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Trump escalates anti-Muslim attacks against El-Sayed in Michigan, drawing Arab American rebuke (apnews.com)
submitted 2 weeks ago by to c/politics@lemmy.world
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Donald Trump intensified his anti-Muslim rhetoric against Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed on Sunday, portraying him as a threat to national security and questioning his loyalty to the United States in remarks that drew a sharp rebuke from a former top Arab American ally.

Trump called El-Sayed, a former Detroit health official, a “jihadist” who was “on the side of the terrorists” and would “have to go through a metal detector before he’s allowed to go into the Senate.” He also repeatedly invoked the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, drawing a comparison between stopping El-Sayed from entering the Senate chamber and the passengers who fought back against the hijackers aboard United Flight 93.

El-Sayed, who would become the nation’s first Muslim senator if elected, has called attacks on his loyalty to the country “shameful” and repeatedly denied any ties to extremist groups. The Republican president’s remarks were condemned by Bishara Bahbah, a founder of Arab Americans for Trump, the group that helped lead the president’s outreach to Arab American voters in 2024.

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[–] 38 points 2 weeks ago*

Trump called El-Sayed, a former Detroit health official, a “jihadist” who was “on the side of the terrorists” and would “have to go through a metal detector before he’s allowed to go into the Senate.”

That's particularly ironic, because they did have to install metal detectors at Congress, but it was after Trump's attempted coup:

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/metal-detector-installed-for-u-s-house-chamber

And, of course, when they did turn back a member who tried to bring a gun to the floor later that month, that member was a Republican:

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/capitol-police-probing-whether-gop-rep-andy-harris-tried-bring-n1255237

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    [–] 17 points 2 weeks ago (1 child)

    'National Security' again...

    Pickles in his happy meal is a national security threat if you ask him!

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  • [–] 11 points 2 weeks ago

    When he had to sit for a deposition in the BBC trial his lawyers said he couldn't because he had to deal with matters of "National Security". The BBC lawyers got their hands on his schedule for the day he was supposed to be deposed. He had a rally and a fundraiser at Mar-a-lago. The judge was pretty pissed.

    He thinks that National Security just means he can do whatever he wants.

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    • [–] 13 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (2 children)

    The Republican president’s remarks were condemned by Bishara Bahbah, a founder of Arab Americans for Trump, the group that helped lead the president’s outreach to Arab American voters in 2024.

    This isn't rebuke. Bootlicker's running for cover.

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  • [–] 5 points 2 weeks ago

    “The president’s statements are out of line,” he said in a phone interview. “They are crossing a red line. They are racist.”

    It sucks it took till now, but right before midterms is a good time to say it.

    I don't give a shit about if they're just trying to "run for cover", saying this will make Republicans get less votes. That matters, not just in Michigan

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    • [–] 12 points 2 weeks ago

    It worked so well against Mamdani \s

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    [–] 6 points 2 weeks ago

    El-Sayed, who would become the nation’s first Muslim senator if elected, has called attacks on his loyalty to the country “shameful” and repeatedly denied any ties to extremist groups.

    He shouldn't even answer that or justify himself. He's accepting the premise of an asshole by doing that.

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    [–] 4 points 2 weeks ago

    Ha, pedolf shitler is the fuckin threat yo national security. The pile of shit has already destroyed any security the nation had by improving Russian interests.

    Remember America, if maga feels the need to attack it's political opponents unscrupulously, they're definitely the right choice.

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    [–] 4 points 2 weeks ago

    While in the middle of a christo-fascist government...

    I don't think they understand how this actual helps El-Sayed. No one that was ever going to vote for him will believe anything trump says, but making the race about his religion, just highlights how he's not part of the pro-Israel death cult like Kegsbreath and most of Trump's admin.

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