Martin Falbisoner, CC BY-SA 3.0; 2013 archive crop.
President Donald Trump accused Michigan Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed of being a “Muslim Brotherhood guy” while speaking to reporters in Iowa on Sunday afternoon. Trump also used the word “jihadist” during the exchange. El-Sayed had previously denied ever belonging to the Muslim Brotherhood.
The remarks came as Trump praised Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens for endorsing Republican Mike Rogers, El-Sayed’s opponent. Trump spoke after arriving aboard Air Force One in Dubuque, Iowa, at a press gaggle recorded by the White House.
“He’s a Muslim Brotherhood guy,” Trump said, according to the transcript of the exchange. He did not provide evidence for that allegation during the remarks.
Trump’s words were an accusation about a political opponent, not a finding that El-Sayed belongs to the organization. The transcript also records Trump saying “these jihadist” before turning to his allegation about El-Sayed.
El-Sayed’s earlier denial
El-Sayed had addressed the membership allegation before Sunday’s remarks. In an October 23 interview, he said: “I have never been a member of the Muslim Brotherhood and never will be.”
That denial preceded the Dubuque exchange. It was not a new response to Trump’s Sunday comments.
Michigan voters are choosing between El-Sayed and Rogers for the U.S. Senate. Stevens, who had competed against El-Sayed in the Democratic primary and initially supported him afterward, announced Sunday that she was backing Rogers instead.
Trump welcomed that decision at the airport, calling it a “smart thing to do.” Stevens later defended the switch in a Sunday night interview, saying her decision was “rock solid,” while fellow Michigan Democrat Debbie Dingell said Stevens had told her the night before that she would not endorse Rogers.
The endorsement and the reaction to Stevens’ decision added to the final days of campaigning before Tuesday’s election.
JBizNews Desk | New York
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