Donald Trump demands Abdul El-Sayed go through metal detectors if elected to Senate

At an October 25, 2026 campaign rally in Port Huron, Michigan, President Donald Trump attacked Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, labeling him a jihadist and demanding he pass through metal detectors to enter the Senate chamber if elected. El-Sayed, who is running against Republican Mike Rogers to succeed retiring Senator Gary Peters, has vehemently denied allegations of Muslim Brotherhood ties while affirming his allegiance to the U.S. Constitution. Recent polling shows El-Sayed maintaining a narrow lead in the toss-up race.

Trump targets El-Sayed at Michigan rally

• ▪At an October 25, 2026 campaign rally in Port Huron, Michigan, Donald Trump characterized Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed as a jihadist and member of the Muslim Brotherhood
• ▪Donald Trump demanded on October 25, 2026 that Abdul El-Sayed be required to pass through a metal detector to enter the United States Senate chamber if elected
• ▪Donald Trump asserted that Abdul El-Sayed should never be allowed inside the United States Capitol building

Capitol security rules for members

• ▪Existing Muslim members of Congress, including Representatives Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar, do not face higher security screening levels than their congressional colleagues
• ▪Members of Congress typically bypass Capitol security screenings by displaying their member pins, whereas general visitors and staff undergo mandatory screening

Rogers accuses El-Sayed of Brotherhood ties and El-Sayed denies them

• ▪Abdul El-Sayed repeatedly denied Republican claims of ties to the Muslim Brotherhood made during Michigan's Senate race, affirming his commitment to the United States Constitution
• ▪Republican candidate Mike Rogers alleged during an October 21, 2026 debate that Abdul El-Sayed held ties to the Muslim Brotherhood and questioned his loyalty to the United States

Republican attacks on Islam in 2026 midterms

• ▪Republican campaign ads and candidates in multiple states, including Texas, Georgia, and Alabama, have targeted Islam and Muslim figures ahead of the 2026 midterm elections
• ▪A Republican attack ad in Michigan's Senate race targets a 17-year-old quote from Abdul El-Sayed regarding a sharia-compliant mortgage loan, characterizing his personal religious code as an attempt to impose religious law

Michigan Senate race context

• ▪A Marist poll cited on October 25, 2026 placed Abdul El-Sayed leading Mike Rogers 50 percent to 48 percent among likely Michigan voters
• ▪Former President Barack Obama campaigned with Abdul El-Sayed
• ▪Abdul El-Sayed and Mike Rogers are competing for the Michigan Senate seat in the November 3, 2026 election to succeed retiring Democratic Senator Gary Peters