Two Republican members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee have publicly questioned Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El‑Sayed’s suitability for a seat on the panel if he wins the November election. Sen. Mike Lee (R‑Utah) and Sen. Dave McCormick (R‑Pa.) said El‑Sayed’s past comments supporting the Muslim Brotherhood’s 2011 protests in Egypt raise serious concerns about his foreign‑policy judgment.
Republican panelists voice alarm
Sen. Lee told Fox News Digital, “A man with ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, who cheered their takeover of Egypt 15 years ago, and who campaigns with people saying America deserved 9/11, should not come anywhere near the U.S. Senate — and especially not the Foreign Relations Committee.” Sen. McCormick echoed the sentiment on X, writing, “El‑Sayed says he’s running on affordability, so why does he want a seat on @SenateForeign? Someone with El‑Sayed’s radical views has no business on it.”
Former op‑ed resurfaces
The controversy stems from an op‑ed El‑Sayed wrote in 2011 while an assistant professor at Columbia University. In the piece, published by The Huffington Post, he urged the Obama administration to back Egyptian protesters linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, arguing that doing so served U.S. interests and would not necessarily produce a regime resembling Iran.
El‑Sayed wrote, “It is in America’s interest to support Egyptian protesters’ efforts to achieve the ability to speak their mind and have a say in how they are governed. If the U.S. truly wants to be the beacon of justice and liberty that it claims it does, it would behoove the Obama administration to fall decisively behind the protesters in Egypt.”
Candidate’s current stance
During a recent town‑hall meeting, El‑Sayed, the son of Egyptian‑immigrant parents, said he no longer supports the Muslim Brotherhood. He emphasized his campaign’s focus on lowering gas and grocery prices, expanding health‑care access, and easing the cost‑of‑living crisis for Michigan families.
When asked directly about the 2011 op‑ed, El‑Sayed’s campaign declined to comment, offering no clarification on whether his views have changed since the article was published.
Security chief’s warning
Jordan Domingue, who served as El‑Sayed’s security chief during his 2018 gubernatorial run, posted on X that it is “extremely difficult to comprehend how dangerous this can be if he is elected.” Domingue added that El‑Sayed “really wants a seat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee” despite having “no foreign‑policy experience.”
Context for Michigan voters
El‑Sayed is currently challenging Rep. Haley Stevens (D‑MI) and state Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D‑MI) in the Democratic primary. While his platform highlights economic issues that resonate with working families, the foreign‑policy controversy may influence voters who prioritize national security and constitutional fidelity.
Republican leaders argue that committee assignments should reflect both expertise and a track record consistent with America’s core values. They contend that El‑Sayed’s past endorsement of a group many view as extremist conflicts with the responsibilities of the Foreign Relations Committee.
Our perspective
We believe that any candidate seeking a role that shapes U.S. foreign policy must demonstrate a clear, unwavering commitment to American principles and a transparent record on international matters. While El‑Sayed’s current campaign emphasizes domestic concerns, the lingering questions about his 2011 statements merit serious consideration by Michigan voters.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
