Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed compared President Donald Trump's role in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot to Osama bin Laden's actions in a 2021 blog post, arguing that the nation has an obligation to hold Trump accountable. The essay, which appeared on a blog El-Sayed has since made private, was titled "Why aren't we treating Donald Trump like we treat other terrorists?"
In the post, El-Sayed argued that racism explained a perceived double standard in the country's response to the terrorists behind 9/11 and Trump and his supporters after Jan. 6. He wrote that he watched the second plane hit the Twin Towers during high school and later watched "terrorists attack the symbol of my country" on January 6th, 2021.
El-Sayed stated that Trump "recruited, radicalized and reassured" the Jan. 6 rioters in a manner he likened to bin Laden's recruitment of the hijackers who carried out the 9/11 attacks. He described Trump's conduct as "terrorism," asserting that lawmakers had a constitutional and moral obligation to convict Trump and prevent him from seeking office again.
"So, yes, Donald Trump deserved his impeachment just like he deserves to beـ convicted and removed from the right to ever run for office again," El-Sayed wrote. "Every single member of Congress who believes in an America true to the ideals we claim for her has a constitutional—a moral—obligation to hold Donald Trump accountable for his terrorism."
He further stated that holding bin Laden accountable "sent a message—attacking our country comes at a cost." El-Sayed argued that similar accountability for Trump and those who supported him was necessary, stating, "we have to send the same message we did after 9/11: If you attack our democracy, we will hold you accountable."
Critics have accused El-Sayed of attempting to mislead voters by removing past content from the internet before launching his Senate bid. El-Sayed's campaign spokeswoman, Roxie Richner, pushed back against interpretations suggesting El-Sayed was advocating for extreme penalties for Trump. Richner stated that El-Sayed was advocating for legal accountability and that "Abdul believes no one is above the law and that includes the president."
El-Sayed's past statements and campaign associations have drawn scrutiny. He previously faced backlash for campaigning with streamer Hasan Piker, who has made controversial remarks. El-Sayed has disavowed Piker's remark that "America deserved 9/11" but has declined to renounce Piker himself, framing pressure to do so as "cancel culture."