Michigan Democratic senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed has embraced the charge that he came across as cocky during his campaign, saying Democrats need to respond more forcefully to President Donald Trump’s style of politics.
On the podcast Pod Save America, host Jon Favreau noted that El-Sayed had predicted a seven-point win—a forecast that sounded overconfident at the time. El-Sayed ultimately won by that margin, though some people still describe him as cocky. Asked how he sees himself, El-Sayed said Democrats have a responsibility to confront Trump as what he called an unserious fool.
His comments offer a glimpse of the approach he took on the campaign trail and the combative tone he believes Democrats need to adopt. Whether that style will serve him in Congress is another question.
El-Sayed argued that Trump has changed the rules of political communication, while Democrats have been too reluctant to set aside traditional decorum. Politics, he said, no longer resembles the idealized world of the television drama The West Wing. He compared the situation to dealing with a bully: failing to stand up to one, in his view, only encourages the behavior.
El-Sayed had criticized Trump’s rhetoric before running for Senate. In a 2020 interview, he said Trump bore some responsibility for an alleged plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, describing the plotters as terrorists and calling for a stronger response to political radicalization.
Trump had posted “LIBERATE MICHIGAN!” on Twitter—now known as X—about six months before the plot was uncovered. The post was part of a series urging people to “liberate” states from COVID-19 restrictions imposed by Democratic governors. Trump did not call for violence against Whitmer, and the FBI told local media the alleged plot had begun before his post.
Still, El-Sayed said the message reflected a broader political climate that could make violence more likely. He called threats against Whitmer an example of the toxicity he believed Trump had fostered.
El-Sayed’s spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether he believes Democrats should draw limits on the rhetoric they use.
El-Sayed will take office on Jan. 3, 2027, when the 120th Congress begins.
