Trump says El-Sayed should have to pass through metal detector to enter Senate

President Trump called out Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed on Sunday, saying he should have to pass through a metal detector to enter the Senate building.

“Anyone with that record of support for jihadists would be screened and unable to get a seat on an airplane. They certainly should not give him a seat in the United States Senate,” Trump said while rallying in Michigan .

“He would be the only senator that will have to go through a metal detector before he’s allowed to go into the Senate. I want him to have a metal detector,” the president continued.

El-Sayed would be the first Muslim senator if he wins Michigan’s open Senate race against former Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.). The Michigan Democrat has faced numerous attacks on the campaign trail about his family background and faith, including past comments made by his mother and half-sister.

In a Truth Social post before his rally in Michigan, Trump referred to El-Sayed as “a Jihadist Member of the Muslim Brotherhood,” adding that he believed the Senate candidate wanted “our Country to go to Sharia Law.”

During the latest candidate debate between the pair, Rogers similarly pointed out political contributions made to El-Sayed from people connected to the Muslim Brotherhood, claiming the Democrat “ pledged his support ” to the organization.

El-Sayed has disavowed the Muslim Brotherhood and his campaign has repeatedly denied that he has any connection to the group, which President Trump designated as a terrorist group last year.

A Marist poll found El-Sayed narrowly leading Rogers by 2 points, though this lead is within the poll’s margin of error meaning both candidates are dead locked.

Decision Desk HQ, a partner of The Hill, predicted the battleground Senate election leaning in favor of El-Sayed, forecasting him with a 67 percent chance of winning. While Cook Political Report rated the race as a “toss up” with both parties equal on its partisan voting index.

El-Sayed’s campaign did not immediately respond to The Hill’s request for comment.