President Trump has described Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed as a "jihadist," according to reporting by De Telegraaf. The Dutch newspaper carried the remark in a story published Monday, 26 October 2026. Other outlets, including AD.nl and HLN, reported the same characterization.
El-Sayed is a left-wing Muslim candidate seeking a Senate seat in Michigan, according to De Standaard. NOS reported on his campaign as a leftward pull on the Democratic Party, describing him as running against big money. The available reporting does not include the setting of Trump's remark, the candidate's response, or any further statements from either side.
The coverage places the comment within the Michigan Senate race, where El-Sayed's candidacy has drawn attention in European press for his politics and his faith. De Telegraaf's headline frames the president's language as a direct attack on the Democratic contender.
What to watch next: whether El-Sayed or his campaign responds to the remark, and how the Michigan race develops in the run-up to the vote.
