Condemned
“A person who will apologize for a murderer so long as he looks the right way.”
Vance accused El-Sayed of empathizing with and apologizing for the Temple Israel attacker rather than the children placed at risk.
- Speaker
- JD Vance
- Capacity
- Vice president of the United States
- Observed
- August 31, 2026
- Published here
- September 5, 2026
- Targets
- Abdul El-Sayed
- Classification rationale
- This is a strong condemnation, but Vance's wording overstates El-Sayed's literal statement, which repeatedly condemned the attack.
Surrounding material
Full context
Before the quotation
At a Michigan rally for Mike Rogers, Vance criticized El-Sayed's statements, identity-based politics, and association with Hasan Piker.
After the quotation
He urged voters to reject candidates who would defend a killer rather than schoolchildren.
Evidence
Complete source record
JD Vance political rally in Sterling Heights, Michigan (opens in a new tab)Full rally transcript
Primary transcript for Vance's reaction to El-Sayed and the Temple Israel controversy.
Vance meets clergy of Michigan synagogue targeted in attack amid Jewish voter outreach (opens in a new tab)Sections addressing Temple Israel clergy and El-Sayed's apologies
Reports that Temple Israel clergy declined to comment on El-Sayed's two August apologies and covers JD Vance's visit and criticism.