Abdul El-Sayed Mocks Trump, Vance After Winning Michigan Senate Race

Michigan Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed has taken aim at President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance following his victory over Republican candidate Mike Rogers in the US midterm elections.

El-Sayed, who becomes the first Muslim elected to the United States Senate, used his victory speech late Tuesday to respond to repeated attacks from Trump during the election campaign, particularly over the pronunciation of his name.

“I know you struggled with my name. So after JD swears me in in January, you can just call me Senator,” El-Sayed said, addressing the president.

He also directed a remark at Vice President Vance, who is constitutionally responsible for presiding over the Senate and administering the oath to newly elected senators.

“JD, habibi, there is this delicious irony in the fact that you’re constitutionally obligated to swear me in in January,” he said.

The senator-elect also criticised the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), accusing the lobbying organisation of spending $42 million against his campaign. He described his victory as a second defeat for the group, saying: “Thank you for the opportunity to beat you twice.”

El-Sayed further defended his position on Palestinian rights, rejecting accusations of hatred against those who advocate for Palestinian self-determination and equal rights.

He argued that Palestinian children should be able to grow up in the land of their forefathers without being killed by American taxpayer-funded military support.

“We want our taxes spent here, for schools here, healthcare here, and infrastructure here,” he said, adding that he did not want American money used to support what he described as apartheid, genocide and war.

According to El-Sayed, advocating equal rights, peace, dignity and self-determination should be understood as an expression of love rather than hatred.

The 42-year-old epidemiologist and public health administrator campaigned on universal healthcare, economic populism and civil rights. He also strongly criticised US military involvement in Iran and called for an end to American military aid to Israel, arguing that public funds should instead address domestic priorities such as education and healthcare.

His victory came despite last-minute support for Rogers from Representative Haley Stevens, whom El-Sayed defeated during the Democratic primary. His campaign also drew national attention because of his criticism of US foreign policy and AIPAC’s involvement in American elections.

El-Sayed is expected to take office in January 2027, when the new Congress is sworn in.