El Sayed news
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Abdul El-Sayed apologized to Jewish Democrats for 'hurt people hurt people' comment. He faces GOP attacks over deleted posts and Piker ties.
Background
Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Michigan, is facing scrutiny over past remarks and associations as he campaigns for the general election. He recently apologized for a March statement about a synagogue attack that included the phrase 'hurt people hurt people,' which critics saw as justifying the attack. Additionally, his alliance with streamer Hasan Piker, who has made controversial comments about Israel and 9/11, has drawn criticism from both Democrats and Republicans.
How it unfolded
- Mar 13, 2026El-Sayed released a video statement after a man drove his truck into Temple Israel in West Bloomfield Township, injuring a guard. He condemned the attack but added 'hurt people hurt people,' drawing criticism.
- Aug 29, 2026El-Sayed apologized to the Michigan Democratic Party's Jewish Caucus, saying 'nobody deserves to have their pain trampled on' and that he made a mistake.
- Aug 31, 2026CBS News reported on El-Sayed's deleted tweets about Sept. 11, and Vice President JD Vance called El-Sayed 'evil' at a rally, citing his past comments and Piker ties.
Who’s saying what
- Critics
- Critics, including Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, said El-Sayed's 'hurt people hurt people' comment wrongly empathized with the attacker.
- Support
- State Sen. Jeremy Moss said the apology was 'something that a lot of people in that room needed to hear.'
- Opposition
- Vice President JD Vance described El-Sayed as 'evil' and Republican nominee Mike Rogers called him a 'con man' over his positions and associations.
Still unverified
El-Sayed's deleted tweets, first reported by the Washington Free Beacon, have not been independently verified by CBS News.