El-Sayed says Trump knows his name is Abdul
Abdul El-SayedDemocratic U.S. Senate nominee in Michigan, in a campaign statement
El-Sayed says Trump knows his name is Abdul and accuses him of using his name and faith to distract voters from rising costs.
“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.”
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Reporting
Where this statement fits
Trump calls Abdul El-Sayed "Mohammed" and a jihadist; El-Sayed says Trump knows his name is Abdul
President Donald Trump has repeatedly referred to Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed as Mohammed, starting with a Truth Social post late on October 7, 2026, that said "Mohammed goes back to the days of the Jihad" and called him a terrorist sympathizer. At an October 16 rally in Dalton, Georgia, Trump said he had taken heat for the name, that as president he can call El-Sayed whatever he wants, and that El-Sayed's middle name is Mohammad. He also called El-Sayed a jihadist. El-Sayed says Trump knows his name is Abdul and is using his name and faith to distract voters.
Source and context
Official statement
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.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Reporting
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.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
El-Sayed issued this statement before that night's Senate debate, responding to Trump's remarks targeting his name and faith.
After the quotation
El-Sayed ends the statement by saying Trump thinks voters do not know any better and that it is time for change.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why 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.
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- People and groups discussed
- Donald Trump
More from this case
Read the full caseEl-Sayed's ad says his name is Abdul and that it means servant
“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”Read statement
Rogers says he does not speak for Trump on the jihadist remark
“Listen, I -- listen, I don't speak for the president. I don't represent the president. The president is going to do what he's going to do.”Read statement
Tarlov calls the Republican closing message Islamophobia
“Closing message from Republicans being straight up Islamophobia is a terrible choice. Calling Abdul Mohammed, saying he's Muslim brotherhood, saying he may have assimilated but so was the Fort Hood shooter is disgusting stuff.”Read statement
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The Dispute Index. "El-Sayed says Trump knows his name is Abdul". First published: 2026-10-24. Last updated: 2026-10-24. https://disputeindex.com/events/6644-el-sayed-says-trump-knows-his-name-is