Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers distanced himself from President Donald Trump on Sunday, rejecting claims that he had referred to Democratic opponent Abdul el-Sayed as a terrorist. During an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press, Rogers told host Kristen Welker he had never used such language to describe el-Sayed, a response to Trump’s recent attacks labeling the Democratic candidate a “vicious, violent jihadist.”
In the same interview, Welker pressed Rogers on Trump’s characterization of el-Sayed, asking whether the president’s rhetoric met his standards. Rogers did not directly address the question, instead reiterating allegations about el-Sayed’s political associations and framing the Muslim Brotherhood as a threat to American interests. The exchange follows escalating attacks on el-Sayed over his alleged ties to the group, with Trump accusing the Democratic candidate of supporting the organization.
El-Sayed has denied any links to the Muslim Brotherhood and rejected suggestions that his religious background or political views reflect disloyalty to the United States. The U.S. government has designated several branches of the Muslim Brotherhood as terrorist organizations, though the group’s status varies by country. In January 2026, the U.S. labeled the Egyptian and Jordanian branches as Specially Designated Global Terrorists and the Lebanese branch as both a Foreign Terrorist Organization and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. The Sudanese branch received the same designations in March 2026.
Rogers’ refusal to endorse Trump’s language comes amid broader scrutiny of his own past statements. In 2012, Rogers endorsed talks with some members of the Muslim Brotherhood, a position that resurfaced during the interview. Welker challenged him on the inconsistency between his past remarks and current rhetoric, though Rogers did not provide a direct response. Instead, he emphasized the Muslim Brotherhood’s perceived threat to U.S. security, framing the group as a risk to American interests.
The Michigan Senate race has become a focal point for debates over national security and political rhetoric, with both candidates facing pressure over their positions on Islamist organizations. El-Sayed’s campaign has not publicly addressed the allegations in detail, and requests for comment from Newsweek went unanswered as of Sunday.