Trump calls Abdul El-Sayed "Mohammed" and a jihadist; El-Sayed says Trump knows his name is Abdul
Trump keeps calling Michigan Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed Mohammed and has called him a jihadist. Trump says El-Sayed's middle name is Mohammad; El-Sayed says Trump knows his name is Abdul and is attacking his faith.
Case period:
Published by The Dispute Index editorial teamPublished Updated
Overview
El-Sayed, a physician and former Detroit health director, is running against Republican Mike Rogers for Michigan's open U.S. Senate seat. AFP reports that, like many Muslim men, El-Sayed has the middle name Mohamed and does not use it publicly. Trump has also accused El-Sayed of Muslim Brotherhood ties, which El-Sayed denies. Asked on CNN on October 18 whether he was comfortable with Trump calling El-Sayed a jihadist, Rogers said he had never called El-Sayed a terrorist and that he does not speak for the president.
People in this case
Donald TrumpDirectly involved
Abdul El-SayedDirectly involved
Timeline
3 timeline entries on this page. Dates: October 7, 2026 to October 23, 2026
October 2026
Trump calls El-Sayed Mohammed in a Truth Social post
Incident
Trump posts that "Mohammed goes back to the days of the Jihad" and calls El-Sayed a radical extremist and terrorist sympathizer. He uses the name Mohammed throughout the post and endorses Mike Rogers.
[01]Donald Trump
President Donald Trump posted this on Truth Social late on October 7, 2026. He refers to Abdul El-Sayed as Mohammed throughout, calls him a radical extremist and terrorist sympathizer, links him to Hasan Piker and endorses Mike Rogers.
Trump's Truth Social post calling El-Sayed "Mohammed" · Donald TrumpFull post, October 7, 2026, 11:13 p.m. EDT[02]The Times of Israel
Times of Israel and AFP report on Trump's Truth Social post calling El-Sayed Mohammed and on El-Sayed's responses, including his remarks at a campaign event in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Trump misnames Muslim Michigan Senate candidate El-Sayed as 'Mohammed' · The Times of IsraelFull articleTrump says at a Georgia rally that El-Sayed's middle name is Mohammad
Incident
At a rally in Dalton, Georgia, Trump says he took heat for calling El-Sayed Mohammad, says he can call him whatever he wants, reads out El-Sayed's middle name and calls him a jihadist.
[03]Roll Call
Time-coded transcript of Trump's October 16, 2026, campaign rally in Dalton, Georgia. In the later passage Trump turns from Sen. Jon Ossoff to El-Sayed, says he took heat for calling El-Sayed Mohammad, says El-Sayed's middle name is Mohammad and calls him a jihadist.
Transcript of Donald Trump's rally in Dalton, Georgia, October 16, 2026 · Roll CallTranscript segments 77-78 (00:32:14-00:32:40) and 181-183 (01:15:38-01:16:35)Trump repeats that El-Sayed's middle name is Mohammad
Incident
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump says he calls El-Sayed Mohammad, that his middle name is Mohammad, and that El-Sayed is a fake.
[04]Roll Call
Time-coded transcript of Trump's exchange with reporters at the White House on October 23, 2026. Trump says he is looking forward to going to Michigan, repeats that El-Sayed's middle name is Mohammad and calls him a fake.
Transcript of Donald Trump's remarks to reporters before his Marine One departure, October 23, 2026 · Roll CallTranscript segments 153-160 (00:17:27-00:18:12)
Claims
Claims separate what was said from what is contested. Follow each source for the original wording and context.
What's disputed
Disputed claim
Abdul El-Sayed's middle name is Mohammad, so Trump is right to call him Mohammad.
What is disputed
Trump made the argument at his October 16 rally in Dalton, Georgia, saying "So, I was right -- almost" after reading out El-Sayed's full name. AFP reports that, like many Muslim men, El-Sayed has the middle name Mohamed and does not use it publicly. El-Sayed says Trump knows his name is Abdul and is using his name and faith to distract voters.
Sources (2)
- Transcript of Donald Trump's rally in Dalton, Georgia, October 16, 2026 · Roll CallTranscript segments 77-78 (00:32:14-00:32:40) and 181-183 (01:15:38-01:16:35)
- Trump accuses Muslim candidate of being a "Terrorist Sympathizer" · Agence France-PresseFull article
Response record
Responses
Choose one response filter, or select All responses to see the full record.
