El-Sayed Silences Ikhwan Questioner with the US Constitution
Democratic US Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed faced a pointed question about the Muslim Brotherhood while campaigning in Caro, Michigan, on Saturday (17 October 2026). A question that initially asked him to condemn the Islamist organisation turned into a debate about religious freedom, allegiance to the Constitution and prejudice towards Muslim Americans in politics.
The incident took place in a conservative area that is a strong base for the Republican Party. A man who introduced himself as Tommy interrupted the campaign event and asked El-Sayed to state his opposition to the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist movement founded in Egypt in 1928.
El-Sayed immediately said he opposed the group, but questioned why the man thought he needed to make his position clear in particular.
“Of course. Yes, absolutely,” El-Sayed replied when asked to condemn the Muslim Brotherhood.
“Why are you asking that question?” he continued.
“Because they are a terrorist group,” Tommy replied.
El-Sayed then challenged the assumption behind the question. He said that his identity as a Muslim should not be a reason to doubt his loyalty to the United States.
“But what are you actually trying to insinuate? Are you assuming that I wouldn’t condemn them?” he asked.
“Yes, because I’ve never heard you state your opposition to them,” Tommy replied.
The exchange attracted widespread attention after footage of it circulated on social media. The Washington Post reported on Sunday (18 October 2026) that El-Sayed’s response was praised by supporters but also criticised by political opponents, who considered his answer inadequate.
Recalling John F Kennedy’s experience
Rather than prolonging the debate about the Muslim Brotherhood, El-Sayed turned to the constitutional principles underpinning life in the United States. He said that, as a candidate for public office, his allegiance was to the US Constitution, not to any religious organisation or political movement.
“I will take an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States. And that constitution guarantees all of us the right to practise whatever religion we want, or even to have no religion at all,” he said.
The statement was greeted with cheers from those attending the campaign event. El-Sayed then recalled the experience of John F Kennedy, the first Catholic president of the United States, who had faced doubts about the relationship between his religious beliefs and his loyalty to the country.
During the 1960 presidential campaign, Kennedy faced concerns among some voters that a Catholic president would be more answerable to the authority of the Vatican than to the US Constitution. Kennedy said his personal faith would not determine how he carried out his duties of state.
El-Sayed used the comparison to explain his position as a Muslim candidate. He rejected the idea that a person’s religion automatically determines their political outlook or national loyalty.
“I’m not running to be a Muslim senator. I’m running to be a member of the United States Senate, and I happen to be Muslim,” he said.