Michigan Sen.-elect Abdul El-Sayed said Sunday that Democrats will work with President Donald Trump to help the American people if “he wants to act serious,” but if the president instead chooses “foolishness,” the incoming senator said he will not find a willing partner in Congress.
“Let’s talk about how he is an unserious fool. Think about this war in Iran that every single president had resisted fighting because, of course, it was a dumb idea,” El-Sayed told ABC “This Week” in an exclusive interview. “Let’s talk about the foolishness of a tariff war with Canada. … Let’s talk about the foolishness of gutting Medicaid to pass tax cuts for the richest people in America.”
Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed (D-Mich.) appears on ABC News’ “This Week.”
ABC News
“So look, if he wants to act serious, we are happy to work alongside him to actually address these issues,” El-Sayed continued. “He is the president of the United States. But if he wants to continue to fool, he will hire people like Stephen Miller to run the White House, and he gets to choose where he goes next.”
President Trump on Friday said White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller would assume the role of chief of staff effective Monday, replacing Susie Wiles.
With his victory in Michigan’s Senate race last Tuesday, El-Sayed is set to make history as the nation’s first Muslim senator. During his campaign, El-Sayed said he focused his message on three issues: “to get money out of politics, put money in your pocket and pass Medicare for all.”
Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed speaks during a midterm election night watch party at the Department at Hudson’s on Nov. 4, 2026, in Detroit, Michigan.
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But the issue that most defined both the contentious and close primary campaign against fellow Democrat Haley Stevens and the general election campaign against former Republican Rep. Mike Rogers was U.S. support for Israel. El-Sayed has been a staunch critic of the Israeli government and U.S. military aid to Israel.
Asked on “This Week” if he’s heard from his Republican opponent, El-Sayed said, “Not that I know of. I think he had a flight to catch to Florida.”
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.