Abdul El-Sayed Faces Backlash Over 9/11 Remarks and Campaign Ties

Abdul El-Sayed, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in Michigan, faced criticism after sharing a 9/11 message on social media. El-Sayed stated, “They didn’t just attack America that day; they attacked the idea of America.” He highlighted America as a nation unified by ideals such as freedom and justice, admitting that realizing these can be challenging. “Today on 9/11, we remember the lives taken from us in a terrible act of terrorism,” he added.

Some online users criticized his message, pointing out his connection to Hasan Piker, a progressive streamer who previously claimed the U.S. “deserved 9/11.” A conservative social media account, Libs of TikTok, responded with, “Shut up, you FRAUD,” addressing El-Sayed directly. Steve Guest, a political commentator, shared a picture of El-Sayed with Piker, including a quote where Piker expressed disdain for America.

Other critics, such as GOP consultant Ryan Girdusky, labeled El-Sayed’s association with Piker as dishonest. Joanna Rodriguez of the National Republican Senatorial Committee said, “You’re a disgrace,” highlighting El-Sayed’s failure to disavow Piker’s remarks. Mike Hahn, a GOP strategist, accused El-Sayed of reading from a script.

Joey Mannarino, from the Overton Institute, expressed surprise at El-Sayed’s campaign momentum, questioning the support for someone whom he described as a “radical Islamist extremist.” El-Sayed has previously stated his campaign speaks only for itself, not endorsing all of Piker’s views.

El-Sayed aims to focus on topics like gas prices, groceries, education, and healthcare, instead of connections with Twitch streamers, saying these issues matter most to Michigan residents. Chuck Ross from The Washington Free Beacon noted El-Sayed’s recent focus on 9/11, avoiding comments on the subsequent wars he typically mentions.

In past remarks, El-Sayed criticized the “War on Terror” as military aggression. He compared Israel’s planned actions in Gaza back in October 2023 to 9/11, saying violence doesn’t solve violence. Although Fox News reached out, El-Sayed’s campaign did not comment on efforts to distance from Piker.