Trump calls El-Sayed a 'jihadist' at Iowa rally, praises Stevens for backing Rogers

President Donald Trump repeatedly called Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed a "jihadist" at a campaign event in Iowa on Sunday, the Guardian reported. El-Sayed is a practicing Muslim. The Guardian described Trump's remarks as brazenly racist ¹.

Trump said Congress would have to "get a special metal detector for Abdul" if El-Sayed were elected. He also said: "If you vote for this jihadist lunatic that wants to destroy you, you're crazy." ¹

If you vote for this jihadist lunatic that wants to destroy you, you're crazy

Praise for a Democrat who crossed the aisle

Trump also praised Rep. Haley Stevens of Michigan. She lost the August Democratic primary to El-Sayed. On Sunday she endorsed his Republican opponent, former Rep. Mike Rogers ¹².

Trump called the endorsement "an incredible thing." He added that he would "love her to join the Republican party." ¹

From Channel GOPEl-Sayed lays out his case against Mike RogersAbdul El-Sayed · 124 plays · captioned, with the source named

Of Rogers, Trump said: "He's apple pie." ¹

How the Michigan feud unfolded

The split began over an ad by an outside group, Rebellion PAC. It showed a couple debating whether they could afford groceries because of U.S. support for Israel. El-Sayed's campaign said it was not involved in or affiliated with the ad ².

Stevens, who strongly supports Israel, had demanded that El-Sayed publicly disavow the ad ¹². She said in a video that El-Sayed "said I'm no longer welcome in his campaign." ²

She announced her endorsement of Rogers at a Detroit press conference after the two attended church together. CNBC reported that her chief of staff and other staff members resigned in protest ².

Democrats respond

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York called the endorsement "a despicable betrayal from Rep. Stevens." He said "Senate Democrats are united in our support for Abdul El-Sayed." ²

Senate Democrats are united in our support for Abdul El-Sayed

Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel said Stevens "is not a current member of the Michigan Democratic Party, nor will she be in the future." ²

What happens next

Michigan voters decide the race Tuesday, Nov. 3. The seat is open because Sen. Gary Peters is not seeking reelection. The Guardian called the contest neck-and-neck, and CNBC said it could help decide which party controls the Senate ¹². Republicans now hold a slim majority there ².

That matters because the president is openly tying his own standing to a Senate race. He is doing it with attacks on a candidate's faith and with praise for a Democrat who broke ranks. The pattern is a closing argument built on fear and division rather than on prices or health care. Voters will show Tuesday whether it works.

The Record

1. Aug 1, 2026Haley Stevens lost the Michigan Democratic Senate primary to Abdul El-Sayed (August primary; exact day not in sources) ¹
2. Nov 1, 2026Stevens endorsed Republican Mike Rogers at a Detroit press conference; Schumer called it 'a despicable betrayal' ²
3. Nov 1, 2026At an Iowa rally, Trump repeatedly called El-Sayed a 'jihadist' and urged Stevens to join the GOP ¹

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<h2>Trump calls El-Sayed a &#39;jihadist&#39; at Iowa rally, praises Stevens for backing Rogers</h2> <p><em>By The GOP Files Campaign Desk. This article first appeared on <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/trump-calls-el-sayed-a-jihadist-at-iowa-rally-praises-stevens-for-backing-rogers">The GOP Files</a> on Sunday, November 1, 2026.</em></p> <p>President Donald Trump repeatedly called Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed a &quot;jihadist&quot; at a campaign event in Iowa on Sunday, the Guardian reported. El-Sayed is a practicing Muslim. The Guardian described Trump&#39;s remarks as brazenly racist .</p> <p>Trump said Congress would have to &quot;get a special metal detector for Abdul&quot; if El-Sayed were elected. He also said: &quot;If you vote for this jihadist lunatic that wants to destroy you, you&#39;re crazy.&quot;</p> <blockquote><p>If you vote for this jihadist lunatic that wants to destroy you, you&#39;re crazy</p><p>&mdash; Donald Trump, President, Republican</p></blockquote> <h2>Praise for a Democrat who crossed the aisle</h2> <p>Trump also praised Rep. Haley Stevens of Michigan. She lost the August Democratic primary to El-Sayed. On Sunday she endorsed his Republican opponent, former Rep. Mike Rogers .</p> <p>Trump called the endorsement &quot;an incredible thing.&quot; He added that he would &quot;love her to join the Republican party.&quot;</p> <p>Of Rogers, Trump said: &quot;He&#39;s apple pie.&quot;</p> <h2>How the Michigan feud unfolded</h2> <p>The split began over an ad by an outside group, Rebellion PAC. It showed a couple debating whether they could afford groceries because of U.S. support for Israel. El-Sayed&#39;s campaign said it was not involved in or affiliated with the ad .</p> <p>Stevens, who strongly supports Israel, had demanded that El-Sayed publicly disavow the ad . She said in a video that El-Sayed &quot;said I&#39;m no longer welcome in his campaign.&quot;</p> <p>She announced her endorsement of Rogers at a Detroit press conference after the two attended church together. CNBC reported that her chief of staff and other staff members resigned in protest .</p> <h2>Democrats respond</h2> <p>Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York called the endorsement &quot;a despicable betrayal from Rep. Stevens.&quot; He said &quot;Senate Democrats are united in our support for Abdul El-Sayed.&quot;</p> <blockquote><p>Senate Democrats are united in our support for Abdul El-Sayed</p><p>&mdash; Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader, Democrat-New York</p></blockquote> <p>Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis Hertel said Stevens &quot;is not a current member of the Michigan Democratic Party, nor will she be in the future.&quot;</p> <h2>What happens next</h2> <p>Michigan voters decide the race Tuesday, Nov. 3. The seat is open because Sen. Gary Peters is not seeking reelection. The Guardian called the contest neck-and-neck, and CNBC said it could help decide which party controls the Senate . Republicans now hold a slim majority there .</p> <p>That matters because the president is openly tying his own standing to a Senate race. He is doing it with attacks on a candidate&#39;s faith and with praise for a Democrat who broke ranks. The pattern is a closing argument built on fear and division rather than on prices or health care. Voters will show Tuesday whether it works.</p> <p><em>Read the original, with every source linked, at <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/trump-calls-el-sayed-a-jihadist-at-iowa-rally-praises-stevens-for-backing-rogers">thegopfiles.com</a>. Republished under The GOP Files' <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/republish">free republishing terms</a>.</em></p> <img src="https://thegopfiles.com/api/rp/trump-calls-el-sayed-a-jihadist-at-iowa-rally-praises-stevens-for-backing-rogers.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border:0;width:1px;height:1px">

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Sources

1. The Guardian, “Trump launches racist diatribe against Abdul El-Sayed at Iowa rally” (2026-11-02). theguardian.com/us-news/2026/nov/01/trump-iowa-rally
2. CNBC, “Democratic Rep. Stevens endorses Republican Rogers over rival El-Sayed in Michigan Senate election” (2026-11-01). cnbc.com/2026/11/01/michigan-senate-stevens-rogers-endorseme

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