President Donald Trump said he would welcome Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI) into the Republican Party after she broke with her own party to endorse former Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI) in Michigan’s open Senate race, passing over fellow Democrat Abdul El-Sayed.
Trump made the remarks Sunday to supporters at a rally in Dubuque, Iowa, praising Stevens for what he called bravery in making the endorsement.
I’m happy with what she did. She was very brave in doing it. So, I don’t know Haley — I’ve never met Haley — but Haley said what few people are willing to say. I’d love her to join the Republican Party, actually. I think that could happen.
Trump said Stevens had shown “great and almost unprecedented loyalty to the great people of Michigan.” He then turned his attention to El-Sayed, referring to him as a “jihadist” and suggesting the Senate would need extra security measures if he were elected.
That’s another important election for us. We don’t want to have a jihadist […] Can you imagine, we’ll have to put him through metal detectors […] We’ll have 100 senators, and most of them they can go direct — we’re going to have to get a special metal detector for Abdul.
“A party that hates America cannot be allowed to lead the people who built America,” Trump added.
Earlier Sunday, Trump had posted favorably about Stevens on Truth Social, describing her as a “Highly Respected Democrat” with support across Michigan, “especially our African American and Jewish populations,” and writing: “It’s a thing called bravery, and few people have it like just displayed by Congresswoman Haley Stevens!”
A Reversal Months in the Making
Stevens had endorsed El-Sayed back in August, but she withdrew that support Sunday morning in a statement to Michigan voters, saying El-Sayed’s campaign had told her to stay away.
Hey Michigan, as you may have seen, our Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, Abdul, said that I was no longer welcome in his campaign and that I should stay away, and he’s right. That’s why I am endorsing Mike Rogers for the United State Senate today. I don’t belong in Abdul’s campaign. I do not stand with Hasan Piker, who gets trafficked on our college campuses. A dear friend of mine earlier today was saying that education is on the ballot and she is absolutely right. What our students see, what our children see, and who we are as Michiganders is not hate. And is not what we are getting out from our Democratic nominee right now.
The split followed a bruising primary between Stevens and El-Sayed. Tensions escalated after El-Sayed’s campaign released an ad criticizing U.S. tax dollars sent to Israel, prompting Stevens to call on him to “denounce antisemitic hate.” His campaign then reportedly asked her to keep away from his remaining events.
Stevens’ fiancé, who is Jewish, has also said he plans to vote for Rogers in the race.