3 matching responses. Newest first.
Abdul El-SayedDemocratic U.S. Senate nominee in Michigan, in a campaign ad titled PrayerDirectly involvedBefore this statement
Trump had repeatedly called El-Sayed Mohammed and, at a rally in Georgia, called him a jihadist. Scripps News reported that El-Sayed released the ad after Trump called him a jihadist, and that the ad puts his faith front and center.
"My name is Abdul, it means servant. I pray every day. I reflect on my role in this life, on this earth. How we leave it better than we found it"
Challenged the characterizationCase context: Trump calls Abdul El-Sayed "Mohammed" and a jihadist; El-Sayed says Trump knows his name is Abdul
Full statement and sources
In a campaign ad, El-Sayed says his name is Abdul, that it means servant and that he prays every day.
After the statement
In the ad, El-Sayed says families across Michigan pray but feel hopeless, and that Washington needs more faith in the country's future.
Why this label?
Relative to Trump calling El-Sayed Mohammed and a jihadist, El-Sayed's ad, which Scripps News describes as released after Trump's remark, gives his own account of his name and his faith.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Donald TrumpPresident of the United States, at a campaign rally in Dalton, GeorgiaDirectly involvedBefore this statement
Trump told the Dalton rally crowd that he had taken a lot of heat for calling El-Sayed Mohammed. Earlier in the speech, talking about Iran, he said that anyone unsure of a Middle Eastern person's name could say Mohammed and have about a 65 percent chance of being right.
"I don't care. I'm the president of the United States. I can call you whatever the hell I want. I can call you whatever I want, Mohammed."
Defended or excusedCase context: Trump calls Abdul El-Sayed "Mohammed" and a jihadist; El-Sayed says Trump knows his name is Abdul
Full statement and sources
Trump says he does not care about the criticism for calling El-Sayed Mohammed and that, as president, he can call him whatever he wants.
After the statement
Trump went on to say that El-Sayed's middle name is Mohamed and that he was right, almost. He then called El-Sayed a jihadist.
CNN State of the Union: Dana Bash interviews Mike Rogers, October 18, 2026 · CNNDana Bash interview with Mike Rogers, from about 09:20 ETWhy this label?
Relative to Trump's practice of calling El-Sayed Mohammed, Trump acknowledges the criticism and defends the practice as his prerogative as president.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
- Abdul El-SayedDemocratic U.S. Senate nominee in Michigan, in a campaign statementDirectly involved
Before this statement
El-Sayed issued this statement before that night's Senate debate, responding to Trump's remarks targeting his name and faith.
"He knows my name is Abdul. He says it everyday. But he's not just attacking me. He's attacking all of us. He thinks so low of us. He thinks he can use my name and my faith to distract us from the suffering his policies are inflicting on us at the pump, at the grocery store, and at the doctor's office."
CondemnedCase context: Trump calls Abdul El-Sayed "Mohammed" and a jihadist; El-Sayed says Trump knows his name is Abdul
Full statement and sources
El-Sayed says Trump knows his name is Abdul and accuses him of using his name and faith to distract voters from rising costs.
After the statement
El-Sayed ends the statement by saying Trump thinks voters do not know any better and that it is time for change.
El-Sayed statement responding to Trump's remarks about his name and faith · Abdul El-SayedFull press releaseTrump targets Senate seeker El-Sayed over Islamic faith · The National News DeskFull articleWhy this label?
Relative to Trump calling El-Sayed Mohammed, El-Sayed says Trump knows his name is Abdul and accuses him of using his name and faith to distract voters from his policies.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Sources
(12)
Original text
Trump's Truth Social post calling El-Sayed "Mohammed"
Relevant passage: Full post, October 7, 2026, 11:13 p.m. EDT
About this source
President Donald Trump posted this on Truth Social late on October 7, 2026. He refers to Abdul El-Sayed as Mohammed throughout, calls him a radical extremist and terrorist sympathizer, links him to Hasan Piker and endorses Mike Rogers.
- Author
- Donald J. Trump
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Abdul El-Sayed emphasizes Muslim faith after Trump calls him a 'jihadist'
Relevant passage: Full article
About this source
Scripps News report, published on News 5 Cleveland, on El-Sayed's new campaign ad about his faith, released after Trump called him Mohammed and a jihadist.
