Abdul El-Sayed’s 2011 editorial urging U.S. support for Egyptian protesters associated with the Muslim Brotherhood is drawing scrutiny in Congress after a former aide reported the Michigan Senate candidate is seeking a seat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The disclosure raises questions about the candidate’s foreign policy stance, particularly as he campaigns on domestic affordability while expressing interest in a panel dedicated to international affairs.
Jordan Domingue, who served as El-Sayed’s security chief during his 2018 gubernatorial bid, told The Midwesterner that the candidate’s desire for the committee is troubling given his lack of foreign policy experience. "It is extremely difficult to comprehend how dangerous this can be if he is elected," Domingue wrote on X. He added that it is especially concerning that El-Sayed really wants a seat on the committee despite his background.
Republican members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee have voiced strong opposition to El-Sayed’s potential appointment. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, stated that a man with ties to the Muslim Brotherhood who cheered their takeover of Egypt 15 years ago should not come anywhere near the U.S. Senate, and especially not the Foreign Relations Committee. Lee noted that El-Sayed has campaigned with individuals who have said America deserved the September 11 attacks.
Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pa., also on the committee, criticized El-Sayed’s move on X. "El-Sayed says he’s running on affordability, so why does he want a seat on @SenateForeign?" McCormick wrote. He emphasized that someone with El-Sayed's radical views has no business on the committee, which deals solely with issues related to U.S. foreign relations.
The controversy centers on an op-ed El-Sayed wrote for The Huffington Post in 2011 while working as an assistant professor at Columbia University. In the piece, he argued that it was in America’s interest to support Egyptian protesters’ efforts to speak their minds and have a say in how they are governed. He contended that if the U.S. truly wanted to uphold its claims of justice and liberty, it would fall decisively behind the protesters. El-Sayed further argued that a government formed by the Muslim Brotherhood would not inevitably mirror the political structure of Iran.
In a recent town hall, El-Sayed, who is the son of Egyptian immigrant parents, said he disavows the Muslim Brotherhood. However, his campaign did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment regarding his 2011 op-ed. The Muslim Brotherhood-backed government took power in Egypt in 2012 but was ousted by the military in 2013.
Throughout his campaign, El-Sayed has emphasized healthcare, lowering gas and grocery prices, and addressing the cost-of-living crisis. "It shouldn’t be this hard to get by in the richest, most powerful country in the world," he said during his primary campaign against Rep. Haley Stevens and state Sen. Mallory McMorrow. His focus on domestic economic issues contrasts with his reported interest in a committee focused exclusively on foreign policy.