El-Sayed calls for review of U.S. military support beyond Israel

Abdul El-Sayed defeated Republican Mike Rogers in the Michigan Senate race on Nov. 4, becoming the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Senate, NPR reported. Democrats reclaimed control of Congress as the 42-year-old former public health official won the seat.

El-Sayed campaigned on lowering costs, supporting Medicare for All and keeping corporate money out of politics. Those positions helped define his challenge to Rogers, whom Trump backed.

NPR reported that Rogers repeatedly attacked El-Sayed over his Muslim faith and opposition to U.S. military aid to Israel. Israel and the war in Gaza became a defining fault line in the race.

The dispute also divided Democrats. Haley Stevens, whom El-Sayed defeated in the Democratic primary, endorsed Rogers just days before the election amid a bitter disagreement over Israel.

El-Sayed’s position put him on the same side of one major issue as Trump: military aid to Israel. Trump announced plans to end roughly $4 billion in annual military aid to Israel by the end of the year, though he offered no details about how the reductions would work.

The existing agreement provides Israel with $3.8 billion in annual U.S. military aid and runs through 2028.

In an interview with NPR’s Morning Edition, El-Sayed welcomed Trump’s proposal. “I think the president is actually right on this policy,” he said. “I’d also like to see us stop selling weaponry that gets used to do the worst things, including genocide and apartheid, to Israel.”

His position extended beyond Israel. El-Sayed also questioned U.S. military support for Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Pakistan, arguing that American tax dollars should be spent at home.

Winning the Senate seat did not end every division within El-Sayed’s party. During a Michigan visit before the election, NPR’s Michel Martin heard concerns about El-Sayed from some Jewish and Black voters. When asked whether he still had work to do to win their support, El-Sayed said the election results challenged that narrative.

“There’s always more work to do. There’s always more to build. There’s always more conversations to have,” he said.

The election therefore produced two distinct results: El-Sayed became the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Senate as Democrats reclaimed Congress, and he backed Trump’s proposal to end military aid to Israel while also pressing for broader limits on U.S. military support.