El-Sayed backs Trump's Israel aid cut

Abdul El-Sayed defeated Republican Mike Rogers to win Michigan's U.S. Senate seat, becoming the first Muslim elected to the chamber. The 42-year-old former public health official secured the victory as Democrats reclaimed control of Congress. His campaign focused on lowering costs, expanding Medicare, and reducing corporate influence in politics.

The race featured intense debate over U.S. military aid to Israel. Rogers, who had the endorsement of President Trump, criticized El-Sayed's opposition to that aid. The issue caused a split within the Democratic Party. Haley Stevens, El-Sayed's primary opponent, endorsed Rogers just days before the general election following a dispute over the war in Gaza.

President Trump announced plans to end approximately $4 billion in annual military aid to Israel by the end of 2026. The administration provided no specific details on how the cuts would be implemented. El-Sayed supported the proposal in an interview with NPR's Morning Edition after his win.

El-Sayed stated that he believed the president was correct on the policy. He also called for a halt to U.S. weapon sales to Israel. "I'd also like to see us stop selling weaponry that gets used to do the worst things, including genocide and apartheid, to Israel," he said.

Current agreements provide Israel with $3.8 billion in annual military aid through 2028. El-Sayed extended his critique to other nations. He questioned U.S. military support for Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Pakistan, arguing that American tax dollars should be spent domestically.

The election results addressed some pre-vote concerns from Jewish and Black voters in Michigan. El-Sayed acknowledged that the outcome challenged narratives about his divisiveness. "There's always more work to do. There's always more to build. There's always more conversations to have," he told NPR's Michel Martin during a pre-election visit to the state.