Donald Trump launched a racist attack on Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed at a campaign rally in Iowa on Sunday, repeatedly calling the Michigan progressive a "jihadist" in an attempt to sway a neck-and-neck race that could determine control of the Senate after Tuesday's midterm elections.
The president targeted El-Sayed, a practicing Muslim, with inflammatory language, warning that Congress would need "a special metal detector for Abdul" if he were elected, and told voters: "If you vote for this jihadist lunatic that wants to destroy you, you're crazy."
Michigan Race Draws National Attention
The Michigan contest has been in the spotlight in recent days after Hayley Stevens, who lost to El-Sayed in the August primary, declined to campaign with him. Stevens demanded that El-Sayed publicly disavow an outside group's political ad linking rising prices to US military support for Israel's war on Gaza.
El-Sayed responded by telling Stevens to stay away from a campaign event where they were scheduled to appear together on Sunday. Stevens then endorsed Mike Rogers, El-Sayed's Republican opponent. Her defection in the closing hours of the tight race drew condemnation from Chuck Schumer, the Senate minority leader, who is Jewish.
Trump Praises Stevens and Rogers
Trump, however, praised Stevens for turning against El-Sayed and suggested she could join the Republican Party. "It was an incredible thing," Trump said. "I'd love her to join the Republican party. I think that could happen."
He then lauded Rogers in metaphorical terms, saying, "Mike Rodgers is apple pie. And you know what this country needs? A little apple pie. We don't need the communists or jihadists, the Muslim Brotherhood. We need apple pie. He's apple pie. He'll be good."
Trump noted he had little time to watch football this weekend because he had been "going to these damn rallies all over the place." He added, "Pretend I'm on the ballot. Essentially, I am on the ballot."
