STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. — Vice President JD Vance described Michigan’s Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate, Abdul El-Sayed, as very, very evil
during a campaign rally held here on Monday. Addressing several hundred people at an event organized by MAGA Inc., a super PAC closely aligned with President Donald Trump, Vance characterized the upcoming midterm election as a pivotal battle for the nation.
Campaign Rhetoric and Accusations
During his fourth trip to Michigan in the last two years, Vance spent significant time criticizing El-Sayed, arguing that the Democratic candidate is a figure willing to inflame religious and racial divisions. Vance told the crowd at a Sterling Heights warehouse that he perceives Abdul El-Sayed as a manifestation of a deeply malevolent trend currently gaining momentum in the United States. He further accused El-Sayed of acting as an apologist for the most reprehensible individuals and global adversaries of the United States.
Vance framed the contest as a choice between candidates who fight for every citizen, regardless of background, and those he claims prioritize one group at the expense of others. Vance argued that such individuals do not view themselves as citizens of a unified nation committed to fighting for everyone, regardless of their Jewish or Christian faith or their white, Black, or brown racial background, but rather see themselves as advocates for a single group to the detriment of others, which he warned is how the United States of America is destroyed.
Controversial Associations and Remarks
The vice president focused heavily on El-Sayed’s relationship with Hasan Piker, a political Twitch streamer who has faced backlash for past comments, including a livestream remark that America deserved 9/11.
While El-Sayed has disavowed Piker’s most controversial statements and called the 9/11 remark “dumb” during an appearance on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” after winning the Democratic primary, Vance used the association to attack the candidate’s judgment.
Vance also criticized El-Sayed for his response to a March terrorist attack on Temple Israel, a Reform synagogue in West Bloomfield, Michigan. In a video posted to social media following the incident, El-Sayed condemned the attack but suggested that hurt people hurt people
and that violence is a cycle.
These comments drew significant backlash from Jewish voters, leading El-Sayed to apologize last week. El-Sayed stated that his comments might have been misinterpreted as an attempt to justify something he did not intend to justify, noting he had spent time reaching out to the Jewish Democratic caucus in Michigan.
Additionally, Vance addressed personal comments made by El-Sayed regarding the vice president’s wife, second lady Usha Vance. El-Sayed had suggested that Vance’s late grandfather might have disapproved of his marriage to Usha Vance, an Indian-American Hindu. Responding to these remarks, Vance told the crowd that Abdul El-Sayed should refrain from mentioning his wife, as she is far beyond his reach.
Midterm Election Context
Vance’s appearance was intended to bolster the campaign of former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers, who is challenging El-Sayed for the open U.S. Senate seat. With just over two months until the November 2026 midterm elections, the rally also featured U.S. Rep. John James, the Republican gubernatorial nominee. As the campaign season progresses, Vance’s focus on the synagogue attack and the candidate’s associations highlights the intensity of the race for the Michigan seat.