‘STOP THERE’: Abdul El-Sayed says he has never been a member of the Muslim Brotherhood

Iran War and Energy Costs

Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic Senate candidate in Michigan, told Fox News that his first priority as a senator would be addressing the war in Iran, which he blamed for higher gasoline and food costs.

He called the conflict illegal and unjustified, and urged Congress to use a War Powers resolution to prevent it from continuing without authorization and funding. El-Sayed argued that diplomacy—not war—had previously helped deter Iran’s nuclear ambitions. He also criticized Donald Trump for withdrawing from the Iran nuclear agreement.

Healthcare

El-Sayed said he supports Medicare for All but would not require people to give up private insurance. He argued that universal public coverage could reduce family costs, though he declined to estimate how much the average family would pay. He proposed taxing billionaires’ wealth to help fund the plan.

Responding to a question about a past remark concerning someone waiting for an MRI, El-Sayed said it had been taken out of context. He pointed to long waits for specialists and medical debt in the current healthcare system.

Senate Race

El-Sayed said his campaign was building a broad coalition and predicted that voters would reject Trump’s positions on the war and tariffs, including tariffs affecting Canada. The interviewer cited a poll showing the race essentially tied, despite El-Sayed’s prediction of a seven-point win. El-Sayed said he would accept the result of a fair election.

Muslim Brotherhood and Religious Freedom

Asked about Mike Rogers’s campaign references to the Muslim Brotherhood and a 2012 statement, El-Sayed objected that the issue raised questions about his loyalty and faith. He said he had never been a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, would never join it, and was committed to serving the United States and upholding the Constitution. He also defended the constitutional right to religious freedom.

Campaign Support

El-Sayed praised Bernie Sanders as popular in Michigan and said he expected to campaign with Barack Obama and Sanders. He also criticized Rogers’s association with Trump.

Presenters and Contributors

• Bret Baier: Interviewer
• Abdul El-Sayed: Guest; Michigan Democratic Senate candidate