‘Stop jihadist’: Trump likens Muslim Senate candidate to terrorists
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Washington: US President Donald Trump launched a fierce attack on Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed at a campaign rally in Michigan on Sunday, October 25, comparing the Muslim doctor to extremists and urging voters to prevent his election.
Trump told supporters he was there to “keep a jihadist Muslim Brotherhood member from becoming a United States senator.”
Invoking the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, he also told Michigan voters: “Twenty-five years later, Michigan needs to stand up and fight, just like Todd did, to stop a jihadist from walking into the Capitol.”
Trump was referring to Todd Beamer, a passenger aboard United Airlines Flight 93 who joined other passengers in resisting hijackers during the attacks. The president used Beamer’s actions to rally opposition to El-Sayed’s Senate campaign.
El-Sayed rejected the allegations, accusing Trump of targeting him because of his name and religion while diverting attention from the economic difficulties facing Americans. He also criticised the president over reported financial connections involving Gulf countries and people in his circle.
Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers distanced himself from the claim that El-Sayed was a terrorist, although he continued to question the Democrat’s alleged links to the Muslim Brotherhood. El-Sayed has denied having such connections.
Former president Barack Obama backed El-Sayed at a Detroit rally on Saturday, October 24, defending the candidate against attempts to question his patriotism. Obama drew parallels with false claims about his own birthplace and background.
Michigan’s Senate contest is a key race ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. If elected, El-Sayed would become the first Muslim to serve in the US Senate.