- Author
- Scripps News Group
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Abdul El-Sayed hits back at Trump's 'jihadist' remarks, defends Muslim faith in Senate campaign
Relevant passage: Full article
About this source
American Bazaar report on El-Sayed's responses to Trump's remarks about his name and faith, including his X post after Trump's Georgia rally and his campaign ad titled Prayer.
- Author
- Rajwa Quasim
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Trump misnames Muslim Michigan Senate candidate El-Sayed as 'Mohammed'
Relevant passage: Full article
About this source
Times of Israel and AFP report on Trump's Truth Social post calling El-Sayed Mohammed and on El-Sayed's responses, including his remarks at a campaign event in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
- Author
- AFP and ToI Staff
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Trump Doubles Down With Second 'Mohammed' Joke In Two Weeks
Relevant passage: Full article
About this source
Daily Caller report on Trump's remarks about El-Sayed at his October 16, 2026, rally at Dalton Municipal Airport in Georgia. It quotes Trump's comments on the criticism he received for calling El-Sayed Mohammed, and El-Sayed's earlier statement on X.
- Author
- Mark Tanos
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Trump accuses Muslim candidate of being a "Terrorist Sympathizer"
Relevant passage: Full article
About this source
AFP report, republished by Citizen Digital, on Trump's post about El-Sayed and El-Sayed's reply. It notes that, like many Muslim men, El-Sayed's middle name is Mohamed and that he does not use it publicly.
- Author
- AFP
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Trump targets Senate seeker El-Sayed over Islamic faith
Relevant passage: Full article
About this source
The National News Desk report on Trump's Truth Social post calling El-Sayed Mohammed and on El-Sayed's statement in response, both from October 8, 2026 coverage.
- Author
- Ray Lewis
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
Jessica Tarlov's post on X about Republican attacks on El-Sayed
About this source
Jessica Tarlov's own post on X from October 16, 2026, criticizing Republican attacks on El-Sayed in the closing weeks of the Michigan Senate race.
- Author
- Jessica Tarlov
- Published
- Accessed
Original text
Transcript of Donald Trump's remarks to reporters before his Marine One departure, October 23, 2026
Relevant passage: Transcript segments 153-160 (00:17:27-00:18:12)
About this source
Time-coded transcript of Trump's exchange with reporters at the White House on October 23, 2026. Trump says he is looking forward to going to Michigan, repeats that El-Sayed's middle name is Mohammad and calls him a fake.
- Author
- Roll Call Factba.se
- Published
- Accessed
Original text
CNN State of the Union: Dana Bash interviews Mike Rogers, October 18, 2026
Relevant passage: Dana Bash interview with Mike Rogers, from about 09:20 ET
About this source
CNN rush transcript of State of the Union, which aired October 18, 2026. Bash plays a clip of Trump's October 16 rally remarks about El-Sayed and asks Rogers whether he is comfortable with Trump calling El-Sayed a jihadist. Rush transcripts may be revised.
- Author
- CNN
- Published
- Accessed
Original text
Transcript of Donald Trump's rally in Dalton, Georgia, October 16, 2026
Relevant passage: Transcript segments 77-78 (00:32:14-00:32:40) and 181-183 (01:15:38-01:16:35)
About this source
Time-coded transcript of Trump's October 16, 2026, campaign rally in Dalton, Georgia. In the later passage Trump turns from Sen. Jon Ossoff to El-Sayed, says he took heat for calling El-Sayed Mohammad, says El-Sayed's middle name is Mohammad and calls him a jihadist.
- Author
- Roll Call Factba.se
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
El-Sayed statement responding to Trump's remarks about his name and faith
Relevant passage: Full press release
About this source
Press release from El-Sayed's Senate campaign, issued before his October 8, 2026, debate with Mike Rogers, responding to President Trump's remarks about El-Sayed's name and faith.
- Author
- Abdul for U.S. Senate
- Published
- Accessed
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- Publisher
- The Dispute Index
- Title
- Trump calls Abdul El-Sayed "Mohammed" and a jihadist; El-Sayed says Trump knows his name is Abdul
- First published
- Last updated
- Permalink
- https://disputeindex.com/cases/trump-calls-el-sayed-mohammed
The Dispute Index. "Trump calls Abdul El-Sayed "Mohammed" and a jihadist; El-Sayed says Trump knows his name is Abdul". First published: 2026-10-24. Last updated: 2026-10-24. https://disputeindex.com/cases/trump-calls-el-sayed-mohammed