Abdul El-Sayed Hits Back At Trump’s ‘Jihadist’ And Metal Detector Attacks: ‘Metal Detector For Me, Lie Detector For You

JACKSON / PORT HURON, MICHIGAN:Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed has hit back at US President Donald Trump over repeated attacks on his Muslim faith, challenging him to take a lie detector test.

Speaking at campaign rallies in Jackson and Wyandotte, El-Sayed responded to Trump's remarks accusing him of being a “jihadist” and suggesting he should be the first senator to undergo a metal detector screening.

El-Sayed’s Comeback (Oct 27-29):

“I’ll go through a metal detector if you’ll sit for a lie detector. My first question, Epstein. Second question, did you win the 2020 election? I got nothing to hide. You got so much to hide,” he said, directly addressing Trump. Viral clip aired on WION, CBS Detroit, Al Jazeera.

He also mocked name distortion: “He calls me Mohammed, Abdul Ramadan... Ramadan is month we fast. Groceries under his leadership so expensive, I wouldn't be surprised if he is like, ‘we could just do Ramadan for all.’ ‘Why are you fasting?’ ‘I can’t afford food.’”

Trump’s Attacks:

Port Huron, Oct 25 at McMorran Place Sports & Entertainment Center: “I’m here to keep a jihadist Muslim Brotherhood member from becoming a United States Senator,” Trump said. “He would be the only senator that will have to go through a metal detector before he's allowed to go into the Senate. I want him to have a metal detector!”

Repeatedly called him “Mohammed,” “Abdul Ramadan,” “Muhammad,” said wants Sharia law, “should be first one tried” if imposed. “Anyone with that record of support for jihadists would be screened and unable to get seat on airplane.”

Invoked 9/11: “Michigan needs to stand up and fight, just like Todd did [Flight 93 hero Todd Beamer], to stop a jihadist from walking into the Capitol.” Said if El-Sayed wins, “they will open floodgates and invite hordes of jihadis to our shores.”

Oct 29 Rock Hill, South Carolina rally: “If you’re Black, or if you’re Jewish, and if you vote for Abdul, you’re crazy.”

No evidence presented linking El-Sayed to Muslim Brotherhood; candidate denies repeatedly. NBC, AP note claims unsubstantiated. Attacks based on 2012-13 social posts by half-sister saying their birth mother was active member in Egypt early 1970s.

Broader Context:

El-Sayed, 42, born in Michigan, physician, epidemiologist, former Detroit health director, Rhodes scholar, 2018 gubernatorial primary loser, won Democratic Senate nomination Aug 2026 for seat vacated by Gary Peters. Would be first Muslim US Senator.

Faces Republican Mike Rogers, former Congressman. Race could decide Senate majority, midterms Nov 3. Early voting underway. Mitchell Research for CBS Detroit: El-Sayed 51%, Rogers 44%, undecided 3%.

Campaign: “My faith and my name aren't the reason working families are struggling with rising costs. They think by pointing at my name and my faith, you’ll ignore you can't afford gas, groceries, doctor.”

 Supporters: Sen. Bernie Sanders said Trump uses Islamophobia because “has nothing to say about health care, housing.” Sen. Ted Cruz joined attacks, calling El-Sayed “jihadist leprechaun.” Sen. Bernie Moreno said “rights come from God Almighty, Jesus came for our salvation”  El-Sayed should be “nowhere near Washington.”

CNN analysis: Attacks “not just bigoted, they’re unconstitutional” Article VI: “No religious Test shall ever be required.”

Arab Americans for Trump founder Bishara Bahbah, now Arab Americans for Peace: “President’s statements are out of line.”

The exchange comes amid broader debate over Trump's rhetoric towards Muslim Americans and use of religious identity in US campaigns.

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