Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) told reporters Wednesday in Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan, that Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed’s loyalties lie with the Muslim Brotherhood. Asked about “dual loyalties,” Cruz said: “I don’t know about dual loyalties. The demonstrated loyalties he has are to the Muslim Brotherhood.”
Cruz added: “It doesn’t matter how he prays. I’m not talking about how he prays. I’m talking about ideology and advocating for and supporting a terrorist organization.”
[NOTE: The Associated Press and other news organizations have reported that there is no evidence El-Sayed is affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood. He has also publicly disavowed the organization.]
Cruz argued that senators receive top-level clearance automatically, saying “there is absolutely nothing to stop” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer from placing El-Sayed on the Intelligence Committee. Cruz said: “if I am correct that he is a passionate supporter of the Muslim Brotherhood,” then “there is a very real risk that Americans will die as a result.”
Ted Cruz: “If Abdul El-Sayed becomes the senator for Michigan, there is absolutely nothing to stop Chuck Schumer from placing [him] on the Senate Intelligence Committee. The Senate Intelligence Committee has access to our most closely guarded secrets. And if I am correct that he is a passionate supporter of the Muslim Brotherhood, there is a very real risk that Americans will die as a result…We have every reason to believe that Abdul El-Sayed, if he found out that they’re about to apprehend these terrorists, that he would let those terrorists know.”
— Bulwark Clips (@BulwarkClips) October 28, 2026
El-Sayed has denied Cruz’s claims. In a Fox News interview, El-Sayed said: “I have never been a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, I never will be a member of the Muslim Brotherhood.”
HOLY GUACAMOLE!
Abdul El-Sayed just WENT OFF on Bret Baier after he tried to take his words out of context.
https://t.co/vwG6K0WYeI
—
Brittany Belle
El-Sayed’s campaign spokesman, Cole Wozniak, responded to Cruz: “Ted Cruz is a deeply unpopular politician who has long supported policies that hurt Michigan families.” Wozniak added: “His dangerous comments are just the latest example of Mike Rogers and his MAGA allies attempting to distract voters.” The campaign has called the claims “a bigoted anti-Muslim smear campaign.”
Republican nominee Mike Rogers, Cruz’s host for the campaign stops, has made the argument against El-Sayed himself. Rogers said: “I want to represent Michigan,” and said El-Sayed “wants to represent Palestine.” Rogers called the race “the most important race in the country,” and responded to El-Sayed’s denials of being a member of the Muslim Brotherhood: “When you can’t tell the truth about things that matter on life and death.”
[NOTE: The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), among other organizations, have condemned Rogers’ campaign tactics — and President Trump for calling El-Sayed a “vicious violent jihadist” — as Islamophobic and harmful.]
President Trump says Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed (D) is part of the “Muslim Brotherhood” and calls him a “vicious, violent jihadist” that has “no place in our government.” https://t.co/BcVXk7Xzrr
— CSPAN (@cspan) October 23, 2026