Co-hosts of “The View” Back Abdul El-Sayed’s Comparison to JFK
The co-hosts of “The View” spoke in defense of Abdul El-Sayed, a Democratic Senate candidate from Michigan, regarding his remarks about being questioned about his family’s supposed connections to the Muslim Brotherhood. He drew a parallel to the scrutiny that former President John F. Kennedy faced due to his Catholicism.
During a Saturday interview on “MS NOW Reports,” El-Sayed discussed how inquiries into his family’s background reminded him of the doubts about Kennedy’s loyalty to the United States because of his faith. Co-host Whoopi Goldberg pointed out an incident from a recent town hall meeting where an audience member asked El-Sayed if he would disavow the Muslim Brotherhood. El-Sayed did disavow it but also expressed concern that the question implied he had dual loyalties.
“I appreciated his analogy,” Goldberg said. “Kennedy had to address concerns about his Catholic faith, and it was a significant issue during his campaign. People really wanted to know if he would prioritize the Pope’s guidance over his country’s.” She emphasized that Kennedy’s situation was comparable to El-Sayed’s current challenges.
Sunny Hostin, another co-host, agreed with Goldberg and noted that Kennedy had famously said, “I am not going to be a Catholic president; I’m running to be president who happens to be Catholic.” El-Sayed echoed this sentiment by stating he is seeking to be a senator who happens to be Muslim.
Hostin also pointed out how El-Sayed navigates his political career amidst persistent Islamophobic comments, including labeling him a “jihadist.” She condemned such rhetoric as inappropriate and highlighted that the treatment he has received is unacceptable in a diverse society.
Concerns regarding El-Sayed’s family ties to the Muslim Brotherhood gained traction after social media posts from his half-sister, Eman Abdelhadi, surfaced. She recounted a conversation with their mother discussing her past activism with the group while in college in Egypt.
Alyssa Farah Griffin, another co-host, acknowledged El-Sayed’s quick disavowal of the Muslim Brotherhood but raised issues about his response to a recent antisemitic terror attack in Michigan, suggesting that the concerns surrounding his answers cannot simply be dismissed as “Islamophobic.” She also cited his past association with far-left streamer Hasan Piker.
On the other hand, Sara Haines questioned whether comparing El-Sayed’s situation to Kennedy’s was truly appropriate, arguing that questioning someone’s loyalty based on their Catholicism is fundamentally different than addressing potential links to a terrorist organization. While she recognized that the allegations pertained to El-Sayed’s family rather than him, she felt that framing the concerns as mere Islamophobia complicates the conversation further.
Ana Navarro added that concerns about the Muslim Brotherhood might be exaggerated, going so far as to compare the notion of denouncing it to asking someone to reject outdated fashion trends. She expressed her desire for a candidate who would challenge Trump rather than just complying with his agenda.
Human rights attorney Brooke Goldstein weighed in on the discussion, criticizing Navarro for downplaying the seriousness of the Muslim Brotherhood, which has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. government. Goldstein argued that such concerns are valid and need to be addressed, asserting that questioning a candidate’s affiliations is not an act of prejudice but a necessary part of ensuring national security.
Goldstein concluded by stating that voters have every right to demand accountability and transparency regarding connections to extremist groups, emphasizing that national security inquiries are legitimate, not discriminatory. She pointed out that neglecting such issues could lead to dire consequences, using recent events in France as a cautionary example.
