Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed sidestepped repeated questions about a future presidential run during a Sunday appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” instead insisting his focus is on winning this year’s Senate race.
Host Kristen Welker asked El-Sayed directly whether he believed America was “ready” to elect a Muslim president. “That’s not a question I’m asking,” El-Sayed replied. “I think Michigan is ready for a Muslim senator.”
When Welker pressed the point again, El-Sayed called the question “irrelevant” and reiterated his focus on Michigan. Welker followed up by asking whether he was ruling out a future presidential bid.
“I have no intention of ever running for president. That is not a thing I’ve ever wanted to do,” El-Sayed said.
He elaborated on his ambitions for the Senate seat he is seeking. “I want to be a really great senator for my state. You know, someday, somewhere, somebody down the line decides to run, that would have been a really amazing thing to see how big America really is. But for right now, I really want to be the next senator from Michigan. That’s what I’d like to be for a long time to come. I’m looking forward to serving out the next six years. I’m honored to get to do this,” he said.
AOC comparison raised
Welker also pressed El-Sayed on a reported remark from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., who said, “If Abdul can win in Michigan, anybody can win anywhere.” Welker asked whether a loss in Michigan would suggest a progressive like Ocasio-Cortez could not win the presidency in 2028.
“Look, this is one seat in Michigan that has a lot more to do with our local issues in Michigan than it has to do with a national referendum,” El-Sayed responded.
Muslim Brotherhood allegation denied
The interview followed El-Sayed’s Thursday debate against Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers, who raised alleged ties between El-Sayed and the Muslim Brotherhood. El-Sayed has repeatedly denied any such ties, and did so again when Welker raised the allegation on air.
“No,” El-Sayed said, adding that he viewed the allegation as rooted in Islamophobia. “It’s truly shameful, but he has no ideas, he doesn’t actually care about solving problems,” he said of Rogers.
Media Research Center President David Bozell criticized the tone of NBC’s interview in a comment to Fox News Digital, saying the network appeared more interested in El-Sayed’s national prospects than in scrutinizing his record. “NBC took one look at Abdul El-Sayed and started planning the presidential library. Never mind Hasan Piker. Never mind Michigan. Meet the Press skipped the vetting and went straight to measuring El-Sayed’s Oval Office drapes,” Bozell said.
Fox News Digital said it reached out to NBC and El-Sayed’s campaign for comment.
