Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed wrote a 2021 blog post comparing President Donald Trump's role in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot to Osama bin Laden's role in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, arguing that America has an obligation to hold Trump accountable and 'send the same message' it did after 9/11.
The post, titled 'Why aren't we treating Donald Trump like we treat other terrorists?' appeared on a blog El-Sayed has since made private. The essay resurfaced as Republicans seek to capitalize on El-Sayed's past statements in the competitive Michigan Senate race ahead of the 2026 election, where he won the Democratic nomination after defeating Rep. Haley Stevens in the primary.
What the Right Is Saying
Republicans have seized on the essay as evidence of El-Sayed's radical views, with GOP-aligned groups pouring millions into attack ads in the Michigan Senate race. Critics argue the comparison to bin Laden represents dangerous rhetoric that inflames political tensions.
"This is exactly the kind of dangerous rhetoric that shows how extreme Abdul El-Sayed really is," said a spokesperson for the National Republican Senatorial Committee. "Comparing a former president to the mastermind of the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil is beyond the pale."
The Trump campaign and Republican operatives have amplified the essay, arguing it disqualifies El-Sayed from serving in the Senate. Some conservative commentators noted that El-Sayed's past associations, including campaigning with streamer Hasan Piker—who once said 'America deserved 9/11'—compound concerns about his judgment.
El-Sayed has disavowed Piker's notorious remark but declined to renounce Piker himself, framing pressure to do so as 'cancel culture.' Republicans argue this response is inadequate given the severity of both controversies.
What the Left Is Saying
El-Sayed's supporters argue his 2021 post reflected a principled stance on holding leaders accountable for threats to democratic institutions. In the essay, El-Sayed wrote that lawmakers had both a constitutional and 'moral' obligation to convict Trump and bar him from seeking office again.
"Every single member of Congress who believes in an America true to the ideals we claim for her has a constitutional—a moral—obligation to hold Donald Trump accountable for his terrorism," El-Sayed wrote in 2021. He drew parallels between the accountability shown after 9/11 and what he argued should occur following Jan. 6, stating that 'we have to send the same message we did after 9/11: If you attack our democracy, we will hold you accountable.'
Campaign spokeswoman Roxie Richner pushed back on interpretations suggesting El-Sayed was calling for anything beyond legal accountability. "That's an absurd and false interpretation of what he said," Richner told Fox News Digital. "Abdul believes no one is above the law and that includes the president." She emphasized that El-Sayed's position centered on constitutional consequences, not physical harm.
What the Numbers Show
The Michigan Senate race is considered one of the most competitive of the 2026 election cycle. According to data from OpenSecrets, outside groups have already committed more than $45 million in advertising spending across both primaries and the general election contest. The race is rated as a 'toss-up' by nonpartisan forecasters.
El-Sayed defeated incumbent Rep. Haley Stevens by approximately 8 percentage points in the Democratic primary, with roughly 54% of the vote to Stevens' 46%, according to certified results from the Michigan Secretary of State. Turnout in the August primary reached 28%, above the typical midterm primary average for the state.
Polling from the Detroit Free Press conducted in late July shows El-Sayed's general election favorability rating at 34% positive and 41% negative among likely Michigan voters, with 25% expressing no opinion. The same poll found Trump approval at 48% among Michigan residents.
The Bottom Line
The resurfacing of El-Sayed's 2021 essay is likely to intensify an already contentious Michigan Senate race. Republicans view the comparison as a potent campaign weapon that could undermine El-Sayed's general election viability in a state Trump won in 2024, while Democrats argue it represents legitimate criticism of threats to democratic institutions.
El-Sayed has stood by his broader critique of Trump's actions on Jan. 6 while distancing himself from interpretations that he was calling for the death penalty. The controversy highlights the ongoing debate over how to characterize the events of Jan. 6 and what accountability, if any, should follow for those involved.
Voters can expect both campaigns to continue litigating El-Sayed's past statements as the November general election approaches. Early voting begins October 24 in Michigan.