In Lansing, Michigan, Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed addressed a room of college students, many of whom were born after the 9/11 attacks. He opened with a moment of silence to honor the 25th anniversary of the tragic day. El-Sayed soon turned his focus to countering the political attacks by his Republican opponent, Mike Rogers. Rogers increased criticisms of El-Sayed due to his past association with left-wing streamer Hasan Piker, who controversially remarked in 2019 that ‘America deserved 9/11.’
While El-Sayed distanced himself from Piker, he pointed to votes Rogers cast during his time in Congress against benefits for 9/11 survivors and first responders. Rogers, who served Michigan in the House from 2001 to 2015, supported financial aid for 9/11 victims immediately after the attacks. However, he opposed the 2010 James Zadroga Act, which aimed to provide medical treatment and financial assistance to first responders and survivors of the 9/11 attacks. Rogers expressed concerns about the financial implications of the bill, citing potential threats to the fiscal health of the United States.
Rather than vote to make sure that the brave first responders who ran into the rubble that day to save lives, rather to make sure that they had healthcare, he voted not once but twice against giving them healthcare,” El-Sayed said during a town hall Friday.
Rogers addressed the criticisms of his voting record by affirming his support for victims and their families. He proposed an annual $150 million appropriation to meet the needs of 9/11 survivors and their families.
The comments made by Hasan Piker in 2019 have continued to generate backlash, notably from Michigan Republicans aiming to associate him with El-Sayed amid a tight Senate race. El-Sayed condemned Piker’s remarks on 9/11 as ‘dumb,’ while Piker himself acknowledged the need for better language.
El-Sayed also faced scrutiny for his statements about the post-9/11 U.S military actions. He earlier mentioned that while 9/11 profoundly impacted the U.S., the subsequent actions by the U.S. brought suffering to many other people around the world. These comments have been leveraged by Republicans as evidence of El-Sayed’s extremist views. During the Republican midterm convention in Dallas, Vice President JD Vance and other speakers frequently targeted El-Sayed.
“The Democrats are the party of hatred. They’re the party that despises America and the people who built it,” Vance stated.
Throughout his campaign, El-Sayed has condemned the 9/11 attacks and reiterated that nothing justifies the murder of innocent civilians. Nevertheless, his critics attempt to link him with extremist views based on selective soundbites.
Some supporters of El-Sayed and Muslim advocacy groups argue that the effort to tie him to 9/11 attacks is based on Islamophobia. Tyler Mitchell, a Democratic voter and Afghanistan War veteran, views the attacks on El-Sayed as an exploitation of his Muslim faith.
“They look at him, because he’s a Muslim, so they target that with the rhetoric about being dangerous,” Mitchell said before El-Sayed’s town hall in Detroit. “It’s disrespectful to people’s intellect.”
GOP-backed groups have aired multiple ads referencing 9/11 and Piker’s comments. The Senate Leadership Fund has committed over $45 million for ad placements in Michigan for the fall.
Rogers has also released videos featuring veterans critiquing El-Sayed and Piker. Comments from veterans highlight the scrutiny faced by El-Sayed regarding his associations.
El-Sayed, frequently questioned about Piker’s comments, expressed frustration over media focus on the issue instead of pressing matters like healthcare. He urged reporters to concentrate on critical campaign topics rather than the controversies.
In response to Rogers’ remarks at the GOP convention about 9/11, El-Sayed criticized Rogers’ focus outside Michigan, highlighting a lack of attention to the economy, healthcare, and international conflicts. El-Sayed emphasized the need to honor those who saved lives during 9/11 by ensuring they receive adequate healthcare.
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