The Democratic candidate for the open U.S. Senate seat in Michigan faced challenging questions regarding his family’s connections to the Muslim Brotherhood. During a recent interview, Abdul El-Sayed showed visible frustration when NBC News anchor Tom Llamas asked him to clarify if he or his family supports the group, particularly after remarks made by his half-sister on social media.
In the video shared on Wednesday, El-Sayed expressed disbelief at being questioned about his family’s history. “Are you serious? … Do you think, you think, are, are you, are you insinuating that somehow I was lying?” he asked incredulously.
His half-sister Eman Abdelhadi had previously tweeted about her mother’s involvement with the Muslim Brotherhood in the 1970s while in college, stating, “My family has long been MB, but I’ve always felt that it has navigated the political sphere poorly/destructively.” Another post read, “Although I lean towards the Leftists; conversations with my #MB family in Egypt revealed respect for individual liberties & secular state.”
These tweets, which date back over a decade, have put El-Sayed in a difficult position as he struggles to address their implications. Llamas highlighted the timing of these tweets resurfacing, asking, “Can you just explain it?” to which El-Sayed responded, somewhat sarcastically, given his agitation, “Yeah, Tom. It’s funny to me.” He emphasized his roots in Michigan, pointing out his upbringing and professional accomplishments, questioning why his family’s past should be relevant to his candidacy.
When pressed further about whether his mother had any ties to the Brotherhood, El-Sayed claimed ignorance of such discussions, stating, “I’ve never had these conversations with my mother. I wasn’t raised by my mother.” Llamas pointed out that the inquiry was about truthfulness, suggesting that voters expect clear answers. El-Sayed, becoming increasingly defensive, argued, “This is kind of like the same. Yeah. I’m telling you, like, I have no ties. We have no ties.”
In a separate incident, after a debate with Republican Mike Rogers, El-Sayed similarly bristled at a reporter’s question regarding the different standards he applies to Donald Trump versus Hasan Piker, an activist he has associated with. His response suggested he found the comparison absurd, underscoring the significance of Trump’s position as president compared to that of a social media figure.
Rogers has been leveraging El-Sayed’s past statements as part of his campaign strategy. Notably, former President Barack Obama is backing El-Sayed, which has led some critics to believe that the Democratic camp is concerned about El-Sayed’s campaign viability. The Senate race is crucial for determining which party will hold a majority in the chamber following the upcoming midterm elections, and it remains highly competitive as the election approaches.
