Vice President JD Vance sharply criticized Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed during a public event in the Detroit suburb of Sterling Heights on Monday, labeling him as "very evil." Vance accused El-Sayed of harboring sympathy solely for individuals who share his religion, while lacking concern for others.
El-Sayed, a Democrat and practicing Muslim, recently faced scrutiny from Vance over comments that Vance interpreted as an attack on his family. During the event, Vance addressed El-Sayed directly, warning him to refrain from referencing his wife, Usha Vance, an Indian-American Hindu, in political discourse. “Abdul, keep my wife’s name the hell out of your mouth, because she’s way out of your league,” Vance said to an audience gathered inside a warehouse.
The vice president also made remarks about El-Sayed’s alleged implications regarding Vance’s late grandfather’s views on Vance’s marriage to Usha Vance. Vance did not elaborate on the nature of El-Sayed's original statements but framed them as inappropriate and offensive.
El-Sayed’s campaign did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The contest for Michigan’s Senate seat is drawing considerable attention, with both candidates engaging in contentious exchanges as they vie for voter support ahead of the upcoming election.