Democratic voters in Michigan face a dilemma over the U.S. Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, due to his controversial views on foreign policy. Former Michigan Democratic Party chair Lon Johnson shared concerns within the Jewish and African-American communities during a discussion with Fox News anchor Martha MacCallum on ‘The Story.’
El-Sayed, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, publicly criticized President Joe Biden following the announcement on August 1, 2022, of Ayman al-Zawahiri’s death. Al-Zawahiri was identified as one of the key planners behind the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
“He was deeply involved in the planning of 9/11, one of the most responsible for the attacks that murdered 2,977 people on American soil,” Biden stated following the strike.
Despite condemning al-Zawahiri as a terrorist, El-Sayed criticized Biden’s administration for allegedly using the operation for political gain. In an essay for The New Republic, El-Sayed expressed concern over Biden’s portrayal of the operation as part of the ‘War on Terror’ themes, arguing that it was used to boost his domestic approval ratings.
El-Sayed noted, “This strike offers the Biden administration a fig leaf, demonstrating that even in Taliban hands, Afghanistan is not off-limits for direct action against terrorist targets.” He further suggested that Biden should challenge autocratic leaders in the Middle East if he intends to project strength in the region.
El-Sayed’s criticism extended beyond Biden. He also expressed concerns over past U.S. military actions. Following Donald Trump’s 2020 drone strike on Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani, El-Sayed warned against provocation.
Similarly, he referred to the Obama administration’s killing of Anwar al-Awlaki as an “extrajudicial assassination.” El-Sayed has previously compared Donald Trump to Osama bin Laden, suggesting that both inspired terrorism.
While El-Sayed didn’t respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital, his campaign continues amid these foreign policy controversies.