Michigan Senate Candidate’s Controversial Remarks on Israel and Iran

Abdulrahman El-Sayed, a Muslim leftist running for the U.S. Senate in Michigan, sparked discussion during a debate on Thursday when he stated that both Iran and Israel, America’s prominent ally in the Middle East, pose unique dangers.

While addressing the audience in Grand Rapids, El-Sayed was asked to identify which country he perceives as a greater threat to the United States—Israel or Iran. He labeled the question as “a ridiculous hypothetical” but continued to assert that both nations are, indeed, dangerous.

“That’s a ridiculous hypothetical because here’s what’s happening right now: our ostensible ally in Israel has lobbied us to go to war with Iran. We have watched as Iran has responded by bombing all kinds of countries in the Middle East and then choking off the world’s energy supply. So, this is a situation in which I don’t think we should be a part,” he remarked. El-Sayed expressed a desire for U.S. resources to be allocated towards domestic needs like education and healthcare, saying, “I don’t understand why that is so inconceivable.”

He emphasized that he does not view an ally as a nation that drags the U.S. into unnecessary conflicts, adding, “I just think that makes both of them kind of dangerous.”

The debate moderator, Rick Albin, pressed El-Sayed for a definitive answer on whether he considers Israel or Iran a bigger threat, to which El-Sayed responded, “That’s, again, a ridiculous question. I think both of them have proven dangerous in their own way: one at risk of attacking us, one, getting us into wars we have no business fighting.”

Following up, Albin inquired if El-Sayed would support sending defensive weaponry to Israel if it were attacked. El-Sayed refrained from a clear yes or no, indicating instead that he would not endorse using taxpayer money for military aid to other nations.

“I’ve been absolutely clear. I want our tax dollars spent here to provide schools here … I want to make sure we’ve got good schools here and health care here. I want to make sure that we are taking care of people here. That is my priority,” he stated.

El-Sayed addressed the hypothetical scenario of a U.S. military response to an attack by Iran, asserting that Israel has historically pushed the U.S. toward conflict over its own objectives. He critiqued unconditional support for any foreign government while advocating for direct support of domestic issues like education and healthcare.

In another attempt for clarity, Albin asked once more whether El-Sayed would agree to provide defensive support to Israel. El-Sayed’s response was direct: “I don’t want our tax dollars buying weapons for other countries. I don’t know what’s so hard about that.”