Today, CNN reported that older YouTube videos and podcast comments from Michigan Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed contain controversial statements on a range of topics—from fireworks and the Second Amendment to football and immigration—that his opponents are now amplifying as the general election campaign against Republican Mike Rogers intensifies.
El-Sayed, a physician and epidemiologist who narrowly won the Democratic primary over Rep. Haley Stevens, is facing renewed scrutiny over remarks made in 2023 and 2024, many of which have since been removed from public platforms. His campaign has responded to each claim, attempting to contextualize his positions and point to more recent statements.
According to CNN's reporting, a July 2024 YouTube video (since deleted) showed El-Sayed listing reasons "why fireworks suck" and asking viewers if Americans could "PLEASE" find another way to celebrate the Fourth of July. He cited post-fireworks air quality issues in Detroit, chemicals, PTSD triggers for veterans, and risks to children and pets. His campaign later pointed to a 2025 social media post where he encouraged people to enjoy fireworks, suggesting his position has evolved or been mischaracterized.
In another removed video, El-Sayed floated the idea of replacing the Second Amendment's right to bear arms with a constitutional right to health care. His campaign emphasizes that he has stated the Second Amendment "doesn't mean any gun for anyone anywhere anytime" and advocates for stronger gun regulations in the context of violence prevention, rather than outright elimination of the amendment.
In a February 2023 podcast episode that remains online, El-Sayed questioned whether football could be "ethical" or "safe" and said that narratives used to justify slavery, westward expansion, and other forms of oppression were "echoed in the ethos of football." The statement prompted criticism from those who saw it as an attack on American culture. A 2021 Substack post by El-Sayed criticized "toxic masculinity" in football's culture. Notably, El-Sayed himself played high school football as a captain and has referenced his athletic background positively in other contexts, a detail his campaign emphasizes when discussing the controversy.
On immigration, CNN's reporting notes that El-Sayed's campaign states he has long argued for immigration reform that keeps the southern border "safe and secure," while criticizing ICE enforcement practices. El-Sayed supports abolishing ICE and replacing it with a different enforcement structure. The characterization that he said the border is "NOT an important issue" appears to be a stronger framing than available reporting supports; his stated position emphasizes reform and security under a different approach rather than dismissing the issue entirely.
The Republican National Senatorial Committee (NRSC) has been actively promoting these older clips and statements as El-Sayed's campaign builds momentum heading into the general election. El-Sayed, a former Detroit and Wayne County public health official who has been a strong advocate for Medicare for All, is the first Muslim American nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan's history.
