HUNT VALLEY, Md. (TNND) — Senate seeker Abdul El-Sayed is standing firmly behind his criticism of Israel, even as it comes under intense scrutiny.
The Michigan Democrat has refused to soften his stance against the nation, whose wars in Gaza and other parts of the Middle East have become American campaign issues. El-Sayed’s Republican opponent, former Representative Mike Rogers, has attacked his position as outside observers take note of the dichotomy.
NewsNation’s debate moderator asked El-Sayed on Thursday whether Israel or Iran poses a bigger threat to the U.S., and the Democrat didn’t miss his chance to criticize the premise of the question.
“That’s a ridic—, again, a ridiculous question,” he replied. “I think both of them have proven dangerous in their own way. One at risk of attacking us, one getting us into wars we have no business fighting.”
Rogers’s team seized on his answer, posting a clip of it on X and questioning why El-Sayed didn’t give a clear response.
The Democrat is counting on growing opposition to Israel and to the Trump administration’s enabling of its wars to buoy the weight of his controversial comments. Sixty-two percent of Americans told the Pew Research Center earlier this year they had a negative opinion of the Israeli government, an 11-point rise from 2024.
Do you have questions, concerns or tips? Send them to Ray at rjlewis@sbgtv.com.