US midterms 2026: Trump to campaign for Mike Rogers in Michigan after Obama rally for Abdul El-Sayed

US President Donald Trump is set to campaign for Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers in Michigan on Sunday, a day after former President Barack Obama urged voters to support Democrats in the state ahead of next week's midterm elections.The visit to Port Huron marks Trump's first campaign appearance in Michigan this year, despite his repeated attacks on Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed. The state's open Senate race is among the most competitive contests and could help determine which party controls the chamber.El-Sayed, who would become the first Muslim elected to the US Senate if he wins, has faced attacks from Trump and Rogers over his religion and alleged links to the Muslim Brotherhood. El-Sayed has denied any affiliation with the group and rejected questions about his loyalty to the United States.At a debate last week, Rogers questioned El-Sayed's allegiance, asking whether he supported the United States or what Rogers described as terrorist groups overseas. He has alleged that El-Sayed has ties to the Muslim Brotherhood but has provided no evidence for the claim.El-Sayed has described the accusations as shameful. In a recent campaign advertisement, he defended his faith, saying, "faith is a thing there’s just too little of in Washington".Obama addressed the controversy during a rally in Detroit on Saturday, arguing that the attacks were intended to portray El-Sayed as less patriotic and less American than his opponents.The former president compared the claims to false allegations about his own birthplace, which had circulated during his political career."We have seen this movie before," Obama said. "I starred in it ... This stuff didn't work on me. Not in Michigan. It's not going to work on Abdul."Trump responded on Truth Social early Sunday, criticising Obama's support for El-Sayed and describing the Democratic candidate as a "Muslim Brotherhood Jihadist". He also accused El-Sayed of hating Jews, Black people, Americans and Trump, and predicted that he would lose the election.The Michigan contest has also become a point of tension over Trump's trade policies. Port Huron is in an area that Trump won with more than 66% of the vote in the 2024 presidential election. His visit is expected to highlight the trade dispute between the United States and Canada, which has affected the Detroit-based automotive industry.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.