Abdul El-Sayed walks back Obama criticism ahead of joint campaign event

On October 11, 2026, Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed walked back his past criticism of former President Barack Obama ahead of a joint campaign rally in Detroit scheduled for October 24, 2026. Appearing on NBC's "Meet the Press," El-Sayed attributed his 2012 op-ed criticizing Obama's foreign policy and deportations to his youth. El-Sayed, who is running against Republican Mike Rogers, also reiterated an apology for controversial March 2026 comments following a synagogue attack.

El-Sayed's past criticism and praise of Obama

• ▪During an interview on NBC's Meet the Press on October 11, 2026, Abdul El-Sayed walked back his past criticisms of Barack Obama, stating Obama did his best given difficult circumstances and attributing his 2012 op-ed to his younger self
• ▪On October 6, 2026, Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed praised former President Barack Obama as a champion for healthcare access in a statement
• ▪Abdul El-Sayed's 2012 critiques of Barack Obama focused on Obama's record regarding deportations, expansion of drone warfare in the Middle East, civil liberties, and healthcare policies
• ▪In a 2012 Huffington Post op-ed following Barack Obama's reelection, Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed wrote that Obama was not the right choice and described his first term as a series of failures

Scheduled Detroit campaign rally with Obama

• ▪Former President Barack Obama is scheduled to headline a campaign rally with Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed in Detroit on October 24, 2026
• ▪The October 24, 2026 campaign rally featuring Abdul El-Sayed and Barack Obama in Detroit coincides with Michigan's first day of in-person early voting and will also feature Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jocelyn Benson

Apology for synagogue attack comments

• ▪Abdul El-Sayed's March 2026 comments on a Michigan synagogue attack drew criticism from Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, prompting El-Sayed to subsequently consult with Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin
• ▪During an interview on October 11, 2026, Abdul El-Sayed apologized for March 2026 comments where he said hurt people hurt people regarding a March 2026 attack on a Michigan synagogue

Debatable claims

• ▪El-Sayed's walkback of his Obama critiques is a necessary step for Democratic party unity
• ▪Obama's first-term presidential record was primarily a pragmatic success given difficult circumstances