Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan defended his past criticism of Fourth of July fireworks during a Monday radio appearance, framing the remarks as a call for alternative celebrations rather than an outright ban. El-Sayed made the comments on The Breakfast Club while addressing past statements about fireworks and a CNN report detailing the deletion of approximately 100 YouTube videos before launching his Senate campaign.
El-Sayed reiterated his stance that fireworks contribute to air pollution and health risks, including asthma exacerbations and heart attacks, while clarifying that he was not advocating for their elimination. "I'm not saying we shouldn't have fireworks," he said. "I'm just saying maybe like there are other ways to show your love."
The candidate’s remarks followed a CNN report published earlier this month that uncovered the deletion of the videos, some of which included a segment titled *"Fireworks just aren't worth it: hear us out." The deleted content reportedly listed four reasons "why fireworks suck," citing concerns for children, pets, air quality, and public health.
El-Sayed’s comments on fireworks were part of a broader discussion on The Breakfast Club, where he was also questioned about his past support for defunding the police. He pushed back against criticism of his fireworks remarks, stating, "If your whole conception of America is that it's fireworks, I'm so sorry. You don't have a complete conception of America."
The controversy over El-Sayed’s deleted videos has drawn attention to his campaign’s handling of past digital content. The CNN report noted that the videos were removed or hidden prior to his Senate run, though the specific reasons for their deletion were not addressed by El-Sayed in the interview.
El-Sayed is the Democratic nominee for Michigan’s U.S. Senate seat, running against Republican nominee Mike Rogers in the upcoming election.