Trump’s attacks on El-Sayed draw backlash ahead of Michigan Senate vote

Donald Trump invoked 9/11 while attacking Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed at a Sunday rally. El-Sayed pushed back, while critics condemned the remarks as Islamophobic. The White House defended Trump’s approach as the contest against Republican Mike Rogers approaches the 3 November vote.

• At a Michigan rally on Sunday, Trump called El-Sayed a “jihadist” and introduced the father of Todd Beamer, a passenger who resisted the Flight 93 hijackers on 9/11.· 1 source
• El-Sayed responded to Trump’s use of his middle name by saying, “I'll be Senator Mohamed to you, bro.” He argued that attention to his name and religion distracted from grocery prices, fuel costs and access to healthcare.· 1 source
• NAACP president Derrick Johnson condemned the attacks on El-Sayed. Bishara Bahbah, who founded Arab Americans for Trump, also criticized the president’s remarks.· 2 sources
• El-Sayed has denied connections to the Muslim Brotherhood and explicitly disavowed it when asked at a town hall. Responding to accusations of Islamophobia, the White House instead criticized his policy positions and said Trump would continue his attacks.· 1 source
• El-Sayed faces Republican Mike Rogers on 3 November for a currently Democratic-held seat. If elected, he would become the first Muslim US senator.· 2 sources