Vice President JD Vance sharply criticized Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Dr. Abdul El-Sayed during a campaign event on Monday in Sterling Heights, near Detroit. Speaking at a rally hosted by MAGA Inc., former President Donald Trump’s super PAC, Vance labeled El-Sayed as “very, very evil” and accused him of exacerbating racial and religious divisions within the United States.
Vance’s remarks appeared focused on undermining El-Sayed’s support among Jewish voters in Michigan, a key demographic in a pivotal Senate race this fall. El-Sayed, a Muslim and former public health official, has faced scrutiny over his past comments and positions regarding Israel and the Jewish community. Following a synagogue attack in West Bloomfield Township earlier this year, El-Sayed met recently with members of the Jewish Democratic Caucus to apologize for a March statement in which he said “hurt people hurt people.” That comment was perceived by some as showing undue sympathy toward the attacker, Ayman Mohammad Ghazali, who died during the incident described by authorities as a targeted act of violence against the local Jewish community.
At the rally, Vance accused El-Sayed of prioritizing some groups over others and claimed that such division threatens national unity. “People like Abdul El-Sayed see themselves not as citizens of a common nation fighting for every single person — whether they’re Jewish or Christian, whether they’re white or Black or brown — but see themselves as fighting for one group at the expense of others,” Vance said. He also highlighted his personal connection by praising the rabbi and security guard from the attacked synagogue, whom he met prior to the event.
Vance further addressed comments El-Sayed made referencing his wife, Usha Vance, who is of Indian descent. El-Sayed had questioned on social media whether Vance’s late grandfather would have approved of their interracial marriage. In response, Vance told El-Sayed to “keep my wife’s name the hell out of your mouth,” a remark that sparked applause among attendees.
El-Sayed, in turn, dismissed Vance as a “sock puppet” and characterized his policies as harmful to working families, citing issues like healthcare access, rising living costs, and trade and military policies. He accused Vance of dividing people for political gain.
The campaign battle has involved other contentious exchanges. Joe Gruters, chairman of the Republican National Committee, suggested in an August interview that El-Sayed harbors sympathies with those responsible for the 9/11 attacks, a claim El-Sayed rejects. Republican campaign materials have also accused El-Sayed of supporting “terrorist organizations,” using his full given name, Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed, a practice some view as an attempt to emphasize his Muslim identity.
El-Sayed’s Republican opponent, former Representative Mike Rogers, has sought to appeal to Michigan’s Jewish community, releasing a list of hundreds of Jewish supporters last week.
The Michigan Senate race is considered one of the most competitive contests in the country and has drawn national attention, with both parties viewing it as crucial to their Senate majority hopes. Vance’s visit underscored the high stakes and the increasingly heated tone of the campaign.