. Wolfgram, a volunteer leader for Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, calling Americans “idiots” and saying he might support some activities of the Muslim Brotherhood. Wolfgram adds that, while he does not agree with all of the group’s methods, he would not oppose the U.S. The footage was captured while Wolfgram responded to accusations that El-Sayed has ties to the Brotherhood.

NewsweekAbdul El-Sayed: A Muslim Brotherhood Puppet and a Grave National Security Threat, by Daily Editorials

The Muslim Brotherhood, founded in Egypt in 1928, is designated as a terrorist organization by several governments, including Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. In January 2024 the U.S. State Department announced terrorist designations for Lebanese, Jordanian and Egyptian chapters of the Brotherhood, but the United States has not labeled the entire movement as a terrorist group. President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that El-Sayed is linked to the Brotherhood, and a 2023 executive order directed officials to evaluate whether additional branches should be designated.

Abdul El-Sayed: A Muslim Brotherhood Puppet and a Grave National Security Threat, by Daily Editorials

• October 22, 2023 – A Facebook comment from an account named “T.J.”

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• October 12, 2023 – The same account shared a link to a campaign event inviting volunteers to join his canvassing team.

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• 2012 – Abdelhadi posts about her mother’s Brotherhood activism and later praises the family’s long-standing affiliation.

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• October 7, 2023 – Abdelhadi posts an “October 7th blessing” on Instagram, referencing the Hamas attack that occurred a year earlier.

Abdul El-Sayed: A Muslim Brotherhood Puppet and a Grave National Security Threat, by Daily Editorials

• The El-Sayed campaign lists “hundreds of volunteer captains” engaging with various communities, according to campaign materials.

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• The campaign received a $200,000 donation from Jukaku Tayeb and an additional six-figure contribution from individuals linked to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), as noted in an editorial.

Abdul El-Sayed: A Muslim Brotherhood Puppet and a Grave National Security Threat, by Daily Editorials

El-Sayed has repeatedly asserted that neither he nor his family have any ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, stating that he was not raised by his mother. The campaign clarified that Wolfgram is a volunteer captain, not a paid staff member, and that the volunteer structure includes many leaders with similar titles.

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Former Representative Mike Rogers and President Donald Trump have publicly claimed that El-Sayed’s alleged Brotherhood connections constitute a national-security risk. An unnamed conservative member of Congress expressed concern that, if elected, El-Sayed might obtain a seat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and potentially share sensitive intelligence with hostile actors.

Abdul El-Sayed: A Muslim Brotherhood Puppet and a Grave National Security Threat, by Daily Editorials

Newsweek could not independently verify the precise title “conservative and independent outreach captain” for Wolfgram, noting only that he is listed as a volunteer leader on campaign pages. Additionally, while the State Department has designated specific Brotherhood branches as terrorist entities, it has not designated the entire organization, a nuance sometimes omitted in criticism.

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The Michigan Senate race is scheduled for November 2024. Voters will decide whether the candidate’s denials and the campaign’s volunteer structure are sufficient to allay concerns raised by opponents and editorial commentators.

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