Mike Rogers distance himself from Donald Trump comments on Abdul El Sayed

Michigan Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers declined to agree with President Donald Trump calling Democratic opponent Abdul El Sayed a violent jihadist on Sunday. The Washington Examiner and NBC News reported that Mr Rogers stated he has never called Mr El Sayed a terrorist. [1][2]

During an appearance on NBC with Kristen Welker, Mr Rogers rejected the idea that he used such language against his opponent. NBC's Ms Welker pressed Mr Rogers on whether the rhetoric used by Mr Trump met his standard. The Washington Examiner reported that Mr Rogers previously said on October 10 that Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy calling Mr El Sayed a terrorist was exactly right. [1][2]

Abdulrahman Mohamed El Sayed is an epidemiologist and public health administrator running as the Democratic nominee in the 2026 United States Senate election in Michigan. As FTMQ News reported earlier, Mr Rogers and Mr El Sayed previously clashed during a Michigan Senate debate over alleged ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, while Mr El Sayed recently acknowledged his sister-in-law was a plaintiff in a 2016 federal terrorist watchlist lawsuit. [5][7][8]